SATURDAY, MAY 11, 2024
Maina-Curtorim based Joyel Fernandes has emerged as a comedian on the tiatr stage and character roles has always fascinated him, thus standing tall and shining in his talent
Joyel Fernandes, popularly known as comedian Joyel on the Konkani stage, hails from the picturesque and serene village of Maina-Curtorim and was born on August 1, 1997. With primary education at St Rita’s High School, Maina-Curtorim, he decided to go in for hotel management studies at the Institute of Hotel Management (IHM), Porvorim for 6 months.
During his school days, Joyel had ample opportunities to take part in plays staged for various cultural programmes. “But it was never about the role of a comedian,” he stresses. He never dreamt that one fine day he would win the hearts of the audience as a comedian.
In 2012, when staging ‘zomnivhele khell’ during the Carnival festival, Dada de Maina invited Joyel to be part of his folk plays troupe. “Again, it was not decked in the costumes of a comedian,” informed Joyel, “but it was a minor role.”
For the annual chapel feast of St. Sebastian, when the ward youth decided to present a cultural programme, Joyel wore his comic shoes for the first time and stepped on stage along with comedian Riston. “The audience were in awe of my performance and appreciated my inborn talent,” he informed.
Since then, as a comedian, it has been never turning back for comedian Joyel. He continued with Dada de Maina in his troupe for folk plays for another year in 2013 and discontinued. He joined Salvador Afonso’s troupe for children’s tiatr ‘Ugddasak’ as a comedian.
Next, it was an entry in Joesan Afonso’s tiatr ‘Money is Not Everything’, again as a comedian. And in 2015, Rony Socorro invited him to participate in Kala Academy’s annual tiatr ‘A’ group competition in tiatr ‘Ami Sogllim Ek Zaum Ieta’.
As a substitute, comedian Joyel was welcomed in Pascoal de Chicalim’s tiatr ‘Devchar’, where he joined hands with Kenny and Rizton. And thereafter, he continued with the same director in productions ‘Anj Boddvo’ and ‘Sopon’ as a comedian. Taking note of his caliber, Elvis/ Carmin invited comedian Joyel in their production ‘Menache Paktte’, followed by ‘Maie Mogacho Ievkar’. “This director knows how to polish the unpolished,” he noted, appreciating the efforts put in by Elvis to groom him into what he is today.
With expertise in hotel management, comedian Joyel joined the Taj Exotica in Benaulim as a trainee for six months. He was immediately absorbed as a regular employee thereafter, but after a month’s service, he took ill and had to withdraw from job, only to recuperate after two months.
Comedian Joyel then joined the ‘Mitasha’ restaurant in Dovorlim and served there for seven months. During a break for one month, in 2019, he received an invitation from Calado de Verna to be part of his troupe for Lenten show ‘Plan’.
And when comedian Joyel was making plans to go to Dubai for better prospects, he received a call from Roseferns to be part of his dramatic troupe. “During my childhood days,” he narrates, “my father, mother and other family members would enjoy watching tiatrs staged by this director and we would never miss his productions.”
“The desire to be part of Roseferns’ troupe and reach at a certain level in tiatr field was always there in my heart,” revealed comedian Joyel. Recommendation by comedienne Dorothy helped and worked wonders for him.
Comedian Joyel’s entry in Roseferns dramatic troupe came about in 2019 in tiatr ‘Eke Avoicho Anvddo’, followed by ‘Tempa Pormonnem’ staged during the monsoon season and ‘It’s My Life’, which celebrated its golden jubilee.
During the Lenten season, comedian Joyel made the second entry in Calado de Verna’s production ‘Devacho Munis’. In 2021, he appeared in Roseferns’ Easter release show ‘Vag ani Sunnem’ and continues with the same director.
Way back, when comedian Joyel’s paternal uncle, Bonny Fernandes released cassettes, his father, Rocky Fernandes, who is fond of singing, rendered songs along with Roshan and probably he might have acquired the art of singing and love for tiatrs.
As a political singer, being a great fan of Francis de Tuem, rendition of some of his hit songs during leisure helped comedian Joyel to pick up some of the nuances. He later kicked off on the tiatr stage, rendering political songs wrapped with comedy, in the form of duos and trios.
“For village feasts in Maina- Curtorim,” recalls comedian Joyel, “it was always staging of tiatrs by comedian Agostinho and comedian Selvy was all-time favourite of the audience.” Although he was inspired by comedian Selvy to hop into the shoes of a comedian, Ben Evangelisto is his favourite comedian as he enjoys his character roles and dialogue delivery on stage.
Presently doling out performances on stage with Nato and Dorothy in Roseferns’ four productions, comedian Joyel enjoys character roles more than any other role. He had similar opportunities in Roseferns’ tiatr ‘Eke Avoicho Anvddo’ and Calado de Verna’s show ‘Plan’, wherein he had to enact the role of a girl and he doled out performances with gusto.
“When it comes to director Roseferns,” comedian Joyel informs, “he is very supportive and provides everything with the release of his new production, right from script, comedy and songs.” “Adding of extra masala and polishing the provided stuff is up to the artistes later,” he adds.
Comedian Joyel’s first song ‘Mog Amgelo Kukdukoo’ on YouTube along with Antonette de Maina clicked, thus receiving 20,000 views within 24 hours. He has noted that many amateur artistes step on the tiatr stage today, seeking only fame and not for the genuine love of tiatrs.
For those aspiring to make an entry on stage as a comedian, “respect the seniors,” comedian Joyel advises, “and take their suggestions, corrections with a humble heart.” “They too have passed through the tidal waves and reached greater heights. You too will enjoy the honours someday,” he signs off.
