Seen in the picture M. Boyer on Wheel Chair receiving the Padmashree Award from H. E. Dr. Abdul Kalam - The President of India, in Delhi.M. Boyer was a great lover of Sports and on this topic he sang many songs. After India lost Olympic Hockey Gold Medal for the first time at Mexico in 1968, he composed such a beautiful solo that it still rings my ears. I heard it at Mapusa in Nelson’s Tiatro "Dolorosa". In this song he first describes the greatness of Indian Hockey, then goes on elaborating the contribution of Goans in Indian Hockey and how Goans are now ignored because of internal Indian politics. Then he said our own Indian sons go abroad and play for countries like England, Kenya and others bringing laurels for those countries and concluded with a bombshell which I myself was surprised inspite of my vast knowledge on this subject. That bombshell concluded that marvellous song with the following words:
Janu Fernandes put Goycho, toxoch gaum bhau mozo Raicho,
Vortouta captain Mexico teamincho.
In this song M. Boyer asked India why our sons are donning the colours of other countries when they can be easily inducted in our team. He hated politics in Indian sports.
He had great aptitude for politics and democratic set of Government was his liking. When Indira Gandhi introduced Emergency Rule in India, he was very much disheartened. But when Emergency was lifted after 19 months and in the ensuing election Janata Party came into power, M. Boyer became a part of Janata party and even contested the election in his constituency on behalf of Janata Party. Though he lost in this election yet he proved that he was a symbol of democracy and not a supporter of authoritarian rule of Congress under Indira Gandhi. Had he been elected, I am sure he would have surely done justice to Konkani especially for Romi single handedly instead of sitting there like a doll. We need in Goa Legislative Assembly a Tiatrist who is a real son of his real father to fight for Konkani cause and NOT A "BAIZON" who will become a puppet in the hands of Government for a prize of "KURCHI".
M. Boyer was a fast composer and when Alitalia Plane crashed in mid sixties, he immediately composed a new song within few hours of this crash and rendered it on the stage. Some of the words of this beautiful song are:
Santa Cruz Airportacher, zalo zomo soireancho,
Thoddeanch vellan aplo munno assa paupacho,
Fokot sou minutani, Aeroplane to denvpacho,
Maink put, ghou bhailek ani bhau bhoinink mellpacho.
Chintlear munxea kaim ek dista naka,
Dhonia oslem moron konnank nirminaka,
Novim kazaream kazar zaun bhair sorlim pun kazari jivit meulena tankam,
Mai putak munno baba roddonaka,
Pai etolo zaitem hadddtolo tukam,
Kotta Pai-i na, Mai-i na ritea hatani dolleani gollun gelim dukham.
While listening to this song, many in the audience were sobbing uncontrollably, this was what I noticed in the Tiatro "Mattou."
I give M. Boyer full credit for being a fast composer but in the history of Konkani Tiatro the late Rex de Bardez proved to be the fastest composer. You could give him any topic and he could sing one verse and one chorus on this topic at the spur of the moment.
Besides the above mentioned songs, M. Boyer’s other memorable songs were “Burgim ou Baulim Mennachim”, “Goychim Devlam” and Goykar Ostoreo Gulfac in which he rightly describes the hardships of Goan maids working in Kuwait. In this song he describes the plight of Goan maids in the Gulf by saying:
Bailo Gulfak kam korta bongleani,
Gou mouza martat Goyam Gadiani,
Tumi kiteak chintinan re guinenachea dadleani.
He wrote many dramas but best of his dramas were Besao, Sounsar Sudorlo and Ekuch Rosto. His hit Tiatros became hit not only because of good script and good direction but more because of the best artistes available at that time. Can he get another Antonette? NEVER. Antonette of yesteryears was unique. Can he get another Souza Ferrao and Jacinto Vas to play their respective roles? Never and precisely because of this deficiency in getting appropriate artistes M. Boyer refrained from releasing his last Tiatro “Ek Ghor Chear Vantte."
Besides, the greatest advantage M. Boyer had in composing good songs, scripting good Tiatros and getting guidance for staging them successfully was from his Darling wife Martha whom he used to address as "DARLING".
