THOMAS ANTAO
Hailing
from Dongorim, Nuvem Salcete, Thomas Domingos Rosario Antao popularly known as
Thomas Mestri or Thomson was born on 7th March 1939. He started
learning music at the very young age of 7 from Parochial Music School under the
guidance of late Maestro Jose Antonio Gonsalves from Calata. Initially he
started with violin, then turned his attention to play Banjo and Trumpet. He
played Banjo for the bands of famous musicians of that time like Anton Moraes,
Paixao Mestri, etc. Later he tried rehearsing trumpet on his own which he
bought from the money he earned by playing Banjo for dramas.
At that
time he got an opportunity to compose music for a ‘Quadril’ (a type of Carnival
play) during carnival time. With his innovative music, this young talented
musician won the hearts and accolades from the audience which brought him a lot
of fame and popularity. From here he never looked back.
Once he
was invited to provide music for a songit khell ‘Bhikari’ by
Felly Lucas on All India Radio-Panaji. There were only three musicians; a
trumpeter, a saxophonist and a banjo player. There was a Drum Set in the studio
but no musician to play. So Thomas doubled up as a drummer too by pedaling with
his leg to give beats while blowing his trumpet at the same time. Such was his
mastery over musical instruments.
In 1971
he joined another famed musician Urbano Gonsalves to produce music for Rosario
Rodrigues’ Troupe where he served for 23 years and performed for almost 50
khell-tiatrs. He also played for leading dramatic troupes of Peconz Rodrigues,
Antonio Moraes, Vitorino Pereira, Patrick Dourado, Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa,
Premanand Lotlikar, Pascoal Rodrigues, John D’Silva, Jeffy de Majorda,
Pal Soares, Dod de Nuvem, Joaquim Faleiro, Vincy Pereira, Michael Gracias, Jack
de Benaulim, Dada de Maina, Domnic Carvalho and many more.
Besides
providing music for number of dramas, he also penned and directed his own two
khell-tiatrs namely‘Ghatkeak Ghat’ and ‘Inosent Koidi’ which
were performed on the feast day of his village chapel at Dongorim. In these
Tiatrs, veteran artistes like Kid Boxer, Dod de Verna, Platilda, Aires had
participated. He has performed as a musician for almost over hundred
songit-khells on A.I.R.
Besides
Tiatrs he has been teaching music and training young talent for many years and
have produced many promising musicians in Salcete.
He was
presented with ‘Gulab’ Award for best music for the Tiatr ‘Amchem Ghor’ by
Rosario Rodrigues and was also felicitated by Kala Academy Goa on Tiatr Day in
the year 2004.
Profile Courtesy: Tiatrist Academy of Goa
