Agnelo Luzerio Fernandes (Agnelo de Borim)
Father: Joao Jose Fernandes
Mother: Rubertina Fernandes
Place of Birth: Panjim
Birthdate: 26th March 1965
Residence: Borim, Ponda, Goa.
Brought up in this serene village, on the banks of river Zuari. Tall, swinging coconut trees, green fields, shapely hillocks and cool areca nut gardens with flowing spring water, temples, church and crosses once defined this beautiful village. Have stayed in Borim all along.
Education: Diploma in Civil Eng, works as junior engineer for Water Resources Department. Maths has been my favorite subject. I grew up like a normal village child with hardly any pre-set goals. However with math as a favorite subject then decided to take up engineering.
Favorite food: Goan. Even for buffets and big parties I look out for Goan Xit Koddi
Favorite type clothing:: Mostly ethnic wear, but on stage it depends on the occasion and characters I present.
It was when I was in third standard, for annual social, our class put up a Marathi Drama. People appreciated my role, specially my dialogue delivery and my diction in Marathi. I cannot recollect my first experience but theater is one, which gives me satisfaction.
Theater specially, the rich Goan Tiatr, besides entertaining the audience has also been instrumental in educating, awakening the masses. There is no bar of age, sex, religion, caste for the audience as such, the impact is tremendous. The tiatr encompasses wider forms of stage art viz., dance, song, music etc. Its an unique stage art form found nowhere else in the world.
I’m not a commercial artiste but have a great liking for theater. I’ve attended seminars, workshops on scriptwriting, theater orientation, read books, had discussions with professional on this, worked under talented directors.
I’ve tried my hand on script writing, have won numerous prizes including the prestigious State Literary Award of Konkani Bhasha Mandal. Scripted One act play viz. Ek Rukh, Ek Daag, Akantvadi, Soirik, Itihas, etc., and folk plays for AIR viz. Bhavnancho khell, Nomuno, Daag etc. Wrote Tiatr Amdaar, Guneavanchi Puja, Oxem ek lhar, He Daag ken’na pustole?, Fantodd, Dovornnem, etc composed lyrics for songs for two Konkani Albums: Chitt (1990) and Goenkar Muzg (1996).
Produced all my above named plays under different banners with professional and amateur artistes. Oxem ek ilhar, the first tiatr production of Vandana Productions, Borim won as many as 12 prizes at Tiatr competition organized by Kala Academy in 1996.
Individually organized many Konkani musical shows viz. Kandllam onvllam, zayo-zuyo, Xevtim abolim, Zatra, Goenkar Muzg, Daiz etc. Co-ordinated for production of Audio album ALVORADA which consists of Brass band played for Goan feasts.
Future plans: The scripts of my tiatr specially “Oxem ek lhar” and “Fantod” have been appreciated by critics with suggestions to go commercial. Fantodd which deals with the degradation of Goan values and is very much relevant today is waiting for a good financier.
Regarding the Tiatr industry, it provides enough to sustain the families of “professional”. However if not exploited carefully it might be a liability to the future generation. The elders have sacrificed a lot for the survival of this Tiatr. The present generation tiatrist has not been fully successful in endearing today’s generation to the auditoria. The production of Tiatr should satisfy the taste of youth today who are exposed to different technicalities of theater. The subjects and concepts also remains the same.
I see no Konkani movies today which can touch the quality of Amchem Noxib, Nirmonn which were produced with limited technology. With advanced technology, today’s film producers are at an advantage to produce better films but commitment is lacking.
Tiatr, if taken with full dedication, can safeguard you future. The artistes are paid well now. With improved transport system, artistes can reach home early. The society is respecting the artistes nowadays. The aspirants can confidently enter this field. With full dedication and respect the fellow artiste and the audience they can make a name for themselves.
Vandana Productions Borim was founded in 1990 aiming towards resurrecting the fading canvasses of Goa’s rich heritage. Vandana Productions is organizing the Tiatr competitions in south Goa for the last nine years. Despite financial constraints, Vandana Productions has been able to continue organizing this event annually giving enough opportunity to people of South. Tiatr has a unique style of presentation and Vandana Productions strives to preserve this. The brass band is rare species now, the rich music which was as essence of Goan festive spirit is on the verge of its last leg. Alvorada, the dawn of Goan celebrations is produced and preserved in the form of CD. Vandana Productions intends starting music classes for brass band. VP also wants to study the traditional “khell” and present it in original form.