The second day of the third All Goa Inter Collegiate/HSS Tiatr Competition 2023-24 was a witness to the tiatr ‘Girann’ presented by St Xavier’s College, Mapusa. The tiatr ‘Girann’ penned and directed by Fr Luis Xavier Gomes, throws light on beliefs and superstitions and when things go wrong in life and beyond expectations, how it is connected to those ancient principles.
The story revolves around Tufania (Joslyn Pereira), who served as a sarpanch earlier. Her only son, Sunny (Simon D’Silva) is a professor at the university. Chandrakala (Steffi Fernandes), also a professor at the same university, is in love with Sunny. As both are in service at the same place, their bonds grow and friendship turns into a love relationship.
When Tufania comes to know about her son’s involvement with a Hindu girl, she bluntly opposes the ties. She cannot stand such an inter-religious match. But Sunny’s brother is a priest (Nigel Pereira), who extends full support to him in moments of opposition. Apart from disagreement coming in from the mother, there’s another professor from the same university Eva (Rizel Fernandes), who secretly loves Sunny and wishes by hook or crook to win him over.
But Sunny’s love for Chandrakala is strong as a fortress and no amount of luring by Eva will help change his mind. Finally, after facing the rough tide from different angles, Sunny and Chandrakala tie the knot.
As the daughter-in-law in the house, will Tufania accept Chandrakala as her own? Or will opposition follow as before? Will Chandrakala face harassment at the hands of her mother-in-law? There are various developments and twists, turns that follow in this inter-religious marriage during the second half of the play.
All the students entrusted with different responsibilities have enacted their respective characters on stage with much ease and confidence. Joslyn Pereira stands out as the 60-year old mom with dictatorial nature. Simon, Steffi and Nigel have extended good support to the main character.
In the negative role, Rizel Fernandes has displayed her theatrical skills with gusto. Namashri Parab, Jinnia Cardoso, Ashlyn D’Silva as university lecturers have extended good support. Other students in different minor roles have also given their best on stage.
In the comic acts, there’s Jakin (Doris Goes), who looks after the cleanliness of the house, while Kaitu (Robert D’Souza) serves as a cook. These two comical characters brought together in the play provide a good dose of laughter pills to the audience.
In the section of songs, there’s the opening song presented in the form of a choral, followed by solo, quartet, two duets, and another solo and duo in the first half. The second half carries three solos, one choral, one trio, one duo and one quartet.
All the renditions on stage were appealing to the ears and carried varied subjects such as traditional games, Konkani language, unity in diversity, social media and others. The live band offstage had Nolvert Cota as the band leader (first trumpet), Aaron and Cleron (second trumpet), Samson (saxophone and guitar), Frenwin (violin), Fenton (drums), Flynn (keyboard) and Stalin (bass). It is worth noting that excluding the band leader, the rest of the musicians are students of the Crescendo Music School and some of them started learning brass instruments just last year, by performing as professionals. Their tutors and performers deserve a word of praise.
The stage sets were handled by Worrel D’Souza, Francis D’Souza and Marsha Cardozo, while the light sets were taken care of by Avinash Chari. Unesia Fernandes shouldered the responsibility of the costumes and Sagar Haldonkar worked upon the make-up.