FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: Hundreds of tiatr artistes, tiatr lovers, Konkani activists, priests, nuns and fans of tiatr from across the State bid tearful and ‘Nimanno Adeus’ to Tragedy King of Konkani stage Mario Menezes on Wednesday and hailed him for his contribution to Konkani language in general.
Final rites on the mortal body of Mario Menezes were held at Chinchinim, which was attended by the people in large numbers, including tiatr artistes and family members.
It is pertinent to note that the King of Tragedy plunged Goa into a deep tragedy on a day that will always be known as “Black Saturday”, for Goa's tiatr lovers. Veteran and versatile tiatr personality popularly known as “Tragedy King” of the Konkani stage and Vice-President of Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) Mario Menezes passed away in tragic circumstances.
He along with 15 other tiatr artistes was on their way to Mumbai to perform the tiatr “Tandulanchem Kestanv”, written by Pai Tiatrist Joao Agostinho Fernandes and directed by his colleague Menino de Bandar. Mario suffered a major heart complication in the train at Chiplun, in which he was travelling to Mumbai.
On Wednesday, hundreds of tiatr lovers, including tiatr artistes and eminent personalities of different sections of the society bid adeus to Mario, wherein the Eucharistic celebration was held at Our Lady of Hope Church, Chinchinim.
Representatives from TAG and Art and Culture Department were seen along with hundred others to attend the final rites on his mortal body. The church premises were fully packed but with a people of broken hearts.
Speaking to Herald, Ben Evangelisto, close friend of Mario and senior tiatr artiste said that the death of Mario is a big loss to tiatr fraternity.
"Being a Vice-President of TAG he was always active and wanted to promote tiatr by implementing different schemes of the Academy. He was like a backbone of the executive committee of the Academy and like a brother to me," he stated.
He further said that Mario was very approachable and kind to all.
"He had a vision for the Tiatr and now it will be our responsibility to carry forward his dreams for the upliftment of the Tiatr stage,” said Ben.
Lawry Travaso, member of Menezes Theatre and famed tiatrist said that Mario was amongst the few tiatr artistes who were humble and helpful.
"I was a part and parcel of his Menezes Theatre for the last 21 years and we had worked very closely on the tiatr stage. He was known to all, as he was very humble to tiatr lovers. Nobody will be able to fill the gap created due to his lost," he stated.
Fr Milagres Dias stated that even the priests in Goa were shocked to hear the news of Mario’s death.
"Nobody will be able to remove or wipe out the title given to him as the Tragedy King of Konkani stage," he stated.
Melita Rodrigues, a staff at Tiatr Academy of Goa also shared her experience with Mario, who was a Vice-President of TAG and said that he was humble to all.
"We will really miss his presence in the office, as he had always treated us as his family members. No words to express his loss to us,” she stated.
Mario’s two daughters Rioma and Riosha too expressed their gratitude.
