Souza Ferrao’s Birth Centenary Celebrations
http://www.arsouzaferrao.com/about%20ferrao3.html
Tiatr Academy of Goa in collaboration with A. R. Souza Ferrao Cultural & Charitable Trust will organize functions at Ponda, Mapusa and Panjim to celebrate the Birth Centenary year of late A. R. Souza Ferrao, a versatile artiste of Konkani Tiatr stage.
The Tiatr “Gouyo Put” written by late Souza Ferrao, which is directed by well known tiatr artiste Anil Kumar, will be staged on these occasions. Popular tiatrists namely Fatima, Jessie, Angela, Sonia, Bushan, Anthony San, Sucorro de Santa Cruz, Xavier Gomes, Conny M., Lanja, Antush and Comedian Jesus & Ben Evangelisto will feature in the tiatr.
The function at Ponda will be held on 20th July, 2009 at 3.30 p.m at the Rajiv Kala Mandir. Shri. Vishnu Suria Wagh, Vice-Chairman of Rajiv Kala Mandir will be the Chief Guest. On 22nd July, 2009, at 3.30 p.m. the function is scheduled at the Hanuman Theatre at Mapusa where the popular tiatr artiste H. Britton will be the Chief Guest while the concluding function will be held on 24th July, 2009 at 6.30 p.m. at DMK auditorium, Kala Academy, Panjim. Shri. Pratapsing Raoji Rane, Hon.Speaker of Goa Legislative Assembly and the Chairman of Kala Acadcemy, Goa will be the Chief Guest on the occasion of the concluding function. On all these occasions, Ivor de Souza Chairman of Souza Ferrao Cultural & Charitable Trust will be the Guest of Hobour and Tomazinho Cardozo, President of Tiatr Academy Goa will preside over these functions.
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As the function is being organized as a part of Birth Centenary Celebrations of late Souza Ferrao, there are no tickets and the admission to these shows is open. All Tiatr lovers and well-wishers of late Souza Ferrao are requested to attend these shows in large number.
Info source: Tiatr Academy of Goa.
Phone: 9822170102
Email : tomazinho@sify.com
15/7/2009
Link article:
http://www.opensubscriber.com/message/gulf-goans@yahoogroups.com/12249205.html
Press Conference
Held on 23rd May, 2009, at the Kala Akademy, Goa
A Brief Note on:
A. R. SOUZA-FERRAO - A Versatile Tiatr Artiste
A.R. Souza Ferrao Cultural & Charitable Trust in collaboration with Tiatr Academy - Goa will organize the Birth Centenary Celebrations of late A. R. Souza Ferrao on 1st and 2nd June 2009. The Celebrations will be held at the Joao Agostinho Fernandes Auditorium at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, Goa. A brief profile of late A. R. Souza Ferrao is given here below:
Childhood
Augusto Remedios Souza Ferrao was born on June 1, 1909 at Ambora - Raia,
Salcete, Goa to Mr. Joaquim Mariano Souza and Mrs. Maria Cecilia Ferrao. Young Augusto Remedios studied in the Parchial School in Margao. From there he joined the
Government Primary school in Portuguese. After completion of his Portuguese
'Segundo Grau', he joined the Catholic Educational Institute to study English. Besides dramatic art, he was a good artist and in order to develop this talent he
studied at J. J. School of Art in Bombay. Although he was acting on tiatr stage during his school days, he never neglected his studies. In the Parochial School he learnt music and violin. He had a good voice and flair for acting right from childhood.
Maiden appearance.
Mr. Basilio Furtado from Chinchinim introduced Souza-Ferrao to the Tiatr stage.
He acted as 'Princess Diana', - a female character - in his drama 'Naddponn
Amigachem' staged at Clube Harmonia Hall at Borda. Although Souza-Ferrao was totally new to the stage he acted wonderfully well. The songs that he sang were also big hits. He went on becoming popular. Because there were too many Souzas in the tiatr community, he preferred to have a different identity for himself. Therefore, he combined his father's and mothers' surnames and made Souza-Ferrao his surname. Then he styled his name as A. R. Souza - Ferrao, by which he became all famous!
He has acted with all the the past famous Konkani playwrights and directors
such as M/s Joao Agostinho Fernandes, Saib Rocha, J. P. Souzalin, Jack Aquila,
Rogaciano Ernest Rebello, John Lazarus D'Souza, etc.
