JOE ROSE – THE WELL
KNOWN
TIATRIST.
One of the best
intellectual Tiatrists that I came across on Konkani Stage is none other than
Joe Rose as he goes by his Stage name otherwise his real name is Jose Maria
Mathias Ignatius Thomas D’Souza born on 31st July, in 1946 in Bombay
and brought up also in Bombay only. I am
sure many of the readers of this column will know the beautiful and glamorous
lady, a Konkani Stage artiste in late sixties and in seventies, Carmen
ROSE who dazzled the Konkani Stage in
Bombay and in Goa and mesmerized the
audience by her sheer beautiful looks, superb acting and melodious voice, is
his sister. This relationship with his sister Joe Rose disclosed when he staged his Tiatro "Guneaum Konnacho" directed by Carmen Rose which was her maiden name and after her marriage "Lobo" was added to her maiden name. Earlier the stage name of Joe Rose was Master Joe because of his young age. According to elders, Master Vaz was the youngest Tiatrist to step in on Konkani Stage and precisely because of this he was called MASTER Vaz and after him came Bab Lipo in Airestedes Dias' DOIA Tiatro.
I saw Joe Rose first
time on Konkani Stage somewhere in late sixties in the Tiatro at Narvenkar
“Mattou”, Mapusa, he was then accompanying one of the Bombay troupes
encompassing in its fold some of the topmost professionals when he as a
handsome young man with his powerful voice rendered one of the beautiful songs
on the great Goan Parliamentarian Dr. Francis Luis Gomes who represented South
Goa in the Portuguese Parliament where he created a name and a fame for
him. In fact when Dr. Gomes went to Europe
he demanded from the Europeans not only the liberation for Goa but also for the
whole of India and that too much before the Ghandis and Nehrus were born. For
this song the Editor of UZVADD, the Konkani daily in Goa, Evagrio Jorge presented Joe Rose with one book "Eminent Goans" written by Mr. Evagrio Jorge only.
Then I started thinking
how this young man became an apostle of Dr. Gomes? In fact I said to myself
that he must be a real intellectual man in the midst of intellectually bankrupt
class of Tiatrists many of whom lowered the Konkani Stage by washing their
dirty linen publicly using cheap topics for their songs when the audience is
least bothered on these topics and using vulgarity mainly by the third grade
comedians. Then when I went deep into this matter, I came to know that this
young man, this young dazzling Tiatrist, a songster, a composer and a playwright was the Student of St. Xavier’s
High School, Dhobitalao in Bombay and also of St Xaviers College, Bombay from
where he completed his graduation in English Literature – a great
achievement indeed and then went on acquiring
one more feather in his glittering Cap
of educational background, that is B.ed and immersed himself in the dignified
profession of a Teacher at Our Lady of Dolours, Marine Lines. While talking to
him, I could recognize the power of his language and knowledge where he
indicated that he was very well read in Shakesphere’s Dramas, French literature
mainly Victor Hugo and many other world renown authors. At. St. Xaviers College he revived the dormant Konkani Mandal and was its elected Secretary for 2 years. Such an intellectual man should have been the
president of TAG but I don’t know
why he was not elevated to the presidency last time when he was already its
vice-President. Only an educated and intellectual giant with his clean image and decent
character can give dignified picture of TAG .
This position is not meant for any Ladru – Pedru type of Tiatrist, especially a
morally corrupt and intellectually bankrupt even though some of our corrupt
politicians, it seems, are pushing
unworthy candidates to the post of its presidency. According to my information,
political pressure is working very hard to install unworthy candidates to
occupy the chair of TAG
presidency. The Tiatro fraternity must in unison raise its voice to put an end to this "chamchagiri" done by the cheap Tiatrists to occupy the top position in TAG. According to me some of the Tiatrists enjoying a little respect only because they are Tiatrists otherwise they are fit for nothing. It is time now for the Tiatrists to elect somebody from among them, the one who is really capable of doing this job well and not to escape from attending important meetings with the excuse "I am having my Tiatro today and hence I will not come for today's meeting". If you have your Tiatro and other functions then you be there only and not get involved in TAG. Those who got no time to devote for TAG then they have no right to be in TAG.
Thru his educational
and intellectual achievements Joe Rose gave a booster to Konkani Stage then
because in the absence of such intellectual giants the grandeur of Konkani
Stage suffered thereby giving a low image of our Tiatros. Precisely, because of this, Tiatrists during
those days were considered as low grade people lacking not only in good family
background but also lacking in educational, social, moral and intellectual
background and thus lacking in good character and good discipline. See how some
of the current comedians exposing all their dirty characteristics because of the vulgar terminology they use on
the Stage. By doing this they indicate first and foremost their hoi-polloi
family background where they lacked good home discipline because of the
defective parents. I have seen Joe Rose so many times on the Stage playing
different roles including that of the comedian but never he used foul and
vulgar language as few of our third
class comedians use now to entertain the third class audience.
