Participation in folk plays during the Carnival and one-act
plays during the Christmas season helped Michael de Chandor to scale
greater heights in the tiatr field
Minguel F J D’Costa popularly known as Michael de Chandor on
the Konkani stage, was born on September 30, 1971. He completed his primary
education in St Joseph High School, Chandor and higher secondary studies in St
Alex HSS, Curtorim.
During his studies in college, Michael had ample
opportunities to showcase his talents in cultural activities and it was his
colleague, Shahu Almeida from Macazana who encouraged him to participate.
Encouragement helped him win prizes in singing while his companion, Almeida
would pick up prizes for the instrumentals. After completion ofhis higher
secondary studies, Michael grabbed a diploma in catering from Margao.
At the tender age of 16, Michael got an opportunity to
participate as a comedian in folk plays (zomnivhele khell) presented by
Salvador Afonso during the Carnival festival. “From 1987 onwards ‘zomnivhele
fell’ were quite popular in Goa and they would be staged in several villages
across the Salcete taluka,” he revealed.
“During that period folk plays by Milagres de Chandor,
Milagres de Ganapoga and others were quite popular and people would flock to watch
them from every nook and corner of the village,” Michael continued.
"Staging of some of those three folk plays of each director would begin in
the morning and stretch right up to 3a.m. the following day. Such was the craze
among the people,” he added.
Michael continued with folk plays in Salvador Afonso’s troupe
for three consecutive years and thereafter it was a tryst with one-act plays,
which were equally popular during the Christmas season in various parishes
across Goa. He participated in plays staged by Alfred de Chinchinim and a
little later in plays by Nazareth P and Michael.
As folk plays would provide good exposure to tiatrists during
the Carnival festival, Michael joined Benny J Rebello’s troupe and continued
with the same director for two years. Next, it was participation in Jack
Rodson’s troupe for 4 years, Xavier de Maina’s troupe for 2 years and lately
for Peter de Maina in 2020.
Alfred de Chinchinim and Kissan de Chinchinim introduced
Michael to Joe Meny, who roped him in his tiatr ‘Rukh’, followed by tiatr
‘Dukham’ by Salvador Afonso. When Jack de Vasco decided to stage his tiatr
‘Ragan Kazar Mogan Divorce’ at Kala Academy (KA)’s annual tiatr competition,
Michael also found a role in the production.
Seeking greener pastures, Michael decided to seek employment
onboard the ship and joined ‘P&O Cruises’ (1996-2000), followed by ‘Costa
Cruises’ (2001-2006). During vacation, he did not give up his passion for the
tiatr stage and acted in Nazareth and Kissan de Chinchinim’s tiatr ‘Tumchea Hatant
Asa’.
After 10 years of service as a seafarer, Michael returned to
his roots and joined Sons of Anthony de Velsao (Remy) troupe in tiatr
‘Girestkai’, followed by Kissan de Chinchinim’s tiatr ‘Dovlot’. He also
featured in three tiatrs of Jack Rodson, namely ‘Konnuch Noko’, ‘Tum Asli
Zalear’ and ‘Kumsar’, one of Rosario de Areal’s tiatrs, besides acting in tiatr
of Jenny de Germany, Coly Col de Velim and Conception de Tuem.
When the Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition was in
progress, Michael featured in tiatr presented by Amar P Sawant and Xavier de
Maina’s troupe. “It was a different experience at the competition as each
troupe would work hard to give the best of presentation and be the winner,” he
said.
After contributing towards theatrical skills and renditions
in tiatrs by Pascoal de Chicalim and Milagres de Chandor, Michael came in as a
substitute in comedian Dominic’s tiatr ‘Mhaka Tuji Goroz’. He continued with
the same director as a regular in productions ‘Bhogos Mhaka’, ‘Mafi Magtam’,
‘Ami Sogllim Ek’, ‘Aadhar Card’, ‘Housewife’ and ‘Bhailean Butter Bhitorlean
Ghutter’.
Sharing his experience about the tiatr director, comedian
Dominic, Michael confessed that he has a lot of knowledge and patience. “He
gave me a lot of guidance, tapped my potentiality and provided me different
roles in his productions.”
“If he not pleased with performance of any artiste,” Michael
shared, “comedian Dominic would not go forward with his tiatr, until perfection
is obtained from that particular tiatrist.” “Under the mantle of my
director,” he said, “it was like turning coal into gold.”
Grabbing every opportunity that knocked on his door, Michael
presented a programme on youth on Goa Doordarshan in 1997, followed by
participation in four musical plays (songit khell) by Salvador Afonso on All
India Radio (AIR). He has also featured in DVDs, namely Agnelo de Dabolim’s
‘San Anton Ochoriancho’, Richard’s ‘Love Story’ and Neville Pereira’s ‘Rocky’,
besides rendering his voice in one audio CD by Salvador Afonso.
When it comes to composition of songs, Michael enjoys
composing solos, but he has rendered duets, trios penned by other singers.
While composing solos, he picks up a subject or a story and links it to the
Holy Bible and concludes with a message from the Holy Book.
“When amateurs make an entry on the tiatr stage,” Michael
mentions, “they are picked up by different tiatr directors.” “But that should
not be the end of the show,” he says, “instead, the amateurs should work hard
to improve and excel so that the other tiatr directors may find any opportunity
to rope them in their new productions as well.” “Its hard work on the tiatr
stage,” he admits, “but at the end of the day, it will definitely help make a
polished tiatrist,” he signs off.