Appreciation
Once a famous Portuguese actor named Silva Sanches came to perform in Bombay at
Royal Opera House. The Portuguese Consul selected M/s Luis Borges and
Souza-Ferrao, the only two Goan artistes, to act in the programme. The show was attended by a selected audience. Of all, the two Goan performers proved outstanding and of course, Souza-Ferrao received more applause.
At the All India Radio.
Souza - Ferrao was the first Konkani artiste to bradcast the first Konkani
musical programme on All India Radio, Bombay on November, 11, 1936. Mr. Souza-Ferrao produced the programme for which the music was provided by Mr. Manuel Alphonso. He was an excellent composer of lyrics as well as music and equally excellent singer too. Many of his hit songs were recorded by HMV and other recording companies.
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At the National level
In 1954 and 1955, Souza-Ferrao was the only Konkani artiste to be invited to
perform in Delhi on the occasion of the Republic Day. 'The Goan Folk Song and Dance
Party' led by Souza-Ferrao was adjudged as the best. The then President of India, Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, praised Mr. Souza
Ferrao for his excellente performance. The Central Government produced a documentary - 'The Folk Dances of India'- in which Souza-Ferrao's folk dances of Goa were included. Besides the Folk Dances Troupe, Souza Ferrao had his own dramatic Troupe called Jolly Brothers Darmatic Club through which he encouraged youngsters to enter theTiatr stage.
A valuable writer
Souza-Ferrao scripted and directed many plays out of which 'Almam Vetat
Sorgar', 'Pech-Pech', 'Kazari Okol', 'Ghatkeponn', 'Zotkaxi', 'Santan Bavdi', 'Govio
Put' and 'Paichem Farikponn' became hit. Besides, he also helped many playwrights to
stage their shows. He also directed many of Mr. Joao Agostinho Fernandes' plays.
Souza Ferrao believed that good singing, dancing and acting are essential elements
that go into making a good artiste.
A versatile actor
Souza-Ferrao was a multifaceted personality. He could fit in any role. His
acting ability was proved by the different roles he polayed on the Tiatr stage. He had acted as a girl, as an old man, as an old woman, as a Hindu, as a Manglorean,
as a landlord, as a mad man, as a drunkard, etc. His forte was Goan Kunnbi roles.
On the Silver Screen.
From his childhood, Souza-Ferrao wished to act in films. In the late 40s when
Mr. AL Jerry Braganza announced his first film Mogacho Aunddo his hopes brightened,
but was disappointed because Mr. Braganza did not include any commerciat Tiatr artiste in his film. However he fulfilled his silver dream when he acted in the film "Amchem Noxib" which was a big hit. Since then he acted prominent and varied roles in almost all the major Konkani films such as 'Amchem Noxib', 'Nirmonn', 'Sukhachem Soponn', 'Mhuji Ghorkarn', 'Kortubancho Sounsar', 'Jivit Amchem Oxem', 'Bhuierantlo Munis', 'Boglantt', etc.
A humane personality
Besides his stage and screen life, he was a gem of a person in his day-to-day
life. He always cared for others particularly the poor and the downtrodden. He was
one artiste who was ever ready to stage his shows in aid of causes that serve the
society. Once, during Portuguese times, Governor Cabral's wife wanted to
raise funds to help T.B. patients. Dr. Froilano de Melo and Dr.Victor Dias, in order
to swell this fund asked Souza-Ferrao to help and he, with his open heart,
organized numerous shows in different villages in aid of the T. B. patients of Goa.
Considering the wishes and ideals of late Souza-Ferrao, the Trust - A. R.
Souza-Ferrao Cultural & Charitable Trust - has been established to promote the
ideals of this great personality.
Conclusion
Souza-Ferrao expired on March 6, 1978 at St. George Hospital, Bombay. He was 69. He was the greatest artiste, the Konkani stage has so far produced. On gramophone records today, we hear his sweet voice, on the silver screen he comes alive and on the stage we will remember him as an actor who had a vision for Goan Tiatr, song and music.
Tomazinho Cardozo
President
Tiatr Academy - Goa.
The above inputs on the life of A. R. Souza Ferrao are by John Claro
Fernandes.
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