Sunil Shanbag’s upcoming theatrical performanceloretta at Kamani Auditorium explores the debate over language and culture. The director talks to Ila Sankrityayan about the theme of the play, tiatr as a most popular style among Konkani speaking people and linguistic issue as a subject of global concern
The language issue—Konkani or Marathi as Goa’s official language has always remained a major concern and the reason behind the division of Goan society after its liberation. And if you are looking forward to delve deeply into this matter, then Sunil Shanbag’s latest play, loretta can be a good option. The English-Konkani drama written by Pundalik Naik transports you from the crowded metro life to a beautiful beach town for a while. With perky music and amazing choreography by Amey Mehta, the play will make your evening enjoyable rendering a different kind of experience through the tiatr style of drama from Goa.
“The language debate is very common in Goa and I was always looking for a story that deals with this subject, exploring the identity issues and debate around three languages—Marathi, Konkani and English,” says Shanbag.
He adds, “It is the story of a widower, Antonio (Abhijit Bhor), who is a great supporter of Konkani. His son Rafael (Sattvic) returns from Mumbai, along with his Anglo-Indian girlfriend loretta (Rozzlin Pereira), and though he is not inclined towards Goan culture, loretta is much attached to it despite being an outsider and she tries to learn the language and know more about the culture. Thus the play is all about our love for the mother tongue and how each one of us tries to dominate one’s language in the society.”
So it’s a serious play juxtaposed with joyful moments, preventing the presentation from turning dull and still. The thespian wanted to present it in a tiatr style popular among Konkani speaking people along with songs, skits and satirical dialogues. “It’s a wonderful way to show a serious issue in a lighter way. Though it might be new and different to some, the similar style can be seen in folk theatre and old Hindi films. In our play you will see side shows written by Varun Grover that have a comical commentary on censorship, present politics and parties using language as a publicity tool. I found him appropriate for this work after watching him in a stand up comedy, Aisi Taisi Democracy,” shares the director. The music has been composed by Ronnie Monsorate and Asif Ali Beg.
Dealing with such a vast and serious issue always raises some difficulties, shares the director, “I opted for a non-tiatr writer, Naik so that he can deal with the subject in a better way and the most difficult part was to make it in a way not just focusing on Konkani but also touching upon other matters.”
Shanbag emphasizes that the subject we deal with in this play is of global concern, “Though predominantly our production portrays the language issue in Goa but in reality you will find that it’s present everywhere. And thus we thought of bringing it here through a style that is popular in Goa for about 100 years and needs promotion and recognition as an effective style of entertainment.”