PANAJI
Bhikoo Pai Angle – a prominent personality in Margao and an unforgettable human being is a personality to be celebrated for many reasons.
Born on November 12, had he lived more, Bhikoobab would have completed 100 years this year. Remembering his immense contribution to various fields in Goa, the admirers of this veteran educationist, teacher, playwright, director, artist, writer, cultural activist and social worker have come together to celebrate his centenary year.
As acting, directing and writing scripts were close to his heart, late Bhikoobab would be remembered through the plays he acted and directed, and through the artists who were lucky enough to have shared the stage with him. Living and sharing his memories and paying tribute by performing the plays he directed, the centenary year celebrations will be on two days, October 26 and November 12 at Ravindra Bhavan Margao. A committee headed by Auduth Timblo has been formed to carry on the centenary celebrations in Bhikoobab's hometown.
On October 26 a video of children’s play ‘Tujha Tu Vadhvi Raja’ directed by late Bhikoobab will be played along with Bhikoobab’s last appearance on stage at the age of 90 as Shivaji at Ramnathi before the felicitations begin. The speakers Prof Shrikrishna Adsul, Pravas Naik, Pandurang (Bhai) Naik, Dr Venkatesh Hegde, Dr Ajay Vaidya, Shashank Gangule will address the audience.
This will be followed by the felicitation of surviving actors of the popular historical Marathi play ‘Raigadala Jevha Jaag yete’ directed by the late dramatist in 1976. The actors Shivaji Satam who played the character of Hambirrao, Upendra Date who acted as Shambhu Raje and Sushma Savarkar Jog who played Rajaram in the play. All three of them would share their memories with Bhikoobab. Auduth Timblo who has been a student of Bhikoobab would take the audience down memory lane, recalling his association with his late teacher.
The 667th show of this historical play ‘Raigadala Jevha Jaag Yete’ will be staged in association with Ravindra Bhavan Margao and the Goa Hindu Association, Kala Vibhag & Rangmanch, Mumbai at 8 pm. The legendary play will be directed by Upendra Date. The roles of Shambhu Raje and Annaji will be played by Bhikoobab's grandsons, Showmik Pai Angle and Digesh Pai Angle, respectively.
On November 12 a presentation of the screen life of veteran artist Padma Shri Nayana Apte by Digesh Pai Angle and a brief introduction of the artist Rajiv Shinkre will follow her felicitation at the hands of Auduth Timblo at 3.15 pm.
The stage performance of the first ‘Ank’ of the play ‘Sangeet Matsyagandha’ by Nayana Apte will begin after Shree Damodar Nandi ‘Damodara Naman Payi Tuzhya Ya.’ It is to be recalled that Apte has enacted the character of ‘Satyavati’ in Sangeet Matsyagandha. Apte’s association with late Bhikoobab was longstanding and she has acted under his direction in this play. Apart from Apte, other actors are Dr Venkatesh Hegde (Parashar), Chandu Kano (Chandol), Hemant Angle (Dheevar), Kapil Nayak (Bheeshma) and Yogan Kossame (Priyadarshan). Chandu Kane will direct the play.
Later, a few other artists who worked with late Bhikoobab will present the Natya Sangeet. Prutha Kuncolienkar and Yoguish Sambari will present Natya Sangeet from the plays that were directed by late Bhikoobab. Also the children’s skit directed by him ‘Tujha Tu Vadhvi Raja) played in 2001 will be staged by Dr Pradeep Borkar and Rutuja Raikar. The last stage appearance of late Bhikoobab was in the play 'Raigadh' at Ramnathi in 2016. A part of this play will be performed by Ashvek Shanbhag and Nayana Apte. Pradip Shilkar will accompany on organ and Shailesh Gaonkar will play tabla during the ‘Natya Sangeet’.
