Betty Ferns
Maria Vithal Fernandes, popularly known as Betty Ferns on the Konkani stage, originally hails from Morod, Sangolda in Bardez taluka. Born on November 4, she was brought up in Mumbai and was christened Betty Ferns by her godmother, Beatrice D'Souza, who was also her maternal aunt.
Maria Vithal Fernandes, popularly known as Betty Ferns on the Konkani stage, originally hails from Morod, Sangolda in Bardez taluka. Born on November 4, she was brought up in Mumbai and was christened Betty Ferns by her godmother, Beatrice D'Souza, who was also her maternal aunt.
Betty Ferns cherished a dream to act in films since childhood. A building opposite her residence on Claire Road was home to some Anglo- Indian people who worked in Bollywood films. " This one day, I was in my verandah when some directors came over to their place. I was a pretty girl and they took notice of me.
They then inquired about me and asked whether I would be interested in acting.
But my brother, late Alfred Fernandes, who was a good artiste, drove them away as he feared disaster if I pursued that career,” she relates.
Blessed with three sisters, the eldest, Antonette, got married to C Alvares's brother, Tommy, and settled down in Sangolda, while the second sister, Ramona, tied the knot with Prem Kumar and settled down in Bombay Central. Betty's third sister, Maxie, is presently residing in Wadala.
On a trip to Goa, after Antonette's wedding, Betty found a role for herself in a tiatr, ' Noxib Strikevaleachem', which was presented by prompter Anthony Fernandes and staged in the village.
On returning to Mumbai, her godmother convinced her brother and she stepped into the world of tiatr. " Initially, my brother, who loved me a lot, discouraged me from acting in films and tiatrs," she says, " but finally it I ended up becoming an actor on stage." When C Alvares staged his tiatr ' Bhorvanso' in Mumbai, Betty was roped in and later she found herself in several of his tiatrs, including his All Ladies Show ' Khoincho Sakrament'. His other tiatrs in which she featured include ' Honrad Goenkar', ' Goencho Mog', ' Jurament', ' Axea', ' Mhozo Put Padri', ' Hatantlim Kanknam', ' Duddvankar Zatoloi', ' Sonvsar Sudhorlo Punn Munis Sudhronk Na' and others.
She was also picked up for a minor role in Chris Perry's Konkani film ' Bhiumarantlo Munis', besides tiatr ' Novro Mhozo Devchar'. Betty Ferns reveals that Prem Kumar penned tiatrs with good roles for her; ' Jivit Ek Sopon', which carried an unique role, was one of the memorable ones, besides tiatr ' Rinn', which had a revolving stage. Shealso acted as a comedian with M Boyer in the same director's tiatr ' Tum Modhem Poddonaka'. His other tiatrs that she was a part of include ' Tuje Dis Bhorle', ' No Time', ' Govai', ' Dubhav', ' Jivit Ek Sopon', ' Vauraddi', ' Dukh', ' Piso', ' Hanv Kitem Korum?', ' Maria Magdalen', and ' Abdul N D'Souza', among others.
She also featured in late M Boyer's several tiatrs, but she considers his tiatr ' Mog, Kazar, Divors' as the best as she had a good role in it. Some of their other tiatrs together are ' Bhurgem ani Bhangar', ' Adim Tem Atam Hem' and ' Sounsar Sudhorlo', among others.
Betty Ferns had a good role in late Remmie Colaco's tiatr ' Ghorachem Sukh' Part I & II, besides a memorable role of a pickpocket in Mendes Brothers' tiatr ' Bomboicho Dada' and a comedy role with Mendes Brothers in tiatrs ' Dharunn Vhoddil' and ‘ Ghuttachi Battli’. She also featured in Mike Mehta's noted tiatr ' Grant Road' wherein she had only two entries as a prostitute, but received applause and appreciation from the audience.
Betty Ferns was also fortunate to act in tiatrs staged by Robin Vaz, Star of Arossim, Kid Boxer, Anthony Colaco, Jacint Vaz, Samuel Carvalho, Dominic Fernandes, Menino de Bandar, Rosario Rodrigues and Rosario Dias. In 1978, when Betty Ferns penned her own tiatr, ' Maim Konnank Zai', and it was staged at three different places in Mumbai, it was an instant hit and ran to a packed house, surprising contractor Michael Correia.
Betty Ferns was the first Mumbai artiste to act in Rosario Rodrigues's khell tiatr ' Ekech Ratri Ami Fator'. She also featured in late Bab Peter's tiatrs ' Maink Zai Punn Paik Naka', ' Mijeas' and several others, besides Rico Rod's tiatr ' Zogzogta Tem Bhangar Nhoi’ and others.
Under Ambika Films, Betty Ferns also featured in Das Konkani film ' Girestkai', besides acting in Chris/ Meena's tiatr ' Anvddo'. She last appeared in Dominic Fernandes's tiatr ' Amchem Khoim Chukta, Sodhun Kadd'. Although Betty Ferns feels more comfortable and confident in acting rather than singing, she has rendered duets with C Alvares, Bab Peter, Prem Kumar, Young Mendes, H Briton, Robin Vaz, Francis de Parra, Joe Rose and trios with Anthony San. She also acted in Joe Rose’s tiatrs ‘ Ekuch Rogot’, ‘ Sun Nhoim Sunnem’, ‘ Dev Konnacho’ and others.
Now in her seventies, Mumbai- based Betty Ferns is still active on stage and would like to continue rendering her acting skills as and when required. She was recently felicitated in Mumbai for her immense contribution in tiatr by the 125th Tiatr Celebrations Committee.
I t was in one of Jacinto Vaz's tiatrs where Betty Ferns was offered a role which received instant negative criticism from the audience. " Spectators hooted at me," she says, " and I was in tears. M Boyer, Jacint Vaz and Remmie Colaco encouraged me backstage, reassuring me that it was a good role and there was no reason to weep." But when the same audience came to the green room and complimented me for the role, it was a boost to my confidence.
Profile Courtesy: Pio EstEvEs in Herald
