Edwin D'Costa

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.

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

Jesus Antao

COMEDIAN JESUS

Real Name: Jose Jesus Marcelino Antao

Stage Name: Comedian Jesus

Date of Birth: 22nd July 1963 Chinchinim Goa

Comedian Jesus Antao’s first stint on commercial tiar stage was when George Fernandes gave him a break in his non-stop show ‘Dusman’ in the year 1982. The show had a successful run of over 50 shows in all over Goa. Here Comedian Jesus got a golden opportunity to showcase his acting talent in a commercial tiatr. His performance was noticed by playwright Meninio de Bandar who immediately roped him into his troupe for ‘Deodita’ in 1984. This was followed by ‘Succorina’ (in the same year), which became the first non-stop show in tiatr history to cross the double century mark, thus fortifying Antao’s position as one of the most promising comedians on the stage. Then Goa’s famed playwright, late Rosario Rodrigues cast him into his all-time hit ‘Fulam ani Kolle’ (1987) and he continued in his troupe for several seasons. Thereafter there was no looking back for young, enthusiastic Jesus Antao and he went on to become a household name, a comedian to reckon with.

At the peak of this acting career, misfortune struck him. On February 15, 1990, when returning home after a late night show at Ponda, Antao met with a severe road accident that seriously injured him. He lay in coma for 38 days with severe head injuries and multiple leg fractures. After a miraculous recovery, he took a break from the stage for one full year before making a comeback in Rosario’s show ‘Anik Ek Mhoino’.

He has also acted for A. M. Pacheco, Roseferns, Mike Mehta, Vitorin Pereira, late Rosario Dias, late Christopher Leitao and many others. Comedian Jesus Antao is a much sought after actor for his natural flair for comedy and still going great guns.

Comedian Jesus Antao has released 5 audio albums namely

1. Hanv MP

2. Saguvad

3. Money Order

4. Repeat Repeat

5. Holiday

He also has 4 Comedy Video albums to his credit:

1. Aashirvad

2. Budvont Jackinas

3. Hansot Rau

4. Fottkiro Agent

Socorrinha Fizardo - Succurine

Real Name: Socorrinha Fizardo

Stage Name: Succurine

Date of Birth: 31st August 1950 - Goa

Socorrinha Fizardo, one of the most versatile female artiste of the tiatr stage, popularly known as Succurine, was born on 31st August, 1950. Originally hailing from Ribandar, her father Ligorio D’Mello, also a popular lyricist/actor and mother Natalina Fernandes were settled at Sewree in Mumbai.

Her father staged his first drama written and directed by himself entitled ‘Poileo Char Vostu’ in which she performed. Thereafter, she acted in many tiatrs of well- known dramatists like M.Boyer’s ‘Sounsar Sudorlo’, Alfred Rose’s ‘Angounechi Vokol’, Prem Kumar’s ‘Khoto Poiso’, C. Alvares’ ‘Goencho Mog’ and an all ladies show ‘Khuincho Sakrament?’, besides performing for Remmie Colaco, Kid Boxer, H. Britton, Young Menezes, Robin Vaz, etc.

In the new generation of directos of the tiatr stage, Socorrinha has acted for Comedian Domnic, Marian Fernandes, John Moraes, Samuel Carvalho and many more. In many shows, she has imitated M. Boyer by dressing in his attire and singing in his style.

Socorrinha has produced Konkani Audio Cassettes and C.Ds with songs sung by her, most of which were composed by her father Ligorio and Tony Martins with music composed by late Marian Fernandes, Babush Fernandes, Ronnie Monserate, Maestro Josinho, Norman and many others. Some of the titles of her productions are ‘Pixem’, ‘Bach ke Rehena’, ‘Barbie Doll’, etc. She has also rendered songs on about 200 C.Ds brought out by various directors and producers.

As an artiste, she has extensively travelled and performed worldwide mainly in the Gulf countries like Dubai, Doha Qatar and Kuwait and also in Germany, London and Canada.

For her immense contribution to the tiatr stage, as a singer and actor, she was felicitated and honored by the Kala Academy Goa on the occasion of the Tiatr Day Celebrations. She has also conferred upon, Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Award by Tiatr Academy of Goa in the year 2014.

Profile Courtesy: Tiatr Academy of Goa.