EDWIN D’COSTA
Real Name: Antonio Edwin D'Costa
Real Name: Antonio Edwin D'Costa
Stage Name: Edwin D'Costa
Date of Birth: 13th December 1963 Margao
Antonio Edwin D’Costa, popularly known as Edwin D’Costa was born on 13th December 1963 in Margao, Salcete, Goa to Mr. Jose Felipe D’Costa and Mrs. Filomena Inacinha Fernandes. Edwin was very fond of music and poetry right from his childhood. At the age of thirteen, he penned his first poem which was well appreciated by his teachers in the school. His first entry on a stage in a programme organised by Legion of Mary from his village Nuvem Parish won him first place. After that he never looked back.
As new concept of One Act Play Competitions was just making its debut in Goa in late 70’s. This was a golden opportunity for Edwin. He wrote a play entitled, ‘Upyogi’ on disability and participated with great enthusiasm. To his astonishment, he won the first place. Later, with this play he took part in competitions at various places in Goa. That year at 10 places his play bagged first prize and second at four places. He was also awarded for Best Director for the same play.
Edwin gradually started writing poetry and write-ups for various local Konkani publications. In the year 1979, he published his first book of poetry entitled ‘Vattsur’ and later in the year 1980 he released a Konkani audio album ‘Goencho Avaz’ which became an instant hit. The music for this album was composed by Maestro Josinho which was his first. The reputed singers like Young Chico, C. D’Silva, Querobina, Conny M lend their voices for this album.
The talent of young Edwin did not go unnoticed. Veteran tiatr artiste, Late C. Alvares introduced him on a Professional stage in his Tiatr ‘Mosteponn’ in which Edwin sang his own composed songs. The encouragements received from senior tiatrists like Prem Kumar, Succurine and others gave further boost to his talent. Later on he went on taking part in more than hundred tiatrs mostly singing his originally composed songs. He brushed shoulders with stalwarts of tiatr like M. Boyer, C. Alvares, Robin Vaz, Jacinto Vaz, Airistides Dias, Mendes Bros, Wilmix (Wilson) and many others.
He started recording his own songs and became more popular because of audio albums. Later he sang and contributed his compositions to many production houses like Wilmix-Sharon Productions, Dinfa Music, Manfa Music, United Quality Productions, Cat Music, V.P Sinaris, Prince Jacob to name a few. Truly Edwin became a household name since then.
In 1986 Edwin started his own production house known as ED Productions which gave number of hit albums like ‘Postman’, ‘Dolle’ (a drama released on audio cassette) which made a record breaking sale then. It sold more than 24,000 copies followed by many other albums like ‘Fator’, ‘Mother Theresa’, ‘Livrament Saibin’ etc. His mother and late brother Simon assisted and supported him in his endeavours. So far, Edwin is having a total of 81 albums to his credit and many more are in the pipeline. His aim is to complete a Century of Albums.
He introduced and promoted many a new talent in the field some of whom have made it to the top of the chart. Enthusiastic Edwin is the first person to market his audio albums by putting stalls at village feast fairs all over Goa. He created a record by releasing 12 cassettes in a single year in 1995 namely ‘Anj Bodvo’, ‘Mahatma Gandhi’, ‘Fator’, ‘Bhangar’, ‘Burgem Nuim Nustem’, ‘Dennem’, ‘Dhorji’, ‘Aimori’, ‘Ful’, ‘Livrament Saibinn’, ‘Fr. Savio’, ‘Dubau’ and ‘St. Francis Xavier’.
Although later on Edwin left for UAE for better prospects, he kept his ED Production house running. In U.A.E ( Ras Al Kahimah) in the year 2006, he organised a musical show in remembrance of legend Alfred Rose which was a big success. Edwin kept his passion for Konkani kantaram alive in UAE also. In the year 2007 he along with other two talented singers based in UAE, Anthony de Nuvem and Manuxin formed a trio which was baptised as ‘Dubai Trio’. This trio is very popular amongst the Tiatr lovers in Gulf and they sing in almost all dramas staged in the desert countries.
So far Edwin has composed more than 10,000 Kantaram, and famous singers of yesteryears to present generation like M. Boyer, Alfred Rose, Romeo Mendes, Betty Naz, Lorna, Peter V. Fernandes, Nephie Rod, Antonette Mendes, Anthony San, Sucurrine, Titta, Betty Naz, Felcy, Peter Roshan, Lawry, Cielda Pereira, etc. have sung songs composed by him.
So far Edwin has composed more than 10,000 Kantaram, and famous singers of yesteryears to present generation like M. Boyer, Alfred Rose, Romeo Mendes, Betty Naz, Lorna, Peter V. Fernandes, Nephie Rod, Antonette Mendes, Anthony San, Sucurrine, Titta, Betty Naz, Felcy, Peter Roshan, Lawry, Cielda Pereira, etc. have sung songs composed by him.
Many reputed organisations felicitated him for his outstanding contributions to the field of Konkani music including Sharjah Goan Community, U.A.E and Bahrain Goans. The Oman Goan Committee even gave him a title of ‘Master Composer’. His love for the Konkani Mother tongue and Goa is inseparable.
Profile Courtesy: Tiatr Academy of Goa
