Jack Souza Ferrão

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Jack Souza Ferrão
Ferrão in an undated portrait released by Tiatr Academy of Goa in 2019
Born
Joaquim Conceicão Souza Ferrão

(1937-03-15)15 March 1937
Died25 November 2013(2013-11-25) (aged 76)
NationalityIndian
EducationGuardian Angel High School, Sanvordem
Occupations
  • Actor
  • singer
  • playwright
  • director
Years active1944–2000s
OrganisationGoenche Fulte Bonge
Notable work
Parent
RelativesA. R. Souza Ferrão (uncle)
AwardsTAG's "Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Award" (2011)

Joaquim Conceicão "Jack" Souza Ferrão (15 March 1937 – 25 November 2013) was an Indian actor, singer, playwright, and theatre director known for his work in Konkani films and tiatr productions.

Career[edit]

Ferrão made his debut in the world of tiatr, a traditional Goan form of musical theater, at the tender age of seven in 1944. He first appeared in the tiatr production called Kunbi Jakki, based on Kunbis, originally written by João Agostinho Fernandes and later restaged and produced by his uncle, A. R. Souza Ferrão. He realized his dream of becoming a tiatrist by participating in another tiatr directed by Antonio Joaquim Dias, who was the father of the Konkani playwright Aristides Dias. This early experience marked the beginning of Ferrão's journey as a performer in the tiatr industry. Throughout his career, Ferrão established himself as a tiatrist, collaborating with Konkani directors such as Florence Fernandes de Santa Cruz, Tony Sax, Menino Colaço, Jephsis Hitler, Remmie Colaço, Rosario Dias, Mike Mehta, Anil Kumar, and others. He showcased his talent and versatility by taking on various roles and working with different directors. He also performed with the group turned organization Goenche Fulte Bonge led by Rosario Dias.[1]

Ferrão's performance in Sadashiv Bandekar's adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet in 1959, staged in Curchorem, garnered acclaim. Another role was his portrayal of a mamlatdar, a local administrative officer, in Mike Mehta's production titled Goem Tum Roddonaka (Goa, don't Cry). Initially, Ferrão started his career by taking on comedy roles but later transitioned to character roles. In addition to acting, Ferrão displayed his musical abilities by lending his voice to several tiatrs, including Bhauponnacho Kaido (The rule of Brotherhood), Onupkari Put (Ungrateful Son), Bhavank Lagon (Due to feelings), Kitem Amcho Fuddar (What is our future?), Kirmidor (The Criminal), Botler Bab, and others. Ferrão's contributions to the tiatr industry extended beyond acting and singing. He ventured into directing, taking charge of Fr. Jose Antonio Costa's tiatr Dr. Alfred and John Dias' Hanv Rinnkari (I'm the Debtor). Furthermore, Ferrão wrote and directed three of his own tiatrs: Nossai (Jealousy), Avoichem Sukh (Mother's Happiness), and Pai Hanv Bhurgo Mungha. Outside of tiatr, Ferrão also made appearances in Konkani films such as Amchem Noxib (1963), Nirmon (1966), Bhuierantlo Munis (1977), Zababdari, and others.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Joaquim Conceicão Souza Ferrão was born on 15 March 1937 in Sanvordem, Goa, which was a part of Portuguese India during the Portuguese Empire (now in India), to A. F. Souza Ferrão and Maria Consescao Mascarenhas. Ferrão hailed from a family deeply rooted in the tradition of tiatr, a form of Konkani theater. His paternal uncle, A. R. Souza Ferrão, was a Konkani actor and playwright. Ferrão's passion for tiatr blossomed during his formative years as a student at Guardian Angel High School in Sanvordem. He actively participated in several tiatr productions as an actor. Ferrão performed under the guidance of directors such as Paixão Manuel Pereira, Sebastião Pereira, Abdonio Rodrigues, Mathew Pereira, and Prof. C. A. Gomes.[1] On 25 November 2013, Ferrão died in Margao, Goa, aged 76.[2]

Awards[edit]

On 14 December 2011,[3] Ferrão was honored with the "Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Award" during the commemoration of the 140th Birth Anniversary of João Agostinho Fernandes, the father of tiatr. The event took place at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao and was arranged by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG).[4]

Legacy[edit]

On 12 September 2023, the Nosa Senhora De Rosa Mystica Association Goa, in partnership with Special Olympics Bharat Goa, Gujarati Samaj Educational Trust Special School, Margao, and Rev Fr. Franky Fernandes OFMCap, coordinated the inaugural All Goa Jack Souza Ferrao Memorial Special Olympics Futsal Championship 2023. The event took place at the Camp Souza Multi Sports Facility in Camurlim and welcomed sixty special students from six teams representing six schools. Additionally, the tournament included a unified futsal match featuring international footballers.[5]

Select filmography[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1963 Amchem Noxib [1]
1966 Nirmon Titi
1977 Bhuierantlo Munis
2004 Zababdari [6][1]

Selected stage works[edit]

Year Title Role Notes Ref
1944 Kunbi Jakki Unnamed role Debut as child artiste [1]
1940s Untitled tiatr
1959 Hamlet Konkani adaptation
Goem Tum Roddonaka Mamlatdar
Bhauponnacho Kaido Singer
Onupkari Put Singer
Bhavank Lagon Singer
1950s Kitem Amcho Fuddar Singer [7][1]
1973 Kirmidor Singer [8][1]
Botler Bab Singer [1]
Dr. Alfred Director
Hanv Rinnkari Director
Nossai Writer/director
Avoichem Sukh Writer/director
Pai Hanv Bhurgo Mungha Writer/director

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Mazarello, Sharon (2019). TIATR 125th Anniversary Commemorative Volume. Panaji, Goa: Tiatr Academy of Goa. pp. 90–91.
  2. ^ "Directorate of planning, statistics and evaluation and office of the chief registrar of births and deaths". Goa Online. 2 December 2013. Archived from the original on 23 January 2024. Retrieved 29 December 2023.
  3. ^ "Veteran tiatr artistes honoured". The Times of India. 2011-12-20. ISSN 0971-8257. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  4. ^ Times, Navhind (2011-12-20). "TAG remembers and honours veteran tiatrists – The Navhind Times". Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  5. ^ "Special Olympics futsal at Camorlim". The Goan EveryDay. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  6. ^ "Konkani VCD 1 new + 4 Releasing soon (plus updated list of 74 VCDs)". Goa World. 2004-02-08. Archived from the original on 2004-02-08. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  7. ^ "The Drums go silent..." The Goan EveryDay. Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
  8. ^ Desk, N. T. (2019-10-20). "TAG to remember tiatr artistes of yesteryears – The Navhind Times". Archived from the original on 2024-02-26. Retrieved 2024-02-26.

External links[edit]