In blend of tiatr and natak, unique ‘tiatak' bridges Hindu-Christian theatre divide
Ponda:
Two theatrical traditions in the state, tiatr and natak, have reflected Goan identity over the years. While the tiatr typically caters to a Christian audience, Hindus have patronised nataks for over a century.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
Both these forms may seem to have a lot in common like stage, actors, and performance. But they are largely different; the style, settings, characterisation, audience, and even curtains that serve as the backdrop differ. Only a handful in Goa have had a taste of both worlds.
The two theatre forms have now been merged for the first time in 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' (Story of the New Age), a tiatak or amalgamation of tiatr and natak, presented by Goa's renowned cultural group Kala Chetana Volvoi.
Comedy with deep insights
'I've always wondered why there were different audiences for theatre forms in Goa, when the aim is to entertain and educate,' said popular actor
, the president and driving force behind Kala Chetana Volvoi. 'With 'Kanni Novya Yugachi', we have tried to present a first-of-its-kind theatrical format that blends the musical and humorous elements of tiatr with the emotional depth of natak. I am hoping this will find favour with everyone.'
Rajdeep Naik (right) is the soul of tiatak, whose mere presence lights up the stage
At the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir at Ponda on Saturday night, Naik appeared to have struck the right chord in the first show itself. Quite unusually, there was a healthy mix of audience who laughed, cried, and possibly took home the message that the tiatak tried to deliver on the National Education Policy (NEP).
'Through our online booking system, we could tell that 30% of the 650 who attended (the first show at Ponda) were Christians,' said Suchita Narvekar, who has produced, written, and conceptualised the tiatak.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
'Our aim is to bring everyone together, from different faiths and religions, so that the right message on education can be passed on.'
The world's a stage
There's no denying that Kala Chetana Volvoi was greatly encouraged by its previous production, 'Ganv Zala Zantto' (The Village Has Aged), a Konkani natak that staged 191 shows, including a record seven shows in a single day at Ponda last month.
With the focus on the Mhadei river dispute, a subject that united all Goans, the natak was also the first to travel to England with multiple shows at Wembley, Swindon, Southall, and Reading.
At heart, Kanni Novya Yugachi is a natak that has dared to be different
'There were around 40 shows staged within church premises across the state and recommended to parishioners by the priests. The audience appreciated the show, so it made us think of a form where we could attract everyone, regardless of their traditional choices (of tiatr or natak),' said Naik.
So, what's with the tiatak? For a start, there are two tiatr actors, Roque Coelho and his son, Ehrlich, the central characters who recreate the classic tortoise and the hare fable that teaches everyone the importance of perseverance over speed.
The plot of a tiatr is divided into six or seven parts, and between these, there are normally two or three songs. 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' does not have standalone songs or exclusive singers, but Roque and Ehrlich have 'cantos' or songs that form part of the play.
Unlike tiatr, there's no live musical band either, understandable given the budgetary constraints.
Daring to be different
At heart, 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' is a natak that has dared to be different.
Its soul is Naik, whose mere presence lights up the stage. You just cannot take your eyes off him, whether he's making you laugh in the first half or think in the second. The actor's comic timing and improvisation are impeccable.
Even though Naik towers over everyone on stage, the others also draw plenty of applause. Suchita, Rajesh Pyarela Lohia, Ramanand Naik and, not to forget, child actor Bhumee Naik Narvekar, all show just why they are made for the stage, while Prashanti Chari grabs attention with her dialogue delivery, composure, and unmissable stage presence.
When 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' was first launched as a Konkani natak in 2022, it completed 187 shows. In its tiatak form, Kala Chetana expects a similar run.
