COMMEDIAN AGOSTINHO - AGOSTINHO TEMUDO.

AGOSTINHO TEMUDO - COMEDIAN AGOSTINHO.

 

Comedian Agostinho whose real name is Agostinho Temudo from Navelim Salcette is a very well known comedian of Konkani stage having entered  on to the Konkani Stage from the - Zomnivelo Khell -  for the first time somewhere in 1981/82 in the Show dished out by the elegant pair of husband and wife i.e. Albert & Roma,.  During this period, though Agostinho was doing his SSC and keeping himself busy with his studies, he completed his studies and  after 2 years he was ascended  on to the professional Stage.

The  early Tiatros in which he acted under the popular directors were “Vonnot”, Tujea Hatant,  Volkonk Vissorlom and according to  him he acted in all the top directors’ Tiatros except Prince Jacob’s.  In fact he only once acted  together with Prince Jacob and that was in  Kuwait where seeing his comedy role I realized how high he stands.  His comedy is more or less like that of Kid Boxer during those days where one could  laugh and laugh not in the Mattou where Tiatro was staged but after going home and realizing the statements Kid Boxer stated while performing his comedy role.   Kid Boxers statements were so deep one was finding it difficult to get its meaning and interpretation immediately while Kid Boxer was releasing those witty, cynical and philosophical statements.  Similarly for Comedian Agostinho’s words  one has to think for a longer period to get their real meanings. He studies thoroughly well on all the words coming from his mouth.  In fact the witty critical comments he makes from the Stage on the corrupt Goan politicians are worth admiring.

As a matter of interest he is one of the best politically smart Konkani Stage Artistes and very well versed in Goan politics.  Once during his visit to Kuwait, when he stayed at my place in Kuwait City, I saw how he was requesting me to get him  the local Daily Newspaper and  the Goan Daily Herald which was available in the afternoon which I was reading regularly, he was eagerly waiting for me in the evening at 6 PM to get him the oHeraldo and until he saw it and read it he would not be at ease.  His craze for reading was the most compared to all the Tiatrists who stayed at my place.  In fact overwhelming majority of visiting Goan Tiatrists stayed at my place and since I was involved in organizing our Tiatros and Musical Shows along with Fidelis Fernandes and his late younger brother the renowned Tiatrist Rosary Ferns.  In view of this we were dutybound to provide them the visiting Tiatrists either males or females the decent accommodation and food that is both Boarding and Lodging.  By providing them the accommodation,  boarding and lodging we were not doing any favour on them but fulfilling our obligation.

By nature he is fearless man and recently while he was in UK he made his own  video where he called our  CM a “Fator”  saying thus “You are not a dotor but you are a Fator.  Beause of this statement many of the Goa based Goans criticized him indicating their anger over his remark.  It looked that somebody may harm him If he comes to Goa.  But Comediann Agostinho is Agostinho, is a daring man, he came to Goa and by the time this piece appeared in the public domain he must  have already returned to UK.  I can cite one more instance of his challenging nature.  It was some years back in Kuwait, Comedian Agostinho was invited to participate in one Tiatro organized by one Goan group in kuwait and somehow or the other this group was against me.  When Comedian Agoatinho came to Kuwait to participate in their Show, the leader of that group cautioned Comedian Agostinho saying “ in no way you will meet and talk to A.Veronica Fernandes”.  As  a challenge to this hollow dadagiri,  Comedian Agostinho immediately in the next morning after reaching Kuwait rang the Bell of my  door to greet me, to hello me without caring for the caution given by his host in Kuwait.  Such is the daring character of Comedian Agostiho. But after spending about 3 years  in UK and meeting him in Margao a few days back, I found lot of changes in him, his old aggressiveness is very much missing from his self, he is become cool and calm  and look more a family oriented man who looks very  happy with his entire family namely his wife, 2 sons one of them is an Engineer and the other is Musician, one daughter who is a Doctor, they all stay together in London peacefully. Speaking on his involvement in Tiatro as an artiste, he said he is very happy to be a Tiatrist and added further by saying that if he Is somebody in this world it is only because of his being a Tiatrist.

In his life as a Tiatrist, he staged 27 Non. Stop Tiatros gaining total success in this field while his first production was “SUSEGO”  that created a mighty image of his as a script writer and director. As a writer and director, he came in contact with  some of the topmost Titrists from whom by watching them from very close angle he acquired some good points and utilized the same to further his career as the leader of his troupe   which he formed meantime and started showing his  Shows under this group.

Besides the leader of his group, Comedian Agostinho occupied the position of the Presidency of TAG – Tiatr Academy of Goa where he successfully completed his term. About his opinion on the directors who   can be called excellent, he pointed out Jose Rod’s name as the best director who will condescend to any ebb to train his artistes participating in his Shows.

