Today 5th August 2012 is the 80th birth anniversary of the late Alfred Rose.
May his soul rest in peace.
I first time saw Alfred Rose on the stage in my village Candolim somewhere in 1958/59 when he participated in C. Alvares’ Tiatro “Axea”, Alvares came to Goa at that time with his troupe to stage some shows of Axea and Candolim was one show. Opening song in this tiatro – MANDOVI – MANDOVI – both in Konkani and in English as well, was rendered by Alfred Rose who was as handsome as his handsome voice. He looked very youthful and attractive while rendering his solo with perfect confidence that dazzled the capacity crowd attending this show. In the front Row some Portuguese Military Officers from Aguada occupying the front seats behind the Musicians and who came on complimentary Passes only to listen to his melodious voice were full of admiration for this great iconic singer. The glowing facial appearances of these Portuguese were telling me that they were all thrilled to listen to Alfred Rose’s angelic voice. Earlier they heard on Radio his beautiful voice and when they came to know that he is coming to Candolim, they spoke to my father for the tickets but instead my father offered them Passes. This was the first Tiatro in Candolim using Mike system otherwise always without Mike system.
Alfred Rose was the man of perfection and personally used to see for himself before his song that everything is arranged as per his direction. He had vast knowledge of Konkani Tiatro, its origin and originators as well. Much of the history of Tiatro and elder tiatrists he knew personally and thru his tiatrist father A. M. B. Rose. His great ambition was to create history by creating something new as a tiatrist. He was the initiator of first Non-Stop Tiatro; he was the first Tiatrist to produce the first Konkani Audio Cassette; he was the first professional tiatrist to produce books of his songs including with Solfas, many of these songs are recorded while some not and many from these unrecorded some are very precious and historical. Some Bom Samaritans with the consent of Rita Rose must come forward to complete this unfinished work; he was the first professional tiatrist to have his own Band “Rosebuds” under his leadership; he was the first Goan visiting tiatrist to stage his two Tiatros in Kuwait in 1975 along with his beautiful looking wife Rita and if I am not mistaken he was the first Tiatrist to be a “Romansi” writer.
When he staged his Tiatros in the Kuwait Church Hall people came to see these Tiatros as if they are coming for the Feast many of them with elegant dress like Tie and Suit. For many attending to these Tiatros and seeing him live on the stage singing and acting means a big honour. One of his solos “Dona Paula” was an instant hit. He was then ably supported in acting by the then handsome artiste Francis de Verna doing the hero’s role opposite to Rita, Edmund Fernandes, John Dias, Francis de Parra and besides others by Tony Cal who was instrumental in bringing Alfi and Rita to Kuwait.
Konkani Tiatro owes him much for popularizing Tiatro among Goans and Konkani people. During the first 25 years of Tiatro this art was handled by the decent and knowledgeable tiatrists. Then it went into the hands of some Rostad tiatrists – to quote Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes – where Stage was used for “Zupattis” and vulgarity by some “Bebde” tiatrists. Then genius tiatrist like Minguel Rod appeared on the scene to give bright and Shakespearean colour to Tiatros and because of whom decent audience re-started coming to watch the Tiatros. Then like a bright Star from nowhere Alfred Rose appeared on the Stage whose wisdomatic songs full of knowledge and some in English created a totally different outlook of our Tiatro. Educated and highly sophisticated class of Goans started flooding to see him singing live on the stage thereby magnifying the image of Tiatro. It was Alfred Rose who gave westernized and Anglicized touch to Konkani songs and Konkani Tatro. His catchy English tunes easily attracted the young and modern fans and audience for Konkani Tiatros.
Thru his song "Bela - Bela" he immortalised Calangute. It has a history behind it. By nature Alfred Rose was a poet and for that matter he was the romantic poet. This he released thru the form of songs. Bela-Bela was one. It was a Saturday he came for strollong on the Calangute Beach. He at that time was very attractive and charismatic, many girls were aspiring to talk to him. While walking on the beach he suddenly saw a very beautiful Calangute girl looking at him romantically. He resonded thru his eyelids but unfortunately in the huge crowd on the beach this local girl disappeared. Shocked and dismayed, Alfred Rose came home and on that same night he composed this song which he rendered on the next night Tiatro at Candolim with full of romantic feelings.
Among the professional Konkani tiatrists he had the unique distinction to render two songs live on Kuwait TV, one of it was a duet with his pretty looking wife Rita. He visited many parts of the world including Europe and America to entertain the Konkani audience. Kuwait he visited many times and on one occasion he was honoured along with his wife in one of the city hotels by Kuwait Konknni Kendr.
Among all the expatriate Goans he singled out for especial mention the Kuwait Goans for their big heartedness towards the promotion of Konkani. In this connection he pointed out with great admiration the great work of Kuwait Konknni Kendr towards Konkani cause.
A few months before his death, while going on vacation I stopped over at Bombay especially to see him and meet him since Roses were good friends of mine. But what to see? His wife brought him on Wheel Chair in their parlour where I was seated. When he saw me he immediately recognized me and started crying bitterly, he was unable to speak yet he was murmuring something in sign language telling me to pray for him. Seeing him thus I hugged him tightly and we both started crying and I am still crying recollecting that day.
May the heavenly God keep him in His Kingdom.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
