It was a shocking news today of the sudden and unexpected death of my
friend and a great lover of Goa, Goan culture and Goan tradition, the late Tiaatrist Young Chico. He shot into
limelight somewhere in mid sixties by participating in the local Tiatros staged
by the amateur Tiatrist Directors mostly in Bardez. When he started his singing
prowess he emitted the similarities of Alfred Rose in many respects. His voice
was really very tasty and charming especially in the romantic songs, one of the
songs was “Milena – Milena” & “Nouro” and “Jivi Santin” was a highly philosophical referring to Mother
Theresa. Even behind the curtain before taking his entry to sing his song he
was imitating Alfred Rose and on the Stage his pose, his dress code, his style
of singing especially swinging his knees and his charismatic smile used to mesmerize
the audience. Even the legendary melody king Alfred Rose praised him in one of
his songs by saying “a man with the golden voice”. Just as in the professional
segment without Mr. Boyer’s participation there was no crowd similarly in the
amateur segment without Young Chico’s participation during his hey days mainly in
the Brdez side crowd would not fill the Hall or Mattou. He was
in one word the real Darling of the Tiatro goers. Later on when he dipped
himself with the professionals, he teamed up with another great and melodious
singer F.X. Pereira from Cortalim and started singing beautiful Duos.
About 15 years back, we took him to Kuwait to participate in our Show
there in Kuwait where he gained a lot of goodwill and also name and fame especially
from the audience who saw him after a long gap and who were eagerly waiting to
see their hero. During that period he stayed at my place in Kuwait City
where I had an opportunity to know him not only as a thorough Tiatrist but also a thorough human being with simplicity attached
even to his soul. He loved Goa so much
that he would discuss with me many topics concerning Goa and Goan
politics. So much so, when he was
engrossed in this type of talk, he even used to forget his food. Very rare you
can see such Tiatrists among us whose patriotism towards Goa was high.
I have no words to describe my regret and sorrows over his sudden
demise. Surely in his death one more strong pillar of Konkani Stage has been
collapsed and from the current available ones I don’t think there is anyone who
can fill the void created by his death. It is a pity that day by day we lose
great Tiatrists and worst still they are not replaced thus stripping Konkani
Stage of its best members.
May his soul rest in peace and may the heavenly God give courage to his
children and other family members to bear this colossal loss.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
