TIATRIST SABINA.
Ihet was in early or beginning of Sixties as an amateur then but immediately entering into professional arena, the well-known Tiatrist of yesteryears Bai Sabeena Pereira e Fernandes first time appeared on Konkani Stage and dazzled the audience. It was Master Vaz who inducted her in his Tiatro “Bapui” staged at Mahim Victoria Church Hall where she played her wonderful role opposite to the then powerful and best actor Saby Coutinho.”
Her career in Tiatros started in Bombay where she made name and fame for her and reached to highest peak in Goa where she played her roles extremely well in the Tiatros staged by Young Stars of Goa where she was privileged to be a member of that group. Till her joining this group they were in dire need of aone smart female even though they tried some but none of them re This group came into existence soon after the invasion of Goa by Bharat in December 1961 on 19th of that month. It was Conception – Nelson – Anthony who were singing their Trio song “Ami atam Goyam ravon faido na, chod borem zatelem ami atam Brazilak gelear”. This Trio they rendered at Mapusa is the first Tiatro staged at Mapusa immediately after the invasion of Goa. All the Goa lover Goans even those who were shouting slogans against Portugal and demanding liberation from the Portugal they all instead got invasion. Immediately after completing this Trio song they were arrested by the Mapusa Policemen. During the same Tiatro another singer the most renowned Kid Boxer, the most powerful political singer of whose type never another appeared on Konkani Stage nor will likely to appear in the future, was also arrested. His solo was a direct slap on the Indian Government for invading Goa without their consent. For this Tiatro Administrator of Mapusa came not to see the Tiatro but to arrest Kid Boxer because intelligence passed the information to the concerned authority that Kid Boxer who was known then that he was an anti-Indian and that he was earlier arrested in Bombay on similar charges as he was arrested now, imprisoned in Nasik and then deported to Goa, rendered such a powerful “Zupatti” to the Nehru Government of Bharat, here are a few lines of that piercing song”
Tum bhitor sorlai chukon, mortoloi sukon, Dusreacho desh pochona.
Tum nestai fokot valo ani khatai fokot palo
Tum Panpotti khatai ani poch’chu korun thuktai, lozui kaim disona.
When Conception – Nelson – Anthony were arrested as per my information none of the members of the then Tiatrists Circle of Goa which was existing then and known as “ The Stars of Goa Stage” indicated any interest nor concern for the arrestees. All the top Tiatrists of that time were members of this group. As a mark of revenge and anger the Trio kings took a very bold and powerful decision and formed a new group of Tiatrists known as “The Young Stars of Goa” under the leadership of Conception with the assistance of Nelson the second in command and Anthony the third in command. Initially YSG did not take into their fold anyone from the former group but gradually they did and in the bargain SGS died a silent death for YSG to rule the Tiatro Stage of Goa in Goa.
As a young and attractive lady somewhere in the mid sixties Bai Sabina joined the group of YSG where she was blossomed into a totally excellent Tiatrist playing any role and singing nice songs with her charming personality propped up by very attractive dress code but her beauty focused mainly on the beautiful Sarees she wore with matching long sleeves Blouses. Before her joining YSG, they tried some to absorb one of them into their group but all proved not capable but Sabina by her sheer excellence and extraordinary courage to face the huge audience Sabina immediately gained the confidence of the leadership of YSG and she proved to be the powerful member of this group. Her songs mainly the beautiful duets with her husband Greg the Candolim who was the well-known Tiatrist then. Her one duet with Tony Sax which was highly romantic was very popular then, it was “Happy Birthday to you Gracy”. The other duet that reverberated everywhere was with her husband on “American Naval Ship Seventh Fleet” during the Bangladesh liberation war India fought with Pakistan. Instead of Fleet of War Ships known as Seventh Fleet Greg comes with a Bag of Tins of Fleet meant to kill the Bugs. At the later stages Greg became the top Comedian and as such the audience too has accepted him. Besides, she also rendered innumerable songs namely Trios and Quarters. Her one most memorable Trio was the one that she rendered along with her husband Greg and Valent Mascarenhas which was very interesting where she takes side of her brother-in-law when her husband drives him out of his house because he is become old and sick when she asks her husband “why cant you have pity on him when he did so much for you when you were young saying
“Tukam tanne vaddoilo sukhan, Khelloilo aplea gopan ani vhodd kelo aplea mogan,
Atam mar marloi khonttancho, bandpas toddloi bavponnacho, kiteak churchure korinai mat?” This particular Trio gave her a big booster.
She acted in innumerable Tiatros of different Playwrights and directors so also acted with them namely C. Alvares, Prem Kumar, M. Dod de Verna, Aristedes Dias, Saib Rocha, Remmie J. Colaco, M. Boyer and others. In between Mario Menezes was responsible to bring her back on the Stage when she stopped acting after her husband death. Even though she is fully satisfied to have played her part as a Tiatrist on the Stage with total love for the Konkani Stage and Konkani culture within her capacity yet she still at moments gets the urge to return to the Stage but unfortunately time is not in her favour. Even members of the audience will love to see and welcome her back especially those who saw her during her hey days especially in the Tiatros namely “Oh Dolorosa” by Nelson Afonso, “Divorce”: by Aristedes Dias, “Portuguez Kolvont” by John Claro. In these Tiatros she played her roles superbly well. And it must be noted well some of the directors wrote special scripts for her knowing her strong capacity to do any type of role. As for me the best role I liked of her was that of a daughter-in-law in the Tiatro “Gorabo” by Nelson.
She expressed her sentiments by telling how difficult time they underwent during those days when there was no proper transport for them to travel from one place to the other and travelling by Caminhao was horrible, there was no electricity and hence they had to make use of Petromax, spend the midnights at the Ferry Point Jetty in Panjim/Betim or Cortalim/Agacaim till 6.00 AM and their Share was not high yet “we then played our part well to keep Tiatros alive”, said she. She said with pride that she and others like her acted in Tiatros during those days inspite of so many difficulties only because of our total love and dedication for Tiatros. I am grateful to Tiatros for giving me my identity and so many advantages and also I am grateful to all my fans for showering their love and affection on me throughout my so successful career for whom I thank profusely.
By wishing all the best to all the current Tiatrists, she said nothing will stop Tiatros, Tiatros will go on and also will go on flourishing more and more. May God Bless Tiatros and Tiatrists.
A.Veronica Fernandes. `