Goa N Tiatr

 Courtesy: Posted from O Heraldo

The singing sensations of Sanvordem

The duo of Willy and Luiza Fernandes have combined to create a unique niche for themselves in the world of tiatr with their acting and singing.

With acting as their forte, Sanvordem-based couple, Willy and Luiza has entertained the tiatr audience with their solos and duets as well

William Fernandes, popularly known as Willy on the tiatr stage, was born on July 8, 1954 in Sanvordem. His maternal uncle, late Joao Fernandes would pen and stage folk plays (zomnivhele fell), while noted tiatrist, late Remmie Colaco, was his close and immediate neighbour.

“Uncle Remmie would gather all the tiatrists at his residence for practice of tiatrs,” informed William, “and as we would be there, he would ask us to recite poems and sing songs.” “It was a pleasure to be associated with such a great tiatr personality, who was down-to-earth with everyone,” he added.

“Remmie would take me along with him for tiatrs, wherever they were staged,” recalls Willy. “It was travelling by the local transport from Sanvordem to Margao and then proceed for the show by the hired vehicle. On return from the show, which would conclude late night, we would sleep in the municipal garden throughout the night and early morning catch the 6.20 bus leaving for Sanvordem from Margao,” he added.

At the tender age of 10, Willy found an entry in Remmie Colaco’s tiatr ‘Sukh Tarvotteanchem’, which was staged at Cuncolim for the feast on February 2. “It was a minor role, whereby Goa’s Charlie Chaplin, Jacint Vaz was my father in the tiatr,” he recounted.

Willy also found an entry in Sanvordem-based tiatrist Mathew Pereira’s 3-4 tiatrs, which included ‘Onupkari Put’ and ‘Family Planning’. In 1975, he penned and staged his first tiatr ‘Jivem Moronn’ at Sanvordem, with Remmie Colaco and M Boyer being part of the troupe and Cajetan de Sanvordem, Anthony San, Angela Morais, late Salvador and Menino Fernandes as co-artistes.

In 1976 Willy staged another tiatr ‘Guneanv Konnacho’, besides musical plays ’Konn Nam Konnacho’ and ‘Tumcheach Pasot Kortanv’ on All India Radio (AIR) in 1977.  He has acted for most of the top directors and writers in the tiatr field which include Rosario Rodrigues, M Boyer, Remmie Colaco, H Britton, Jacinto Vaz, Anil Kumar, Rosario Dias. Jess Fernandes, Patrick Dourado, Premanand Sangoldkar, Fr Planton Faria, Wilmix-Sharon, Peter-Roshan, Agnelo de Borim, Ben Evangelisto, John D’Silva, Menino de Bandar, Peter Vaz, Agnelo da Costa,  Aristides Dias, Hortencio Pereira, Anthony San, Joe Rose, Jose Rod, Mike Mehta, C D’Silva, Menino Mario, Mariano Fernandes, comedian Dominic, Elvis/Carmen and others.

In 1977, Willy flew to Saudi Arabia for better prospects and returned to his roots after 8 years. On his return,  he acted in Anthony San’s tiatr ‘Darvontto’. Apart from participating in Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition with tiatrs ‘Bhuim Amchi Bhangarachi’ and ‘Thapttak Thapott’, he has also written and directed children’s tiatrs ‘Devak Zai Zalear’ (2015), ‘Kaide Kiteak Keleat’ (2016) and ‘Kirnam’ (2017), ‘Novem Jivit’ (2018) and ‘Dhaddos’(2019) for the Children’s Tiatr Festival organised by Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG).

Directed and acted in two religious plays ‘Koxtt Jezuche’ by Fr Peter Cardozo and ‘Dev Amchea Sangatak’ written by Fr George. He also has several one-act plays to his credit, besides one audio album ‘Silver Jubilee’ released in 2015.

After serving as the member of TAG’s executive committee (2012-15), Willy was elected as the vice-president of the academy, with dedicated services from 2015 to 2018.      

Curchorem based, Luiza Fernandes was born on July 3, 1960. Her father, Sebastiao Fernandes was a musician, playing the trombone and violin and a tiatrist, who picked up female roles. Her first performance on stage came about in 1975 in her husband’s tiatr ‘Jivem Moronn’.

Luiza’s entry on the commercial stage came about in her brother Anthony San’s tiatr ‘Darvontto’ in 1984. She also acted in Jose Rod’s tiatrs ‘Somp’ and ‘Zhall’ at Kala Academy’s tiatr competition, winning best actress and second best actress award respectively.

With tours in India, Gulf countries and UK, Luiza has acted for directors

 Remmie Colaco, M Boyer, Rosario Rodrigues, John Claro, Mike Mehta, Joe Rose, Hortencio Pereira, Mariano Fernandes,  Menino de Bandar, John D’Silva and comedian Dominic.

Luiza has mostly been offered emotional roles and her best performance was in tiatr ‘Bukh’ by Rosario Rodrigues and ‘Sukham Fulam Koxttam Kantte’ by comedian Dominic. In 1979, when Anthony San released his cassette ‘Goa’, she rendered her voice to the album, besides acting in tele-serial ‘Promanikponn’ written by Paul Carvalho and directed by Uday Kamat.

After tying the knot in 1979, Willy and Luiza made their debut on stage as husband and wife in Anthony San’s tiatr ‘Darvontto’ and they have been together in several other tiatrs, besides rendering duets with gusto on the tiatr stage. Service in the accounts department at Quepem district office does not permit Luiza to stay fully committed to the Konkani stage along with her husband.

On account of the pandemic, tiatrs have come to a standstill, thus affecting majority of the tiatrists and their livelihood. “As tourism and other public sectors have already been thrown open, the government should also find an alternative for the tiatrists and live entertainment on the tiatr stage,” says Willy. “TAG should also be made fully alive and active with the appointment of the new president and committee so that various schemes could be made functional again,” he added