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.