Aleixinho de Candolim Birth Centenary Celebration Committee incollaboration with Kala Mogi, Candolim will be celebrating Birth Centenary ofone of the greatest sons of Candolim and one of the greatest artists of Konkanitiatr stage – Aleixinho de Candolim.
He lived a very short spanof life of 50 years, of which he actively devoted 28 years of his life to thedevelopment of Konkani tiatr stage. Over these 28 years he scripted anddirected 27 tiatrs. These were staged in Goa as well in Bombay. P. T.Bhangwaddi was the most prominent stage in Bombay for the tiatr stage. Moreover,he was bold enough to stage his tiatrs in Bandra, Dadar, Mahim, Parel and Poonafor the benefit of tiatr lovers living in those areas. Apart from his ownproductions, he has acted in hundreds of tiatrs written and directed by otherartists of that time, and has sung innumerable songs (kantaram) which made hima household name in Goa, Bombay and in all parts of the world where Goanssettled.
He passed away at the peak of his popularity in 1963, yetAleixinho de Candolim is alive in the minds of tiatr goers thanks to the‘kantaram’ composed and sung by him which are frequently broadcast at the AllIndia Radio, Panjim. These ‘kantaram’ will always remain memorable as they dealwith social issues which will never die in times to come.
‘Fatima Saibinn Maim’ is one of his songs, which narrates thehistorical visit to the Statue of Our Lady of Fatima to Goa in the 1950s duringthe Portuguese rule. The song, besides praying for showering of blessings onGoa and Goans, describes minutely the offering of 153 masses simultaneously – areligious happening that took place for the first time in Goa, the then Estadode India Portuguesa.
Another song of Aleixinho de Candolim that immediately attractsthe attention of the listener is ‘Bailek Bhiyetai’. This focuses on a sonhaving a lucrative job who lives a luxurious life in Bombay, while his fatherhas to beg every day for his meals in Goa. Beautiful lyrics and the inimitablestyle of of Aleixinho de Candolim make this song unique in all respects.
The other two songs are very significant because it displaysAleixinho de Candolim’s attitude towards men and women in the society. Althoughmen were considered superior to women during that era, Aleixinho de Candolim inhis song “Ostorechem Sukh” severely criticizes married men who cheat on theirfaithful wives by having illicit relationships with other girls. Similarly he does not spare the married women too. In his song ‘Kazari Bhoinni’he rebukes the behaviour of married women for being unfaithful to theirhusbands who sacrifice and undergo a lot of trouble in order to earn the dailybread for their families.
The village of Candolim has produced numerous personalities indifferent fields who have contributed immensely for the development of society.Right from Father Pinto and the first revolt against the Portuguese rule in Goain 1787 to Abbe Faria’s countless achievements. In keeping with this sametradition, the village of Candolim gave birth to yet another reformer ofKonkani tiatr stage – Aleixinho de Candolim.
TomazinhoCardozo is the former president of the Tiatr Academy of Goa
