Titta Pretto

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

Betty Ferns

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.

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