Group Photo of awardees with guessts
At Pai Tiatrist Hall, Margao, on 14th of this month, I attended the “Life-time Contribution to Tiatr Award – 2014” function, appropriately organized by Tiatr Academy Goa. This year this award was conferred on 14 senior Tiatrists, 2 females and 12 males. The females are Rita Rose and Sucurrine. The award for each artiste consists of a Shawl, a Memento, a Citation and Rs 20,000/-
The Chief Guest for this function was Dayanand Mandrencar, Minister for Art and Culture, Goa who in his speech highly praised the awardees for their enormous contribution in the promotion of Tiatro with minimum of facilities. In a booklet distributed in the hall by the organizers, the details of the Stage work of every awardee was given.
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Xavier Mendes
However, I would like to add something more of Xavier Mendes one of the sons of the legendary comedian the late Anthony Mendes; Xavier who along with his other 2 brothers Felix and Derek was part of the very popular Trio of Mendes Bros which shot into limelight in mid sixties after the unexpected death of their beloved father. After making a solid impact of their performances in Bombay and Goa where they became the darlings of Tiatro lovers, they all one after the other migrated to Kuwait starting from Derek first in early seventies. Xavier came to Kuwait somewhere in 1976. It was their presence on Kuwait Konkani Stage that totally changed the outlook of our Tiatros in Kuwait. They were very much responsible to develop the standard of our Tiatros in Kuwait and Xavier played an excellent role in this development.
Minister Mandrecar
When we organized our movement in Kuwait for the cause of Novem Goem Daily, they were the first to assure me of their total co-operation for the collection of funds for this cause by acting Free of Charge in two Tiatros we organized there in Kuwait. Because of their participation both our Tiatros were Housefull. Though they were three distinct individuals yet they always acted as one entity. Among all the three brothers, Xavier was more artistic, more productive and more intelligent. With his acrobatic and flexible physique he could perform any difficult comedy role and win the hearts of the audience. His other speciality was that he was expert in mimicry and with ease he could play the sound of a Trumpet with his mouth. Once at Keefan Hall in Kuwait, he with his mouth played beautifully the sound of Trumpet accompanied by musician Teo on his original Trumpet. It looked so original. His body swerves while doing comedy roles had lot of resemblance of his father’s comedy roles. For their contribution on Konkani Stage, all the three Mendes Bros. were felicitated by Konkani Heritage Kuwait.
Rita Rose receiving a Memento
As a human being Xavier is a very soft and kind hearted thorough gentleman, very generous and a great lover of Goa, Konkani and Goan causes. He is settled down now in Goa at Mapusa by leaving Kuwait a year ago due to failing health. It was a very sad scene to see him entering the Stage to receive his award on Wheel Chair. But what was surprising was that people in the audience did not forget him and the evidence of it was the strong applause he received when his Wheel Chair was noticed by the audience.
Premananda Sangoddcar
The other two artistes known to me in Kuwait were Teo and Rita Rose, the former worked for many years in Kuwait and side by side played music for Tiatros there while the latter after her husband’s death maintaining her promise came to Kuwait to act in our Musical Show. During this period we under Konkani Heritage Kuwait felicitated her for her long term contribution in Tiatro.
Speaking on behalf of all the awardees, like a Professor and Philospheer, Premananda Sangodcar showered abundant superlatives on all his Stage colleagues for playing their roles so nicely. I salute him for delivering such a powerful and meaningful speech.
If till now Tiatro is surviving it is because of the strong efforts put in by our yesteryears Tiatrists including all the 14 honoured on 14.12.14. I salute them for their good work and pray to God to give them good health.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Candolim, Goa.
Tel: 7507394349.