It is a hard fact that since he left for UK a few years back there appeared a void on the Konkani Stage and it is very difficult to fill in this void even though some more Comedians are already appeared on the Stage but by the time they grow in maturity it will take time. Meantime I wish Comedian Agostinho all the best.  

A.Veronica Fernandes.                                                                     

 

DEATH OF A GREAT TIATRIST - ALEXINHO DE MASHEM.

 

 

 

DEATH OF A GREAT TIATRIST – ALEXINHO DE MASHEM.

 

With deep regret and sorrow I got the news of the sudden and untimely death of our colleague and friend from Mashem Cancona, Alexinho Fernandes popularly known as Alexinho de Mashem expired on 8.1.22.  May his soul rest in peace.

 

Alexinho Fernandes was one of the stalwarts of the Goan community in Kuwait where he worked for  about a quarter of a century coming to Kuwait in early seventies.  He was a well known Tiatrist in Kuwait scripting, directing and staging the Tiatros which were seen by the big number of  people, both the Goans and Mangoloreans and even Karwarees.  As a Tiatrist cum writer and director he was liked by the people because the stories of his Plays were based on the then  existing family life.  In the seventies and up to mid-eighties he dominated the Tiatro and Tiatrist circle in Kuwait where he enjoyed good respect not only among the Tiatrrists fraternity but also among the audience.  Normally Tiatrists in Kuwait were not involving in areas beyond their jurisdiction but Alexinho Fernandes who was known in Kuwait and elsewhere as Alexinho de Mashem was a rare type of a Goan having exceedingly great love for Goa and Goans. 

 

He was a generous for Goan causes and also a charitable person who staged his one Tiatro for the cause of Goa Cancer Hospital when its representative one Dr. Vaidhiya came to  Kuwait to request for the donation of funds.  It must be noted that to raise the funds for this Cancer Hospital under the then powerful Goan personality the late  Vincente D’Souza formed one special Association “Goan Arts Circle” to conduct different type of activities to raise funds for the construction of the said hospital at Dona Paula and all the activities in Konkani were done under the supervision of Alexinho de Mashem.  In this way, according to one estimate and one reliable source the total amount then sent for the construction of this Hospital was 25 Lakhs of Rupees but according to Vincente D’Souza it was 20 Lakhs of Rupees.  This huge amount was big no doubt but according to the current estimate it is much more.  Incidentally almost everyone involved in collecting and sending such a big fund were totally dejected and disappointed because according to one source, the persons on forefront to do this job of Cancer Hospital did this as “tanni amchea kanan korpololem Tel ghatlem ani apleachem borem sadoilem”.  But one thing is certain, up to now nobody knows whereabout of this fund coming from Kuwait besides so much of more funds came from other parts of Gulf. Even Alexinho de Mashem was totally disappointed when he told me “Tanni amcheam itleam lakahnchem kitem mhonn kelem re?”. From here one gets one more proof of how the “harakiri” of the donations given  by the recipients of the funds`in Goa.

 

 

Alexinho de Mashem’s love for Konkani was exceedingly high and he was ready to do anything  to get it recognised paving the way for the conferring of Statehood on Goa.  In this direction he staged his yet another Tiatro in the Kuwait Church Hall to raise fund for the cause of Novem Goem Partishthan to start the  Novem Goem Daily in Romi and Nagri scripts by spending  Rupees 5 Lakhs which were donated by the Kuwait Goans only, in fact and sadly all those who were responsibe in running the show of NGP in Goa not only failed themselves but also they have failed us the donors and the entire Konkani community and shamelessly some of them still livng are shame;essly moving in society  with their heads high.  Seeing this tragedy our Alexinho de Mashem was deeply hurt and once asked  me why we cannot get good and sincere people in Goa now. For this zi answered    saying “Now we don’t get good people among Goans because good persons are not born now unfortunately since there are no wombs in  the Goan mothers to give birth to good sons.

 

 

As a Tiatrist Alexinho de Mashem wrote and direted many Tiatros and composed innumerable songs.  His wish was always to do charitable work for the cause of Tiatros and Tiatrists.  He even asked me once my help to create fund for the construction of one House in Margao for the Tiatrists to spend their nights there after finishing  their Tiatros at night time instead of sleeping in the Margao Garden.  However he left Kuwait unexpectedly  earlier than planned.

 

In his death Tiatro fraternity lost one powerful Tiatrist which is a great loss for our Tiatros.  With my head down in grief, I pray to Heavenly God to have mercy on his soul. I also pray to God to give courage to his family to bear this colossal loss for them.

 

MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.

 

 

A.Veronica Fernandes.   

TIATRIST FATIMA D'SOUZA.

 

FATIMA D’SOUZA.

 

Suddenly the other day, my curiosity aroused  to know the where about of our yesteryears, the senior Tiatrists and what they are doing in their retired life.  Some of them are seen occasionally not on the Stage but elsewhere while others are totally eclipsed and still others are spending their time in recollecting their earlier glorious days.  In order to go deeper into their current life, I met some of our senior Tiatrists recently who are very much responsible to promote and to protect our great art of Tiatro which  was initiated by Lucazinho Ribeiro from Asagao, Bardez, Goa over a century back exactlexactly in 1892 not in Goa but incidentally in Bombay which was the citadel of Tiatro for many years.

