his is a special year for anyone who knows his or her history of tiatr. This is the 100th anniversary of Anthony Mendes, a man with impeccable comic timing who was also a good singer, lyricist, music composer, and scriptwriter.
Anthony Mendes was a performer par excellence. The celebrations end in December of a man who was highly appreciated for his performance in Amchem Noxib in 1963. Now Avit Dias, a member of the Mends family, has decided to something that will highlight the man’s talent and genius to a new generation.
Dias a dance teacher at Don Bosco School, Matunga, Mumbai whose claim to fame is choreographing Aamir Khan in the smash hit 3 Idiots. Dias has come up with a unique Goan reality show for the entire family called “Family of Stars”. Everyone who is interested can send a three minute video of anyone singing with their family or friends. The winner will get a spot on the musical “Ladies &Gentlemen Mr. Anthony Mendes”. It will be staged on the closing of the centenary year on December 28.
Dias said for the opening ceremony they had created a video featuring Remo Fernandes and Chris Mendes the grandson of AnthonyMendes, which showed a different side to the Mendes family. It was also an opportunity for the Mendes family to celebrate online. “I watched this and the idea started developing in my head,” Dias said.
The contest would be open to anyone, Goan or not Goan as long as they could sing in Konkani. The videos will be judged by the Mendes family, the brothers and the sisters. “Once they do it, I will be also putting up a requirement for cast members of the musical. Once that comes along by September or October, we will start with complete production in terms of dialogue, dance choreography and by December, recording and creating a popular musical online. I have been meaning to do this as a Director and have the audience glued for better or worse,” He added. He said it would look nice and clean and not a at home setup.
Dias said families had talent and he could just not understand how and why just one person in the family is promoted and why can’t it be more than one or two or even the entire family. Just being one he said was lonely but being in a group changed the dynamic. If one person fails he said it would mean humiliation but with a group it was entirely different. In the ideal situation it would mean grandparents, parents and grand children dancing together.
The Mendes family, he said, loved the concept and right now auditions are going on for the play and Avit was preparing a bank of performers. He has received 25 to 30 contributions and he expects more. He has received 5 or 6 contributions from Goa and Mumbai. He has been promoting it in the Gulf and the UK and Canada.
For another person who will be involved in the project, it is an opportunity to be involved with the work of a grandfather who has a strong legacy in tiatr. Chris Mendes the grandson of Anthony Mendes had much to say about the project from Kuwait where he is based. He said, “There was always this feeling that we had to do something special for our grandpa. I would
have conversations with dad and he would tell me that something ought to be done. So for the inauguration of this centenary celebration I managed to get Remo Fernandes involved as a flutist and he was kind enough to contribute some vocals.” Mendes said it was a phenomenal feeling to have an artist of his stature to be involved in the project.
The celebrations he said was also a great opportunity to connect with family based in Portugal, Canada and other parts of the world. He said during one of the sessions Dias presented the idea of a show that would be based around the family and then a final celebration of Anthony Mendes. He has composed seven to eight songs but laughed and said Dias could pull a fast one and ask for eleven to twelve songs. He said he was excited with the prospect of the show happening in November.
His father, Mendes said, was beside himself with excitement. Mendes said, “Our parents did not speak to us in Konkani but I interacted with the local retailers in the market in Konkani and picked it up. I have always been around music and would listen to all kinds of music. I could not get my head around Konkani music but decided I would devote my time to Konkani music.” He also started talking about the family history and about the fact they were part of a group called the Mendes Brothers. As they interacted more they realized he was interested. His father shared a lot of the old songs. These sessions he said certainly added spice when everyone was stuck at home due to the virus.
The judging faculty for the musical “Family of Stars” is the Mendes family ie the children of Anthony Mendes who are Felix, Teresa, Derrick and Amelia.Goa will wait and watch with bated breath.