By Gasper Crasto ; Photo Art: Simon Dias
Kuwait: Superstar Sylvester Vaz will lead a galaxy of stars in the Konkani drama Aitar Budhvar written and directed by Comedian Salu Faleiro to be staged in Kuwait, 4pm, 16th November 2012 at Kuwait Medical Association Hall, Jabriya.
This is the second tiatr in Kuwait from the pen of Comedian Salu Faleiro, a well-known Goan playwright and winner of several awards in Konkani One Act Play competitions.
The drama features superstars and top cast of Konkani stage from Goa, Mangalore, Kuwait and the Middle East.
Comedian Salu’s first tiatr ‘Arxeant Hanslo Arxeant Roddlo’, staged in 2006 was widely acclaimed as one of the best dramas staged in Kuwait.
Tall and dignified, Sylvester Vaz, popularly known as the 'Hit’-man of Konkani Stage', is a simple and compassionate friend to all. He has directed many plays and musical shows and organized many Konkani and English programs in the state of Goa. He is a celebrated compere at many gala shows and plays host at weddings, parties, dances, etc. In his first year LL.B, Sylvester was awarded a special prize for cultural performances at the Goa University.
For over 18 years, Sylvester has worked as a professional Konkani stage artiste and is much sought after actor to execute leading roles. He has acted and performed with the cream of Goa and Mumbai artistes and acted in short plays and telefilms of Goa and Mumbai TV-Doordashan singing innumerable songs. Gifted with an incredible voice, Sylvester has lent his voice in audio and CD albums in Goa / Mumbai and Mangalore.
Besides acting in Goa, Mumbai, Mangalore, Bangalore, Ratnagiri, Malwan, Udupi, Karwar, Ahmedabad, Delhi, etc, he has an international exposure which goes to prove his star status. He has travelled to London-United Kingdom (UK), Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Muscat, Doha Qatar, Bahrain and Kuwait.
The multi-talented star has a distinct record of singing the opening chorus in almost every stage-play he features, while winning awards has become a habit with him. He has bagged 5 Best Actor and 6 times Best Singer Award at the Tiatr competitions organized by Kala Academy, Goa.
Son of Mestre Camilo Vaz and Catarina Vaz, Sylvester comes from Maddel Grande, Margao, Goa. He is happily married to well-known stage artiste, Irene Cardozo e Vaz – a Lighthouse of Goan Drama, and has a son named Jeremiah.
Sylvester swept the audience off their feet with his screen presence in T-Bush's - and Konkani's first - e-cinema, 'BLACK Nhesop Atanchem Fashion'. He also sang in Shahu’s VCD- “MUSICIAN” and will be seen in a much publicized Konkani film “DOLLA” soon.
Initially, Sylvester used to organize stage plays and other variety programs at Holy Spirit Church, Margao where he was involved in many activities, specially in leading the church choir. His knowledge in playing the guitar and keyboards has been a plus point.
During one of such program, Sylvester was approached by Alex Rangel to act in his tiatr 'Koslo Kaido' for which he also composed songs and re-worked the whole script. 'I was spotted in this particular show by Michael Gracias - a regular participant with his troupe Kala Niketan, Utorda, at Kala Academy Tiatr Competition, Panjim,' Sylvester vividly remembers. 'Micheal invited me to join Kala Niketan and later gave me an opportunity to sing and act in the competition.'
The biggest encouragement came when Sylvester won a merit certificate for just a one-minute role. After that, Sylvester was a regular for the competition shows for 9 consecutive years.
“I won many first places for acting and singing during this time featuring in prize winning plays like 'Valltti', 'Vadoll', 'Xhanti Melltoli', 'Onupkarponachem Vojem', 'Bodmas Zalem' and 'Moronn' under the Kala Niketan banner; and Michael Gracias' famed plays such as 'Moronn", 'Mukti', 'Zodd', 'Moipass', etc. Famous stage director Mario de Vasco who acted in one of our shows was so impressed with my singing prowess that he cast me in his first maiden show called 'Dhump', my first professional show,” Sylvester recalls.
Under the banner Vell'lekar Nirmiti (Velim Productions) and direction of Fr Nevel Gracias, Sylvester acted in 'Amche Ghorabhe Kosbeleat?', 'Nach Gho Sundorea!', 'Amcho Bharat Mahaan!', 'Mhaka Tan Laglea', Tuji Xokti Dhi', 'Dev Kallzant Asa', 'Mhojea Mogant Ravat', 'Khursachem Zoit',etc & in 2012 Voch… Anik Patok Korum Naka”. For Fr Planton Faria, he acted in 'Goycho Saib', 'Kantteamcho Mukhutt,' etc.
