Yesterday, 4th
of this month, I attended a condolence meeting organised by Tiatr Academy of Goa, at TAG Auditorium, Campal, Panjim, starting at 5.00 pm
and attended by the admirers and the relatives of the 5 late Tiatrists namely Cajetan
Pinto (Caiti) a make-up man; Inacio
Rosario Luis (Jali) a musician – Drummer;
A. Fernandes (Tony Sax); Francis Xavier Mendes and Francis X. Barreto. This was the condolence
meeting organised by TAG especially to mourn the death of all the mentioned
artistes.
Xavier Mendes
The official of TAG Mr. William spoke on the contribution of these Konkani
Stage stalwarts towards the development and promotion of our Tiatros. Among the audience who volunteered
to speak on the subject were A. Veronica Fernandes, Tony Sax’s son and
Tomazinho Cardoso.
Seen at Extreme left Xavier's son & 3rd from left Xavier's wife
Mr. Veronica focused his speech on
Tony Sax and more on the comedian Xavier Mendes one of the sons of the legendary
Konkani Stage comedians Anthony Mendes who according to me was not only one of
the best but the best comedian of Konkani Stage so far. Those who saw the Konkani
Movie “Amchem Noxib” will surely have the taste of Mendes power while others like
me who also saw him acting on the Stage must have tasted the real taste of his
comedy much more. He never bastardised
the Konkani Stage by using filthy and vulgar language as it is currently done
in some of our Tiatros. The more
horrible thing to know is that some of the directors are practically involved
in pushing some of the bastardised comedians especially those “kalche porche
potte” to use the vulgarity in their
Tiatros. And when they are criticized for
disgracing the Konkani Stage thru vulgarity they react negatively. One of them was the one who like a slave was licking my shoes at my place even late at
nights begging with me like a beggar to feed him with the good matter to script
his political Tiatros and to compose his political songs. I never came across such
a “Beiman” tiatrist. Good that in short
time only he showed me his true colours. He should know one proverb in Konkani “Eka
Kapddan Bail Mathari Zaina”.
Compeer
Xavier Mendes along with his
other two brothers, eldest Felix and youngest Derek helped me in my campaign from
Kuwait to work for the cause of Konkani by way of acting in our Tiatros staged to raise
funds for NOVEM GOEM Konkani Daily. Even
otherwise they as Mendes Bros. stood by us for any good cause of Konkani and
Goa.
William
Unfortunately,
many of the Goans who did so much for Konkani cause from Kuwait are neglected
and forgotten in Goa. If Konkani cause
gained so much of success for its cause it was partly because of the strong financial
support came from Kuwait. Now government is giving aid and grant but that time
there was no such grants and hence
Kuwaitkars played their role well. Those
who are not aware of this should know now.
Tomazinho Cardoso
In his
speech the son of Tony Sax highlighted the excellent work his father did as a
tiatrist and as a father to them. It was a very touching tribute coming from the son to his father, only highly intellectual and matured persons full of wisdom can speak like
this.
Photos of the five artistes
Speaking
on the subject, Tomazinho Cardoso lamented the discipline of the tiatrists WHO
failed to attend this meet. He also
spoke on the new book coming shortly on the dead tiatrists
Tony Sax's son
May their soulsrest in peace.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
