As the Gulf opened its doors for Indians, Kuwait attracted a lot of Goans for employment. Our Goan brethren thrived in the goodness of the country and as they settled they began exploring ways of boosting their culture through the Konkani stage. The first Khell Tiatr was staged in 1978 with Epa de Paroda earning the sobriquet of “The father of Khell Tiatr in Kuwait”
Kuwait emerged as the land of dreams for many Goans after World War II. As the Gulf opened its doors for Indians, Kuwait attracted a lot of Goans for employment. Our Goan brethren thrived in the goodness of the country and as they settled they began exploring ways of boosting their culture through the Konkani stage. While Tiatrs were staged in the late fifties, the first Khell Tiatr was staged in 1978 with Epa de Paroda earning the sobriquet of “The father of Khell Tiatr in Kuwait”.
The Konkani Khell Tiatr and more particularly the ‘Zomnivele Fell’ staged during Carnival has a history of over two centuries but little has been brought up in print. Antonio Moraes, the legendary trumpeter from Benaulim has the distinction of being the first director to upgrade the performance of a carnival ‘fell’ from the ground to the stage and called it a ‘Khell Tiatr’. Stalwarts like A M Pacheco, Ligorio Rodrigues, Patrick Dourado, Epa de Paroda, Vitorino Pereira and others continued this art until Rosario Rodrigues developed the format of Non-Stop Drama.
Antonio Pascoal Estibeiro was born on December 8, the feast of Immaculate Conception, in 1934. As a child, he would act in the Carnival ‘fells’ presented by his brother Caetano Paulo Estibeiro and then began acting in the group of Anton Mari. After completion of his academic studies, he went to Bombay for employment and when in Bombay he staged his first tiatr ‘Ti Khursachi Kuru’. Estibeiro returned to Goa and then lived in Utorda and continued presenting Carnival plays.
In 1975 he set foot in Kuwait working for a bank. His entry in Kuwait was blessed with the staging of two tiatrs by Alfred Rose. The artiste in Mr Estibeiro rose and he decided to stage a khell Tiatr in Kuwait. The concept of a khell tiatr was developing in Goa; a few had witnessed a khell tiatr presentation but the majority of Goans who were basically from North Goa were new to this form of Konkani theatre. His Utorda village brethren gave him the confidence to go ahead and stage the khell tiatr and finally after practising for over three months the Khell Tiatr ‘Ekvottachem Foll’ written and Directed by Epa de Paroda was staged at the Keefan Hall in Kuwait at 10 am to a crowd packed audience on September 8, 1978. Epa de Paroda earns the distinction of presenting the first ever Khell Tiatr in Kuwait.
V V Nevrekar, the first Secretary in the Kuwait Embassy was the Chief Guest. In his address, he sang praises of the talent displayed on stage. He was very much touched by the story of an ungrateful son portrayed in the khell tiatr. Anita de Saligao, Inacia Tavares, Filu, Santan Antao, G Rod, Vincent de Utorda, Ligorio de Maxem, Maxie Jackson, Baltazar de Varca, C Perry, Agnel, Ranjeet, Vincent de Souza, Marcus Vaz, Jiles Tavares de Ribandar and Epa de Paroda were the cast of the khell Tiatr.
The literary works of Epa de Paroda are: Padduk ani Gai/Emkondd ani Sorg (1949), Oler Joao/Morosor Prezanvant Rav (1950), Bhatt ason Munddkar/Gorib to Sukhi (1951), Advogad Nelson, Ghatki Mauxi (1952), Bhavachim Bhurgim, Mhoji Uni (1953), Imtti Bhakarn/Doyall Bhoinn(1958), Bhau Bhau Soreache Pau/Maink ani Paik pollounk zai (1959), Bhoinnichem Kazar/Bhavacher poddlo bhar (1960), Doyallponn/Ub (1961), Nasloleank Adhar diyat, Ojeapancho Adhar (1962), Ghor ason Nam/ Jivit bhor bondkhonn bhog (1963), Ti Khursachi Kuru (Tiatr in 1964), Naddgulo ani Paddgulo/Konn to Vattsuro (1965), Gauddi Bhattkar/ Poder Mama (1966), Chouto Updes (Tiatr in 1966), Titiu ani Timaim/Ghorache vantte (1967), Ekvottachem Foll (presented in Goa in 1968), Ghorvan bhorlolo/ Uzvadd (1969), Goa Amcho Des (Tiatr in 1970), Ekvottachem Foll (presented in Kuwait in 1978), Ti Khursachi Kuru (Tiatr presented in Kuwait in 1981), Des ani Ami (presented in Kuwait in 1983) and Koxtt ani Sontos (1991).
Epa de Paroda was a well-known composer and singer too. He was proficient in singing the seconds for the kantos in his presentations.
He was a great lover of Maim bhas Konkani besides being a renowned cultural activist. His two sons Edward Estibeiro (a modern-day acclaimed singer who also worked and acted in tiatrs when in Kuwait) and Constancio Estibeiro (a well-known comedian who acted for Roseferns, com Ambe and other directors). Epa de Paroda’s grandchildren, Kane Estibeiro (a renowned musician) Sydelle (a prolific singer), and Lee-Sania (an award-winning actress) carry forward his legacy raising higher the banner of maim bhas Konkani that he propagated through his work.