'There's a difference between 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' in 2022-23 and 2025,' said Narvekar. 'Natak and tiatak are different but judging from the audience response from those who saw both, we remain hopeful. Even though it was late (when the show ended), many stayed back to congratulate us. Some even said they found this one better.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
In blend of tiatr and natak, unique ‘tiatak' bridges Hindu-Christian theatre divide
Ponda: Two theatrical traditions in the state, tiatr and natak, have reflected Goan identity over the years. While the tiatr typically caters to a Christian audience, Hindus have patronised nataks for over a century. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Both these forms may seem to have a lot in common like stage, actors, and performance. But they are largely different; the style, settings, characterisation, audience, and even curtains that serve as the backdrop differ. Only a handful in Goa have had a taste of both worlds. The two theatre forms have now been merged for the first time in 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' (Story of the New Age), a tiatak or amalgamation of tiatr and natak, presented by Goa's renowned cultural group Kala Chetana Volvoi. Comedy with deep insights 'I've always wondered why there were different audiences for theatre forms in Goa, when the aim is to entertain and educate,' said popular actor , the president and driving force behind Kala Chetana Volvoi. 'With 'Kanni Novya Yugachi', we have tried to present a first-of-its-kind theatrical format that blends the musical and humorous elements of tiatr with the emotional depth of natak. I am hoping this will find favour with everyone.' Rajdeep Naik (right) is the soul of tiatak, whose mere presence lights up the stage At the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir at Ponda on Saturday night, Naik appeared to have struck the right chord in the first show itself. Quite unusually, there was a healthy mix of audience who laughed, cried, and possibly took home the message that the tiatak tried to deliver on the National Education Policy (NEP). 'Through our online booking system, we could tell that 30% of the 650 who attended (the first show at Ponda) were Christians,' said Suchita Narvekar, who has produced, written, and conceptualised the tiatak. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now 'Our aim is to bring everyone together, from different faiths and religions, so that the right message on education can be passed on.' The world's a stage There's no denying that Kala Chetana Volvoi was greatly encouraged by its previous production, 'Ganv Zala Zantto' (The Village Has Aged), a Konkani natak that staged 191 shows, including a record seven shows in a single day at Ponda last month. With the focus on the Mhadei river dispute, a subject that united all Goans, the natak was also the first to travel to England with multiple shows at Wembley, Swindon, Southall, and Reading. At heart, Kanni Novya Yugachi is a natak that has dared to be different 'There were around 40 shows staged within church premises across the state and recommended to parishioners by the priests. The audience appreciated the show, so it made us think of a form where we could attract everyone, regardless of their traditional choices (of tiatr or natak),' said Naik. So, what's with the tiatak? For a start, there are two tiatr actors, Roque Coelho and his son, Ehrlich, the central characters who recreate the classic tortoise and the hare fable that teaches everyone the importance of perseverance over speed. The plot of a tiatr is divided into six or seven parts, and between these, there are normally two or three songs. 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' does not have standalone songs or exclusive singers, but Roque and Ehrlich have 'cantos' or songs that form part of the play. Unlike tiatr, there's no live musical band either, understandable given the budgetary constraints. Daring to be different At heart, 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' is a natak that has dared to be different. Its soul is Naik, whose mere presence lights up the stage. You just cannot take your eyes off him, whether he's making you laugh in the first half or think in the second. The actor's comic timing and improvisation are impeccable. Even though Naik towers over everyone on stage, the others also draw plenty of applause. Suchita, Rajesh Pyarela Lohia, Ramanand Naik and, not to forget, child actor Bhumee Naik Narvekar, all show just why they are made for the stage, while Prashanti Chari grabs attention with her dialogue delivery, composure, and unmissable stage presence. When 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' was first launched as a Konkani natak in 2022, it completed 187 shows. In its tiatak form, Kala Chetana expects a similar run. 'There's a difference between 'Kanni Novya Yugachi' in 2022-23 and 2025,' said Narvekar. 'Natak and tiatak are different but judging from the audience response from those who saw both, we remain hopeful. Even though it was late (when the show ended), many stayed back to congratulate us. Some even said they found this one better.'
