NT BUZZ
The Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) has selected Konkani tiatr artistes Antonio Sebastiao Xavier Rodrigues, popularly known as Jack Rodson and Felipe Norman Fernandes, known as Normandez, for its Lifetime Contribution to Khell/Khell-Tiatr Awards.
Instituted in memory of late Rosario Rodrigues, the awards recognise artistes who have contributed to the development and promotion of Khell and Khell-Tiatr. TAG will present the awards at a special function.
TAG president, Anthony Barbosa, congratulated the awardees and acknowledged their contributions to Konkani theatre and their efforts to preserve Goa’s traditional performing arts.
A resident of Benaulim, Rodson began his career in Konkani tiatr at the age of 12, performing in Jose Roque’s ‘Orixtt Tufan’ in 1977. He later began writing one-act plays before moving on to non-stop tiatr productions.
His first non-stop tiatr, ‘Tuzo Hat’, was written in 1984, followed by ‘Mevonk Nam’. His other works include ‘Uspun Kaddlem’, ‘Hanvem Dhorlem’, ‘Porot Ailem’, ‘Mhoji Porbi Tuka’, ‘Konnuch Noko’ and ‘Tum Asli Zalear’.
Rodson has written Carnival khell tiatrs every year since 1987, beginning with ‘Dekh’, ‘Aicho Somaz’, ‘Korunk Nam’. Over the years, he has written 117 folk plays.
Besides writing, Rodson has acted and sung his compositions in productions staged by several Konkani tiatr directors. His work also includes the Konkani film VCD ‘Tond Bond Kor’ and the Khell-Tiatr VCD ‘Konnak Chukonam, Noxibantlem’, apart from other Konkani video productions.
His tiatr ‘Tum Asli Zalear’ won recognition for Best Script and Best Trio at TAG’s Popular Tiatr Competition in 2013. In 2017, he was felicitated by TAG during the 125th anniversary celebrations of tiatr. The second awardee, Fernandes, was born on March 29, 1966, in Assolna. He works as a writer, director, lyricist, singer and stage and film actor.
His interest in the performing arts developed during his school days at Don Bosco High School, Sulcorna, where he sang, acted and wrote short plays for school functions. In 1981, he received acting guidance from Br Felix Fernandes at St Savio’s Boys’ Home.
Normandez made his professional debut in 1986 through the late Anil Kumar’s production OTMO. The same year, tiatrist Roseferns selected him for productions including ‘Tuttlele Dhage’ and ‘Dhovo Kanvllo’. He went on to perform in tiatrs across India and abroad. His play ‘Mhoje Dhage Tuttlele’, which he wrote and directed, was staged in Doha, Qatar, in 2003.
As a playwright, he has written works including ‘Rag Vo Mog’, ‘Mochea’ and ‘Mhoje Dhage Tuttlele’. His work in one-act-play competitions has earned recognition for acting, scriptwriting and direction.
In 1992, Normandez established Hillary’s Production and released several Konkani music albums, including ‘Baradicho Khuris’, ‘Tarvottia Salam Tuka’ and ‘Kazarachim 25 Vorsam’. He composed the lyrics and tunes for his albums.
He also contributed to Konkani video cinema through ‘Bhavachem Dennem’ in 1994 and later appeared in Hindi films, including ‘Drishyam 2’. His Konkani song ‘Bhavarti Dotor’ was broadcast on an American Asian radio channel in 2008.
