Working as a banker has not deterred Cyril Fernandes from emerging as an actor on the tiatr stage. Acting in lead roles in almost 17 tiatrs of Aleixin de Morjim has helped him to grow and turn into a polished actor
Morjim-based Cyril Fernandes was born on February 9, 1973. His maternal grandfather, the late Jose Carvalho from Corgao, (father of Basilio Carvalho from Siolim), was a singer.
Cyril completed his primary education in a Marathi school at Morjim and moved to Mapusa to pursue his studies in New Goa High School. He completed his higher secondary studies at SFXHSS, Siolim and graduated in DMC, Mapusa.
Cyril’s father, late Mariano Fernandes was an organizer of tiatrs. “When communication via phones and mobiles was a rarity then,” he recalls, “my father would often travel to Mumbai in connection with tiatrs. He was equally in touch with several tiatrists from Goa, especially in the south.”
“In Morjim, two tiatrs would be staged annually,” Cyril reminisces, “in the months of May and December. “And Fr Sebastian Fernandes, who was then the parish priest of Our Lady of Miracles Church, Morjim, would hand over all the responsibility to my father.”
“During that period of time, tiatrs in the villages would be staged at 10.30pm.” informed Cyril. “And before the commencement of the show,” he continued, “all the artistes would assemble at our residence for supper. It was a pleasure to see so many artistes, especially the seniors M. Boyer, Jacinto Vaz, Tita Preto from Mumbai at our place.”
The desire to be part of any dramatic troupe was always there in Cyril’s heart. “It was equally a pleasure and excitement to carry their luggage backstage, before the commencement of the show,” he reveals.
“My father was very fond of Menino de Bandar,” Cyril recalled, “and he would mostly stage his tiatrs in our village.” “During summer vacation, we would move to Corgao, where the villagers would stage a tiatr with local youth in Marinawaddo, for the annual feast of Our Lady of Fatima on May 13,” he shared.
“The rehearsals would be held at my uncle, Basilio Carvalho’s residence,” Cyril continued. It was his desire to be part of the troupe, but chances were rare as enactment was restricted only to the youth of Corgao, except for the women artistes, who were hired from outside the village.
When studying in New Goa High School, Mapusa, Cyril crossed ample opportunities which helped to showcase his talents. He was always a topper in Konkani, be it with regards to one-act plays, storytelling, debates, essay reading or anything related to the local language.
As a youth in the Morjim parish, Cyril was always in the frontline in various church activities. “Cultural activities, which included a musical show, would be organized by Fr Agnelo Mendes then,” he recalled,” “it was an annual event. Later, Fr Lawrence Rodrigues, who was keen in tapping the local talent, modified the same event and suggested staging a tiatr, instead of a musical show.”
“Fr Rodrigues asked Aleixin de Morjim to pen a tiatr,” Cyril mentioned, “and a tiatr ‘Okman Devak’ came to be staged, with all roles enacted by the local youth.” “Prior to staging of tiatr ‘Okman Devak’, all tiatrs would be staged with assistance from a prompter. But noting that this tiatr was staged sans a prompter, it was later presented in different villages, including Keri, Mapusa and Ucassaim, completing 11 shows.”
Taking cognizance of the theatrical skills, Caraciol from Siolim, picked up four artistes, including Cyril and his wife, Gemma, to act in his tiatr ‘Inam’ staged first at Siolim and later at Morjim and Mapusa. He was also part of the same troupe in tiatr ‘Inam’, staged at Siolim and Morjim.
Michael, who worked closely with Caraciol, roped in Cyril in two of his musical plays, which included ‘Somaz Sevok’, broadcasted on AIR. In 2000, Cyril featured in Aires de Arambol’s tiatr ‘Moronn’ staged on September 8 at Morjim.
During this period a suggestion came about to present the same production at Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition. “But, as there was no cultural organization in existence then,” he concealed, “it was finally staged under the banner ‘Vikas Mandir, Merces.”
The thought of creating a new cultural organization popped up in 2001 and Machi Mogi, Morjim was christened, with Cyril as its founder president. “Tomazinho Cardozo assisted and guided us in creating a new cultural club,” he added.
Cyril’s entry as a non-commercial tiatrist came about in Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition 2001 in Joaquim Faleiro’s tiatr ‘Nit Konnank Chukona’. In 2003, he acted in Francis de Souza’s tiatr ‘Tumi Oxem Korxeat’.
From 2005 onwards, when Aleixin de Morjim picked up his pen and started scripting tiatrs for KA’s annual tiatr competition, Cyril was always casted in lead roles. His first entry was in tiatr ‘Bhirant’, followed by ‘Duddvank Man Devak Okman’ (2006), ‘Axea’ (2008), ‘Jivitant Kallok’ (2009), ‘Sukh Khoim Asa?’ (2011), ‘Osleank Konn Sambhalltolo?’ (2012), ‘Sarpanch’ (2013), ‘Facebook’ (2014), ‘Bore Dis Kedna Ietole?’ (2015), ‘Amdar’ (2016), ‘Hanv Jiklom’ (2017), ‘Citizen’ (2018), ‘Khell’ (there were village shows, but not staged for KA’s competition) and ‘Sorry’ (2019) and ‘Chowkidar’ (2020).
“When preparations were underway for staging of tiatr ‘Jivitant Kallok’, Fermino was roped in as the director,” Cyril shared, “and the concept of direction was well understood then. It was a learning process for all the artistes.” At the KA’s annual tiatr competition, he won the merit certificate for the first time in tiatr ‘Sarpanch’, followed by tiatr ‘Bore Dis Kedna Ietole?’.
Cyril won first prize in acting in tiatrs ‘Sorry’ (negative role) and ‘Chowkidar’. At the 9th and 11th Tiatr Academy of Goa’s Popular Tiatr Festival, he was adjudged as the best actor in tiatrs ‘Hanv Jiklom’ and ‘Khell’.
In tiatr ‘Hanv Jiklom’, “it was enactment of two roles—normal in the first half and as a paralyzed in the second half,” Cyril revealed. “Roles of minister, police, doctor, sarpanch, journalist has only helped me to pick up any roles. Stage fear, which prevailed earlier, has vanished and confidence has built in. Direction by Fermino has boosted my capabilities,” he added.
Acting on stage is Cyril’s forte and he has also acted in Lenten shows by Bunty Kumar, besides making a trip to Delhi for staging of Aleixin de Morjim’s tiatrs ‘Hanv Jiklom’ and ‘Citizen’. He wishes to visit other states as well, to stay connected with the Goan community through tiatrs