As a man M. Boyer was a thorough gentleman. He was not a beiman like many of the current Tiatrists who stay at my place this month and immediately in the next month say "I dont know Veronica". These are the real Rostad Tiatrists who desgrace the fair image of great Tiaatrists. M. Boyer was a highly dignified and polished in his manners though he was money crazy and when the matter of money comes he would spare nothing. C. Alvares was showing his last show in my village in early seventies and according to M. Boyer, Alvares promised Boyer a gift of Rs. 500/- after completing the Goa round. When Alvares delayed this payment, Boyer refused to come on the stage to play his role. There was chaos in the Mattou, proceedings of the Tiatro halted, audience shouted at Boyer and Alvares. My father rushed inside the dressing room to settle this dispute, Boyer was reluctant inspite of promise by Alvares saying he will pay him later. Boyer insisted saying “I want right now”. Then gradually the situation calmed down.
Envy was another defect of M. Boyer. 15 years back when Jacinto Vaz came to Kuwait with Boyer, we at Kuwait Konknni Kendr decided to honour Jacinto Vaz. Hall was booked and invitees came for the function but Jacinto Vas not. Then after meeting Jacinto Vaz in his hotel room, we were told that M. Boyer out of jealousy stopped Jacinto Vaz from moving out of his room when Jacinto Vaz all dressed up in his Suit to come for the honouring function. In this way our honouring function turned into a fiasco.
Later on Prem Kumar came to Kuwait to take part in Boyer’s Tiatro. Being my good friend, I invited him for the dinner and after this Prem spent the night at my place. When next day Boyer came to know that Prem spent the night at my place, he ripped Prem into pieces. Prem’s only mistake was not to tell Boyer that he would spend the night with me though he hinted Boyer that he would not come to the hotel room that night. Boyer became jealous because by spending a night with me, Prem will come out more educated in many subjects especially Kuwait Goans related topic on which Prem wanted to script a Tiatro.
Finally, M. Boyer’s boycott of Sucurrine was very bad which reflected very negatively on his character. He killed the God given Tiatro art in Sucurrine when she was flying higher and higher. I hope God will forgive M. Boyer for the negative role he played against his fellow artistes and grant him eternal rest.
As an artiste he immensely helped the Konkani Stage to rise to the level it is now. He made a Tiatrist a force to reckon with. Through Konkani Stage he educated the people for which he deserves highest accolades. Will we get another M. Boyer again? I doubt!!
As a Tiatrist I rate him as the best singer. His songs are on very interesting topics especially on current topics. His song compositions are class by itself. As a Tiatro writer and director, I don’t rate him as the best among all. There were better than him in the history of Konkani Tiatro. According to me, Minguel Rod stands first with his excellent Tiatros namely Ghorib Sezari, Bapul Bau, Gorchem Kestaum, Goykar Mundkar Beltod, Lembddo Santan and Open To Close; On second place comes J. P. Souzalin with his super Tiatros namely Tiklem Cheddum Miklem, Poilea Burgeachem Baltim, Hem Assam Tem. Sat Duki and Orkache Panch Mister; On Third place comes Prem Kumar with his majestic Tiatros Mortikar, Abdul Narayan Desouza, Vavraddi, Peleche Vostuchim Axea Korunae, Konnank Munnonk Mae, Chintna Zalint Sopnam and Jawan; on Fourth place comes Airestedes Dias with his best Tiatros such as Doia, Soth Bavartachem, Divorce and Ogunni Nhoi Xegunni; Fifth Place goes to C. Alvares with his excellent Tiatros Jurament, Axea, Patki Nhoi Ghatki, Sixth place goes to Milton in Bombay, he never showed his Tiatros in Goa, his best Tiatros were Utrachi Mudi and Ponchvis Vorsam Bhondkond and on Seventh Place comes our M. Boyer with 2 best Tiatros Sounsar Sudorlo and Ekuch Rosto. Though according to me M. Boyer goes on Seventh spot yet what he achieved as a Tiatrist no other Tiatrist has achieved before him and during his lifetime. M. Boyer to achieve this credit was the beneficiary of the time while others who were better than him were not. Yet I salute M. Boyer’s achievement and his TIATRISTPON.
While speaking to me once, M. Boyer said "the late comedy genius Anthony Mendes gave him in writing that YOU WILL BE THE BEST TIATRIST". How prophetic words were these by Anthony Mendes??
May the Heavenly God give M. Boyer eternal rest and comfort to his wife and sons to bear this colossal loss.
Concluded.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