Coming from an affluent family background Joe
Rose’s father was wielding lot of influence during those days in Bombay since
he was owning in partnership with his friend a big Restaurant and a Bakery and many of the renowned Tiatrists
were frequenting there as his customers. Hence, the Tiatro circle was not
strange to Joe Rose because he was also mixing up with them. Besides this his father was the sole owner of Hotel Olympia situated close to Race Course Matheran. His father loved him too much and on one occasion for his birthday presented him as a birthday gift a lovely Pony.
“Tiatristpon” is the natural gift of God to Joe Rose and making good use of it he entered first time on the Konkani Stage when he was barely 7 years - that was a very tender age, in the Drama “Fatima Saibinn” and then followed by “Bernadette of Lourdes” staged both by Dr. Simon C. Fernandes, the Editor of Konkani Weekly "The Goa Times". By the time he reached to 15, he acquired name and fame and offers started pouring in for him to play different roles in different Tiatros from different directorts. While still a student in School and College, he came in contact with his colleagues namely Jalal Agha, Anup Kumar Gangoly (Asokh Kumar’s son) and Vijay Sippy - the son of the director & producer of the Film "Sholay", later on Vijay Sippy became renowned Bollywood artiste. Joe Rose also during his scholastic career participated in extra curricular activities such as elocution, debates and dramatic competitions and won prizes.
“Tiatristpon” is the natural gift of God to Joe Rose and making good use of it he entered first time on the Konkani Stage when he was barely 7 years - that was a very tender age, in the Drama “Fatima Saibinn” and then followed by “Bernadette of Lourdes” staged both by Dr. Simon C. Fernandes, the Editor of Konkani Weekly "The Goa Times". By the time he reached to 15, he acquired name and fame and offers started pouring in for him to play different roles in different Tiatros from different directorts. While still a student in School and College, he came in contact with his colleagues namely Jalal Agha, Anup Kumar Gangoly (Asokh Kumar’s son) and Vijay Sippy - the son of the director & producer of the Film "Sholay", later on Vijay Sippy became renowned Bollywood artiste. Joe Rose also during his scholastic career participated in extra curricular activities such as elocution, debates and dramatic competitions and won prizes.
After serving as a teacher for 8
years in Bombay, he migrated to Dubai where he worked as a Night Auditor at Oasis Hotel
and as a part timer he taught at St. Mary’s School, in Dubai. He could do any type of role with perfection
namely of a hero, villain, landlord and comedian and compose any type of songs. This is the rare quality a Tiatirst can
possess.
Joe Rose is also a very good
Playwright, director and lyricist in which capacity he wrote and staged his so
many Tiatros, about a dozen, in many parts
of the Konkani world, the most popular of them were “Imtteache Bhognar”, “Sukh ani Dukh”, “Dussreak
Lagon” , "Arbi desh Amcho desh" and “Ekuch Rogot”.
As a songster, he
composed innumerable songs in different categories such as solos, duos, duets, trios, quarters and
rendered the same in Tiatros, Audio/Video Cassettes and All India
Radio. Incidentally, after Alfred
Rose, Joe Rose happened to be the second Tiatrist to record a Konkani Cassette, these Cassettes were marketed by India Book House and were put up for sale for standard price @ Rs. 35/- a piece. As a matter of interest, his Cassettes were even kept for sale in Soviet Russia. Besides, Joe Rose also produced his own Konkani
Albums and rendered his voice for the Albums produced by other producers as well.
Joe Rose had unique
distinction of acting with some of the great Tiatrists of yesteryears not only
in Goa and Bombay but even in other parts of the world such as Gulf & London.
Being an excellent
performer, he received accolades and honours from different organizations and
institutions, eg: Cine Times Award for best character actor in 1990 and Kala
Mogui Candolim, in 1993 for the services he rendered to Tiatros and GRAF for being the best lyricist.
Joe Rose is also a social
worker having done yeomen services for the cause of Goans in Bombay in
particular and for the society in general. In this direction, in Bombay at Dhobitalao he was instrumental in doing the campaign successfully to name one garden after the topmost Goan sportsman Walter D'Souza who as a member of the Indian Field Hockey Team took the Gold Medal at the 1948 Olympic competition. Incidentally, both Joe Rose and Walter D'Souza are the proud sons of Aldona that produced so many great stalwarts of Goa in different fields.
In spiritual aspects, Joe Rose did not lag behind when in fact he helped in the promotion of our religious activities, for example he served for two terms as the Confraternity Secretary at Our Lady of Seven Dolours, Marine Lines and also as Secretary of the Parish Council.
His greatest ambition is to immerse himself in Goan politics by first entering into local politics in his constituency, Aldona so that he can serve his own constituents better. However, he may plunge into any type of activity but his dramatic activities will continue.
In spiritual aspects, Joe Rose did not lag behind when in fact he helped in the promotion of our religious activities, for example he served for two terms as the Confraternity Secretary at Our Lady of Seven Dolours, Marine Lines and also as Secretary of the Parish Council.
His greatest ambition is to immerse himself in Goan politics by first entering into local politics in his constituency, Aldona so that he can serve his own constituents better. However, he may plunge into any type of activity but his dramatic activities will continue.
A.Veronica Fernandes.
