Justiniano marches towards gold

Justiniano Fernandes from Sanguem is grateful to his late father Francisco Fernandes, who was a musician and tiatrist, for inculcating in him the taste for singing and acting. “When I was studying in class III in Milagres High School, Sanguem, my father taught me a comedy song and I presented it for a cultural programme. My parish priest, who was present there, appreciated it,” informs Fernandes.

This versatile stage artiste is grateful to the then principal of the school, late Fr Philomena D’Costa, who was his constant source of support and encouragement. When in class X, he staged his first play, ‘Ghorabeacho Ekvott’, for a cultural programme. Appreciation followed from the principal with a cash prize as an incentive.

Inter-ward drama competitions organised by the Christmas committee in the village helped Justin to prove his calibre in scripting and staging tiatrs and he won many prizes. He then staged his first tiatr, ‘Bhoinnik Lagon’, in the vicinity, followed by one-act plays at all-Goa level.

During such shows in villages across the state, noted tiatrist Premanand Lotlikar admired Justin’s acting skills and instantly roped him in for his tiatr ‘Rup vo Rupnnem’ in 1989. It was his first step on the professional stage.

Thereafter, he featured in Lotlikar’s tiatrs ‘Zindabad’, ‘Ho Mhozo Oprad’ and ‘Kednanch Borem Zai Naka’. Next was Jose Rod’s turn to use Justin as a substitute in his tiatr, ‘Mauli’, which successfully completed 50 shows with a tour to the Gulf. This was followed by the tiatr ‘Nison’.

Comedian Ben Evangelisto also welcomed this tiatrist in his tiatr ‘Chondrim’. Next in line was Prince Jacob with his tiatrs ‘Posko’, ‘Papi’, ‘Pai’, ‘Pirachit’, ‘Passport’, which included two Gulf tours. Justin also acted in Mini Mario’s tiatr ‘Koso Asa’, where sensational Lorna was part of the troupe.

Justin’s commitment towards tiatr inspired Mario Menezes to introduce him in two of his tiatrs, ‘Tiatr Somplo, Cholat Ghara’ and ‘Sonvsarant Konn Nhoim Konnacho’. He also had a share in Kenny Ferns’ tiatr ‘Pirai’, Anthony San’s ‘Mhaka Tuji Goroz’, Prem Kumar’s ‘Vauraddi’ and Antush D’Silva’s tiatr ‘Ho Mhozo Kaido’.

Having garnered enough confidence and experience on stage, this tiatrist was part of comedian Ambe’s troupe for 6 years, doling out varied performances. And of late, he is a regular contributor to Jr Reagan’s tiatrs ‘Teddy Bear’, ‘Teacher’, ‘Ticket’ and ‘Tiatr’, with the latest being ‘Taj Mahal’.

In 2012, Justin made his unique appearance in Sammy Tavares’ tiatr ‘Aplea Bhurgeam Sangata’, where Taleigao Cultural Group presented him with the Late Dr Jack Sequeira Best Actor Award. “In this tiatr, I consider my character as a lifetime role with varied shades of the father being portrayed from marriage till old age,” reveals this tiatrist.

In 2014, when the same director staged his tiatr ‘Tim Thikam Sanddlelim’, Justin had the golden opportunity to go on Gulf and London tours, besides one show in America. “Here my two younger brothers became part of the troupe, with Cajy on the drums and Jose rendering a solo, much to the surprise of the audience,” he proudly mentions.

Presently employed in the Water Resources Department, Justin has also featured in 30 VCDs, three celluloid films, namely ‘Padri’ and Roddonaka’ by Prince Jacob and ‘Moriad’ by Bonifacio Dias. In VCDs ‘Challis Dis’ by Mouzinho Travasso and ‘Pirai’ by Joywin Fernandes, this artiste also had his wife Lourencina and daughters Eglise/Elina as his co-actors.

Justin’s popular tiatr ‘Fuddar’, which bagged the third place at Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition in 1990, was printed in book form by Dalgado Konknni Academy in 2013. He has also broadcasted several cultural programmes on AIR, besides a folk play ‘Uxir Zalo’. This year on January 26, Justin staged his award winning play ‘Bezababdar’ in Saudi Arabia by the United Goans of Saudi Arabia. 

Discipline and whole-hearted commitment to tiatr is the secret of Justin’s success story. He believes those factors have helped him win respect from all the directors. “For the bright future of Konkani machie, new artistes should refrain from alcoholism and other vices. The seniors should also be a guiding force by their exemplary life,” he signs off.