To keep the trend moving on the Konkani stage, some tiatrists follow their ancestors, while others draw inspiration from their role models, in picking up various theatrical skills.
Joaquim Santana Marques, popularly known as Marques Pereira on the tiatr stage, has followed in the footsteps of his uncle, late Francis Anton Pereira, and looked forward to Anthony (Trio Kings) as his role model, in order to become a noted singer on the Konkani stage.
Hailing from the picturesque village of Betalbatim in Salcete taluka and born on January 12, 1967, Marques would observe his uncle minutely, as he scripted and staged folk plays (zomnivhele khell) during the Carnival festival. His uncle told him “People looked forward to my folk plays in the village, known as ‘shet’”
A fisherman by profession, Francis Anton Pereira was uneducated, but was quick in composing ‘cantos’ for the folk plays. And Marques would learn them instantly. “He would also remember all the dialogues of his folk plays and would not tolerate any changes made to his script by the artistes,” he said.
Marques attributes his expertise in penning dialogues and ‘cantos’ to his late uncle. “My uncle was a fan of the Trio Kings and Anthony was his close friend. He would never miss any tiatrs featuring the trio,” he revealed.
Marques would always accompany his uncle for tiatrs, “and the presence of Trio Kings on stage then, was a crowd puller.” Over a period of time, he developed liking for Anthony (Trio Kings) and picked up his style of composing songs and renditions.
Seeking greener pastures, in 1978-79, Marques proceeded to Mumbai and served in the International Hotel in Bandra. Thereafter, he joined Mehboob Studio in the same locality and served there for one and half year.
During his service in the hotel for four years, Marques encountered a tourist from Germany, who assisted him in preparing his passport. Next, he flew to Dubai where he served in Aburia Centre as a supervisor.
While holidaying in Goa, Marques encountered the late William de Curtorim, who was invited to render a song in a tiatr staged by the village youth in Betalbatim. “It was a period when late St Pope John Paul II had visited Goa,” he said, and composition of a song was in the making.”
“But late William de Curtorim also composed a song on the Pope and as a senior artiste,” Marques revealed, “first preference was given to him on stage by the director. He stepped down and allowed the senior to render his song.
After the show, William de Curtorim requested Marques to meet him in Margao, but the encounter never materialized. After three and a half years, when he returned from abroad, he met the same tiatrist, when staging one of his tiatrs at Gomant Vidya Niketan, Margao.
William de Curtorim was thrilled to meet Marques and requested him to render the same song penned on the Pope, which he had missed out in his village earlier. “Instead, a song ‘Ek Ghoddi’ was rendered in the tiatr,” he said, “thus making the first entry on the professional stage.”
Thereafter, Marques was part of William de Curtorim’s troupe and he rendered four solos in two tiatrs of the same director. “It was a pleasure working with William,” he said, “as he was noted for his ‘jet speed’ political renditions.”
In 1988, from Dubai, Marques moved to Kuwait and during his stay there, he released his first CD/VCD titled ‘Saibinnichim Vizmitam’. Again, when in Goa for holidays, there was another tiatr by comedian John D’Silva being staged in his village. At the request of the then panch, Michael, he rendered a solo in the tiatr.
Comedian John D’Silva was impressed by Marques’ song and wished to rope him in his future tiatrs. He contacted the panch and got in touch with Marques, who willingly accepted the offer, thus performing in another four productions of the director.
Later, Marques joined comedian Ambe’s troupe after he was introduced to the director by late Wilma Pacheco. He composed a song based on a true life incidence at the Varca village and it was rendered in tiatr ‘Builder’, to be released immediately the following day.
“On the day of the release of tiatr ‘Builder’,” Marques narrated, “another incident was reported at Margao bus stand, whereby a youth stabbed his fiancée. Soon, another composition followed, which was rendered for a show at Kala Academy, Panjim, after three days of the gruesome incidence.”
Marques also rendered his voice in tiatrs presented by Dominic Carvalho for two seasons. He was also part of Derick d’Melo’s troupe in tiatrs staged at the Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition for four years. He picked up prizes for ‘quartets’ for three consecutive years.
Moving a step forward, Marques decided to step into the director’s shoes and penned his first tiatr ‘Noxib’, which was staged only in the villages, followed by tiatrs ‘Ugddas’, ‘Ollokh Korat’, ‘Xikololo-i Chukta’ and ‘Moddi Poddlo’.
Apart from renditions on stage, which is his forte, Marques has also picked up roles and enacted five different roles in tiatr ‘Koddu’ by comedian John D’Silva. He was also seen as a priest in tiatrs ‘Udok’ and ‘Bentin’.
In Zina’s tiatr ‘Undrachea Ragan Ghorak Uzo’, Marques had a minor role, besides songs. He was also presented as a singer in tiatr ‘Oxem Kiteak Ghoddta’ by Lawrence Mascarenhas.
In 2013-14, when Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) presented the Popular Tiatr Festival, Marques won the best lyricist award in comedian John D’Silva’s tiatr ‘Koddu’. During the 125th tiatr celebrations, he was also felicitated by the organizers for his immense contribution towards tiatr.
When penning songs, Marques tackles true life incidents and prefers to make his songs presentable through narration of stories. He is more comfortable with solos and trios, but has also composed duets and rendered them with Martha and Melisha.
Asked about the future of tiatrs, Marques foresees a bleak future. “Earlier, people would flock to watch tiatrs as they would get to enjoy several ‘cantos’, besides comedy entwined in the main plot,” Marques said. “Today, the tiatr fans miss those elements,” he said,
