Prem Kumar Dressed for his Last Tiatr Speaking to Joel D'Souza

Playwright-actor-director Prem Kumar (75), born in the historic village of Chandor on September 8, and whose Christian name is Peter D Costa, can be rightly called the reformer of the Konkani stage. As a member of the Cine Artistes Association, a Hindi films outfit in Mumbai, Peter was bold enough to ask producer-director Dhirubhai Desai, the doyen of Hindi films, for a role. Dhirubhai s Manager Pralhad realising Peter s talent, offered him a role of a blind man which Peter acted to everyone s satisfaction, thus gaining his foothold in the Hindi film industry. Prem went on to enact several small roles in Hindi films like Mera Salam, Bandish, Shaukeen, Hum Bhi Insan Hai, Sakhi and Bahadur, outstanding among which was his performance in Hamara Hax as a Muslim moulvi (priest) which won him accolades for reciting the dialogues in pure Arabic. Many spectators were bewildered to find a Goan Catholic doing this role to perfection. However, Prem s love for Konkani made him bid adieu to Hindi films. He made his debut on the Konkani stage at the tender age of thirteen at P T Bhangwadi, in Mhozo Put written and directed by himself, and eventually had 54 dramas to his credit. His dramas exhibited worthwhile innovations in stage setting and visuals besides his knack at turning out extremely engrossing stories, embellished with expert direction and casting. Those who would turn their nose at Konkani dramas, eventually began to take note of it. He had fine-tuned stagecraft to perfection. Mortikar showed the fleeing of a murderer through a majestic back-stage projection of a road scene showing the criminal at his heels. Jivit Ek Sopon, Abdul Narayan D Souza and Fulam ani Kantte, Vavraddi, Piso (the only monologue of the Konkani tiatrs), Maria Magdalena, etc, will forever remain tiatr classics. His magnum opus was Rinn, an experiment on the moving stage. Although his dramas were big budgeted because of the props he uses, Dukh, Kakut, Peleache Vostuchi Axea Korum Naie notched a century of shows. He has over sixty trophies to his credit, including the Bandodkar Cup and Gold Medal for Vavraddi, I.G.P. Arun Bhagat Shield, Emanuel Printing Press Shield, Cine Times Awards, Natraj Award by Vasco citizens, Konkani Cultural Association Award, Konkani Sahitya Samiti Award, Prohibition Award of the Government of Maharashtra. Prem breathed his last in Mumbai on 12th October 2007.