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Indian-origin Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis faces backlash for dressing as Goddess Kali: 'Deliberately chose to mock Hinduism'
Indian-origin Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis slammed for mocking Hinduism and Christianity in her latest album. Canadian rapper Tommy Genesis's Indian-origin was dragged as she received a massive backlash for her music video True Blue in which she dressed as Goddess Kali. Both Hindus and Christians slammed the music video as dressed as Goddess Kali, the singer provocatively posed with a Christian cross. Indian rapper Raftaar publicly condemned the video on Instagram, calling it a 'mockery of my religion' and urging fans to report it on YouTube. Tommy Genesis, also known as Genesis Yasmine Mohanraj, was born in Canada to a Malayali-Tamil-Swedish family. Her father, Mohanraj, is a Tamil-Malayali Christian who emigrated from India to Canada when he was young. His parents, Tommy Genesis's grandparents, were a scientist and a nurse who moved to Canada in response to a newspaper ad seeking professionals in their fields. Tommy Genesis' mother is of Swedish descent. Tommy is known for her provocative, genre-defying music that explores themes of gender, identity, and sexuality, often describing herself as a 'fetish rapper.' She gained prominence in the underground rap scene, with Dazed magazine labeling her 'the internet's most rebellious underground rap queen' in 2016 "Tommy Genesis, from a Tamil-Malayali Christian background, mocks Hindu symbols in her 'True Blue' video for shock value. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Run Your Business Like a Pro - Top Trending Accounting Software (Check Now) Accounting ERP Click Here Undo This isn't art, it's cultural insult, plain and shameless," a social media comment said. "bro i'm not even a hindu or a christian but this was so uncomfortable to watch like it just feels so off. what's with the mindset of mocking other religions culture and beliefs for clout? the insane part is that tommy genesis is an indian plus the song and music is just AWFUL," another wrote. "Her character in the latest track TRUE BLUE is described as 'Freak Of India' on the posters as you can see on the top of the poster below. Her ancestors were priests. Her father is a converted Christian. So she is apparently angry on hindus for the way they treated her father and then she is also angry on christians as they did not allower her in the church because she is a queer. And she made this video mocking both the religion," one wrote.
India.com
8 hours ago
- India.com
Meet Pakistan's richest Hindu, no match for Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, his net worth is Rs..., business is...
Deepak Perwani (File) Pakistan's richest Hindu: Pakistan is a small country, and an even smaller economy compared to India, and does not have any billionaire business tycoons like Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani, Shiv Nadar, Azim Premji, Narayana Murthy, etc, who are some of the wealthiest men on the planet. Richest Hindu in Pakistan However, a tiny portion of Pakistan's population are indeed wealthy, included a few from its Hindu minority. While Pakistan has its fair share of wealthy people, only a few among them come from the Hindu community. One such individual who is considered as the richest Hindu in Pakistan, is Deepak Perwani, a famous fashion designer and actor. Who is Deepak Perwani? Born in a Sindhi Hindu family in Mirpur Khas city in 1974, Deepak Perwani is a Pakistani actor and acclaimed fashion designer, who has won several accolades at the global fashion scene. In 1996, he launched a famous bridal and formal wear couture house under the fashion label DP (Deepak Perwani). Perwani's accolades include being named as the sixth-best fashion designer on the planet at the 2014 Bulgarian Fashion Awards, apart from winning seven Lux Style Awards, five BFA awards, and the Indus Style Guru Award. He also holds the Guinness World Record for designing the largest kurta in the world. The Pakistani designer has designed apparel for prominent celebrities, including Indian lyricist Javed Akhtar and his wife and actor Shabana Azmi. Perwani has also served as Pakistan's cultural ambassador to China and Malaysia, and is a regular feature at the fashion scene, both in Pakistan as well as internationally. Guinness World Record for world's largest Kurta Notably, Deepak Perwani, a renowned name in the fashion world, also has a Guinness World Record to his name. Deepak etched his name into the Guinness World Records for designing the world's biggest Kurta. Meanwhile, apart from being a globally-renowned fashion designer, Deepak Perwani has also dabbled in acting, having several films and TV shows to his name. Deepak Perwani net worth While there is no official data about Deepak Perwani's wealth, a 2022 media report has pegged his net worth at around Rs 71 crore, making him one of the richest Hindus in Pakistan. Notably, Deepak's cousin, Naveen Perwani, a famous snooker player who has represented Pakistan globally in several tournaments, is also one of the richest Hindus in the country, having a net worth of around Rs 6o crore. Pakistan Hindu population Hindus are the largest religious minority in Pakistan, with Hinduism being the country's second-largest religion after Islam. According to 2023 data, there are around 52 lakh Hindus in Pakistan, forming 2.17 percent of the country's total population. The Sindh province has the highest concentration of Hindus in Pakistan, with 4,901,107 members, as per the data.