 

In this connection, I met first one of the then beauteous and youthful spot of Konkani Stage and a Goa State Awardee Bai Fatima D’Souza born and brought up in Bombay at LISBOA HOUSE.  She needs no more introduction as she is very  well known Konkani Stage Artiste since last so many years  who ascended on to the Konkani Stage when  she was very young School going child.  It so happened being the younger sister of the renowned Konkani Stage artiste Bai Antonette Mendes, Fatima by accompanying her elder sister went for the Tiatro staged by the great J.P. Souzalin where due to some emergency, the need of one Child artiste was felt.  Since Bai  Fatima  was readily available and Fatima having some knowledge of Tiatro since sometimes rehearsals of the Tiatros were also held at her place, she immediately volunteered to play her role  and meantime Shalini also encouraged her and in fact she played her role excellently not only to the satisfaction of J.P. Souzalin but also to  the astonishment of everyone especially those  who were aware that it was her maiden appearance on the Konkani Stage.

 

_{Then step by step she was introduced to other well known Directors in their Tiatros not only to play the roles of young girl but also to sing solos. By nature she is gifted with a beautiful and very attractive voice and when she sings her songs with  her beautiful Voice, her songs get extra melodious and more attractive. Her specialty lies in her being an all round artiste performing any role of any type and it is on record that she even performed during her earlier stages the role of comedian too along with the then topmost comedians Mendes Bros., Jacinto Vaz, M.Boyer, Joe Rose, Wilson Mazarello, Robin Vaz and later on Prince Jacob & Humbert. One more role of her with Comedian Domnick, Luis Bachan and Johana in the Drama “Pedro Portguez”  was admired by the audience. She also participated in the Tiatro “Jesu Christ” by Fr. Planton Faria where she  played the role of Mother Mary. It was during her participation in Tiaros that she came in contact with her husband Anil Kumar who was an excellent actor, script writer and director.}

 

When questioned her about her impression as a professional artiste, she said she is very happy  in this profession because of which she got so many laurels and facilities and above all the recognition in  society. She earned she said much respect and adoration in the community in particular and society in general  because of her entry into Tiatro field. Further she said she was very grateful to Prem Kumar for moulding her to  what she is renowned now   describing  him as the best director, a perfectionist in every aspect of the Tiatro.  Besides she is grateful to Rosario Rodrigues for  writing best of scripts and Cantos for her in his Non-Stop Shows thus getting her a big booster   in his plays. She is still getting offers from different directors to perform in their Tiatros and even Films including that in Malyalam Films. She acted in countless Tiatros of different directors including all the top directors and acted with all the heavyweight artistes, males and females.  She is called an English Madam of Konkani Stage in Tiatro circle because of her excellent role she played as English Madam in the Tiatro written and directed by John Claro under the same name i.e. English Madame. Her latest film Bhumiputra is creating lot of impact these days.  Her one more film “Ordhem Chador” already got her best Artiste Award. She also has high regards for Prince Jacob for the nice scripts for his Dramas and for being very systematic. Above all, she said she admires him for his patience and kind heartedness towards others especially the needy.

 

Though the Shares of the artistes were  not very high then yet what they were getting during those days gave them satisfaction. However, what Shares the seniors getting were low but we must know that during those days the purchasing power of the Rupee was high and not like now. As a child artiste she was even given Chocolates as her Share in her performances conducted in Goan Clubs (Kudd) where she was often invited to sing in the Shows organised there.

 

Tiatristpon is in her blood since her father was also a well-known Tiatrist then, Mr. A.K. D’Souza who had unique distinction in staging the first ever Tiatro “Aum To Tarvotti” at Southamton Union Hall in England with all but Miss Mohana participants were the crew members from the Ships along with Mr. A.K. D’souza. About her mother whose name  Inocencia Alves, she was a very good singer having a melodious voice.

 

About her visits to Goa along with the Bombay troupe was one of the enjoyable features of her life.  Said she “What an excellent time haven’t we spent?  The residential places were we stayed in Salcette were just thrillers in every way, the Goan food prepared by the Goans was fantastic, the people around us were fantastic and the treatment we were given was the most great.  I don’t think I will get such a treatment again anywhere”.

About her message to the Tiatros – Tiatro artistes and – the audience, she said nothing to worry, Tiatros are stable and they will survive.  It is already a part  of the Goan life and Goan audience is doing very well in patronizing this art very fabulously and further requesting them to move ahead in furthering its patronage and the show must go on. While concluding she said – Viva Tiatro – Viva Tiatrists and Viva everyone involved in the staging and promoting of our Tiatros.

 

A.Veronica Fernandes.