Francis de Tuem is a singer and tiatrist who speaks out his mind quite fearlessly and more often than not, antagonises Nuvem MLA Mickky Pacheco. It had happened in the past and it was just a matter of time before it happened again. On Wednesday, supporters of Pacheco, who were part of the audience at Pai Tiatrist Hall in Margao, rushed to the stage after the the singer began his performance. Francis moved to the dressing room along with the supporters who then claimed that the tiatrist had pointed a gun at them. The drama did not end there. Pacheco made an appearance as well and his explanation was that he rushed to the hall because Francis de Tuem pulled out a gun. A case could not be registered because the weapon turned out to be a toy gun. What Pacheco and his supporters had not bargained for was a hostile crowd. When the police sought to cancel the show, the audience refused to move until the show was over. Francis de Tuem returned to the stage to loud cheers.
This incident once again brings to the fore issues pertaining to freedom of expression and the constitutional limits placed on it. As a tiatrist, Francis de Tuem needs to be granted some latitude to write and sing songs. 'Cantaras', as they are called in Konkani, tend have social and political content and those in public life must learn to accept criticism. There might be occasions when tiatrists hit politicians below the belt and make direct allegations. In such instances, the only form of redressal available to the victim is to file a police complaint. We all know how tedious this process is, but it is the only option.
Wednesday's incident was not the first instance when Francis de Tuem attacked Pacheco on stage. In 2013, Pacheco lodged a complaint against Francis for making derogatory statements against his wife and children at a tiatr in Nuvem. A complaint was lodged and the tiatrist was released on bail by the JMFC. Pacheco then filed another complaint accusing the tiatrist of calling him and demanding Rs 10 lakh to stop singing songs against him. Francis admitted calling up Pacheco but denied that he demanded money in exchange for keeping quiet.
There is a thin line that separates satire from outright defamation. Most tiatrists are aware of this Lakshman Rekha and prefer to err on the side of caution. This self-censorship has been good for tiatr and is perhaps, one of the factor that has helped this art form to flourish. Francis de Tuem, on the other hand, seems to court trouble and the fact that he antagonises only Pacheco tends to make one suspicious of his intentions. A fearless Francis de Tuem is better than a tame one, but he must understand that freedom of expression, as enshrined in the Constitution, is not unfettered. The Constitution places several restrictions on this freedom and Francis would do well to study them and stay within the framework of the law. He should not make the mistake of misreading the support of the audience as the licence to defame Pacheco or any other politician or layperson. Some introspection on his part is necessary, both for the good of tiatr and his own future as an artiste.
