BENAULIM: In the early hours of Tuesday morning, the Konkani stage lost one of its most noted tiatrists, Joaquim J Fernandes, famously known as ‘Jaju’. The thespian suffered a massive heart attack, and died on his way to hospital. He was 63.
Funeral will be held on Thursday (April 13) at Holy Trinity Church, Benaulim, at 10 am.
Born on September 29, 1960, Jaju hailed from the village of tiatrists, Benaulim, and was the son of Joaquim M Fernandes and Maria R E Fernandes. Jaju began his career by featuring in his brother Roseferns’ tiatr ‘Thapott’ and went on to give plenty of memorable performances during his career.
Despite his fame for playing the role of a villain, Jaju was comfortable in any character, including comedy. In 2010, he joined comedian Agostinho’s troupe in ‘Advogad’, which produced several hit tiatrs such as ‘Interview’, ‘Police’, ‘Public’, and ‘Fight for Right’. Jaju later rejoined his brother Roseferns’ troupe for his 98th production ‘Atam Yeyat’, followed by the 99th production ‘Jevnnant Fator’, the 100th production ‘Amche Modem Jiyeta’ and the 101st production ‘Ek Nam Ek Dis’.
He thereafter decided to continue supporting his brother in his future ventures on the tiatr stage.
On April 10 at 7.30 pm, Jaju was last seen in Roseferns’ 102nd production ‘Hem Oxench Choltolem?’ at Arambol, where he played two different roles, that of a driver and Chairman of the Education Board. One of the artistes in the troupe, Meena Goes, said Jaju looked hale and healthy throughout the show, and the troupe returned home around 1.30 am, after the show.
Jaju was not only an actor but also a singer, having lent his voice to many albums by Roseferns, Pascoal, Saby de Divar, and others. He acted in several films, including ‘Ek Vat Mennachi’, ‘Vankddo Tinkddo Mog’, ‘Old Age Home’, ‘Public’, among others. Jaju produced one CD ‘Xim’, which showcased performances all over Goa, Mumbai, Pune, and internationally in Kuwait, Bahrain, Muscat, Qatar, Dubai, and the UK. He won the Jack Sequeira Award for his role in the tiatr ‘Mahanand Munis vo Soitan’ and was felicitated with the Lifetime Achievement Award by the 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebration Committee. In 2021, he received the Lifetime Contribution to Khell/Khell Tiatr Awards from the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG).
Jaju was not only a great tiatrist, but also an executive member of the Goa Football Association (GFA) and founder member of the Konknni Non-Stop Tiatristanchi Sonstha (KNTS). The president of Tiatr Academy of Goa, Menino Fernandes, expressed his condolences, adding that Jaju’s immense contribution towards the growth of tiatr will remain a treasure for years to come.