Other plays he acted are the late Rosario Rodrigues' 'Hanv Kallokhant Sandllim', 'Soglech Kantte Nhuim,' etc. Comedian Domnic's 'Tum Pasun', Comedian Agostine's 'Suseg', 'Sorg' as a joint director, Ali's 'Mog Korat',Mario de Vasco’s “Hanv Tuka Bhas Ditam”, Jose Rod's 'Tujem Nanv Vhodd Zaum', Patric Dourado’s “Tujem Rogot”, M Boyer's 'Kelear Chuk Kabar Sukh', Tony Dias' 'Ti Mhoji Maim (Part I) and Ti Mhoji Maim (Part II), 'Argam Tuka Dhonia' and ’Chint Cheddva Chint’, Jr Nelson's tiatr 'Ghorkar', etc.
Sylvester sang at the Konkani film festival in 2000 and also acted in a professional English musical entitled 'Annie' directed by Fr Valmiki Dias which was staged all over Goa and Bombay. It was a dream come true for Sylvester to act alongside legendary Konkani stage stalwarts like late M Boyer, late Alfred Rose, late Chris Perry, Lorna, Rita Rose, Ophelia, late Robin Vaz, late Rosario Rodrigues, late Remmie Colaco, Antonette Mendes, Trio Kings, C D'Silva, late Aristides Dias, late Bab Peter, late Com. Luis Dias, etc.
Sylvester’s first show in Kuwait was for Simon Gonsalves in 'Tujea Kallzak Vinchar' in 2002. He also acted for Simon's 'Tuzo Gaum, Mhojem Naum'. Other plays where he acted and was by now a highly recognized face and most sought actor in Kuwait were - Laurente Pereira's 'Lokachim Tonddam Bond' and 'Hea Ghorachim Daram Bond'; - 'Bhurgim Maim Paichem Sukh' and 'Ghor Bandlem-Ghorabho Moddlo' ‘Kuwait Soddun Vetanam’ by the late Rosary Ferns; 'Almanachea Disa' by Marcus Vaz; Michael D'Silva's 'Noora'; Salu Faleiro's 'Arxeant Hanslo, Arxeant Roddlo', Rafael de Majorda's play, Rosario Rodrigues production 'Aum Kallokhant Sandllim'; Patrick Dourado's 'Tujem Rogot'; comedian Philip's hit musical show 'Tum Voir Hanv Sokol' & ‘Anik Ani Zaiem’ also Kuwait-Goa Tiatristanchi Sonstha's (KGTS) mega musical show, 'Tiatr ani Tiatrist', 'Konknni Machiek Noman' & ’Tiatristponn Devachem Dennem’ not forgetting that he acted/sang for many Tiatr Groups touring Kuwait plus in various other musical shows and programs organized by Goan and Mangalorean communities.
In 2001, Sylvester had an offer from Tony Dias, producer of the superhit play 'Ti Mhoji Maim (Part I)' for a Gulf tour across Kuwait / Bahrain / Dubai / Qatar / Muscat). In Kuwait, the show was hosted by Navelim Youth Centre (NYC) in the Indian Arts Circle hall. This club made the huge media hype of his name giving him the title as 'Hitman of Konkani Stage'. It has to do with the percentage number of 'hit roles' he has enacted. The sobriquet still stands although Sylvester is a little title shy.
"I prefer any kind of roles but most of all I like to play character roles. I crave for roles where I can exhibit great style and wear fancy clothes. I myself possess a passion to dress tidy and chic on stage. That helps me to expose my talents with freedom and fervour - be it singing, acting or dancing," he mentioned to this interviewer sometime back.
The role of Dr. Romeo in the late Rosario Rod's non-stop play 'Aum Kallokhant Sandllim' remains one of Sylvester’s most memorable. This particular role specially written by Rosario Rod brought him into the limelight on the professional stage. So also, his other forte is that he enjoyed playing a classic negative role in comedian Agostine's 'Suseg' for which he gained a number of die-hard fans. Also, at the staging of 'Goencho Saib' people used to come and kiss his hand and fall at his feet. "it was touching...," he says.
"Among the females, Irene Cardozo e Vaz is my all time favourite as an actress and ex-Goa football player, and after my marriage to her, she is my heroine of all times," he says. Sylvester has acted in many regional language telefilms such as 'Kranti', 'Somaz zago asa', 'Mhaka zaag zai' of Eagle Productions which were dubbed in Konkani and Marathi and telecast on Goa and Bombay television.
In recent times, Sylvester toured London with Maestro Shahu's Musical show 'Tiatrist' and also visited Doha Qatar with the same troupe to perform along with his wife in Feb 2012 and by public demand and special request travelled once again to UK-London to perform in Fr Lucas Rodrigues' (Goan Chaplaincy–UK - Pilar Fathers Production) for 'Mhaka Zabab Zai'.
During his recent trip to Goa in February, 2012 he was romped in by Fr.Nevel Gracias for Vell’lekar Nirmiti’s Lenten show “ Voch….anik Patok Korum Naka”, which completed 52 shows in 41 days (a record for 2012).
