Titta Pretto
Tito Mathias Estaphania Preto, a senior tiatr artiste from Aldona, popularly known as Titta Preto, was born on 4th January, 1933. The Preto family moved to Dhobi Talao, Mumbai when Titta was in his teens.
While in Mumbai when he watched his 30 years senior co-villager J.P. Souzalin’s tiatr “Poilea Cheddeacho Baltim”, he noticed his another co-villager Alfred Rose rendering a solo song. He was so impressed with his performance that there and then he decided to make career as a Tiatrist. He first stepped on the Tiatr stage at the age of 15 in a Tiatr written by Frank de St. Cruz. He got ample opportunities to watch tiatrs staged by senior tiatrists of Mumbai. Some tiatr artistes from among Goans settled in Karachi used to come to Mumbai with their tiatrs, one amongst them being Ambrose Fernandes who took his stage name as A. M. B. Rose (father of Alfred Rose). Titta’s uncle arranged him a job in Royal Bombay Yatch Club near Gateway of India. Thereafter, he joined the famous Ritz Hotel near Churchgate which housed the Italian Expresso Coffee Bar. This place was frequented by Bollywood
actors like Nargis, Raj Kapoor, Dev Anand, etc. Titta used to get tips from these actors for providing service to them which he used to save. With these savings, Titta assisted A. M. Bengalu to put up his tiatr “Chikott ani Pankott’ in which he acted in a comedy role with perfection. Thereafter, many Directors took him in their tiatrs and thus there was no looking back for Titta.
In 1950, he brought out his first Tiatr “Atanchim Kazaram” which was a hit and further went on to write and direct “Soitananchim Tainnim”, ‘Pai Tum Chol Ghara”,“Mogak Lagon”, “Bombaikarachi Bail” “Disgras” and “Kirmidoracho Xevott” which were well accepted by the audience.
Titta is a versatile character actor and an ace comedian and has performed for almost all topmost directors of Tiatr stage of his time like late Saib Rocha, J. P. Souzalin, C. Alvares, M. Boyer, Remmie Colaco, Minguel Rod, Jacinto Vaz, Rico Rod, Prem Kumar, Alfred Rose, Kid Boxer, Ophelia, Bab Peter and others. He has also portrayed ladies roles in many tiatrs with aplomb. He has acted in thousands of tiatrs staged in Goa, Mumbai and other parts of the country and foreign countries like Gulf, Africa and UK.
Besides Tiatr, Titta has proved his mettle in Konkani films too having featured in Classics like “Nirmonn”, “Amchem Noxib” and “Kortubancho Sounsar”. He also has the credit in acting in a Hindi film “Love in Goa”.
He is a good singer too and has produced three audio albums namely “Goa Amcho Gaum”. “Don’t Worry Be Happy” and “Retired Tarvotti”, which have won the hearts of music loving Goans.
Quite for a long time, Titta Preto has been lending a helping hand to almost all the tiatr directors from Goa to stage their shows in Mumbai, Poona, Calcutta and even Delhi by making arrangements, like booking of halls, stage setting, arranging Censor Board Certificates, etc.
Titta is a recipient of TAG’s Life Time Contribution to Tiatr Award 2009. He was also felicitated by Kala Academy Goa for his immense contribution to Konkani stage. Recently he was
felicitated at Ravindra Bhavan, Margao by Tiatr Academy Goa, Art & Culture Department and 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations Committee in their inaugural function.
The octogenarian Titta Preto has given yeoman’s service to the tiatr stage for the last about 69 years and continues to serve till today although the age is soon catching up with him.
Profile Courtesy: Tiatr Academy of Goa
