Antonio Patricio Fernandes, popularly known as Anthony de Ambajim, was born on February 27,
1975. Although his birthplace is Canacona, he grew up at his paternal residence
in Ambajim, Fatorda.
Anthony completed his primary education
and high school studies at Holy Spirit Institute, Margao. “Somewhere in the 90s,”
he informed, “one-act plays were quite popular in Goa during the Christmas
season.”
When Alex Rangel penned and staged one-act
plays at the Holy Spirit Church, Anthony was part of the troupe. He got an
opportunity to act in two of his one-act plays. In 1994, when Alex penned two
tiatrs, namely ‘Koslo Kaido?’ and ‘Ek Ghor Don Vantte’, he acted in both the
productions as a villain and brother respectively.
In 1995, when Lawry/Jenny production
staged folk plays (zomnivhele fell) during the Carnival festival, Anthony was
part of the troupe and projected himself as a comedian. Seeking greener
pastures, he moved to Saudi Arabia in 1996 and served in a hotel there for
almost seven years.
In 2003 Anthony returned to his roots and
picked up stage lighting as his business. With no formal training, he learnt
the trade independently and assisted as lights man for tiatr directors Agnel
D’Costa, Elvis/Carmin, Oldrin, Milagres de Chandor, Peter/Roshan and others.
In 2011 Anthony decided to try his luck
with folk plays during the Carnival festival and he succeeded. He continues
with the same till date uninterruptedly. For the past 11 years he has been
presenting three folk plays annually in villages covering north and south Goa,
namely Navelim, Benaulim, Cavelossim, Cortalim, Agasaim, Mapusa, Vasco,
Sanguem, Curtorim, Chandor, Chinchinim, Dovorlim, Ambajim, Fatorda, Borda,
Verna, Loutolim, Shiroda, Arlem, Raia, Assolna, Betul, Taleigao, Cansaulim and
Majorda.
In the same year, he released his first
audio CD ‘Kazari Jivitant’, followed by ‘Dev Zai Zalear’ (2012), VCD ‘Padriche
Koxtt’ (2015), audio CD ‘Goycho Rakhnno Goycho Saib’ (2017) and audio CD ‘Mogan
Tujea’ (2019).
In 2012 Anthony shifted his focus from lights to stage setting,
assisting tiatr directors Milagres de Chandor, Roseferns, Mario Menezes, Zina
Dias, comedians Selvy and Sally, Pascoal de Chicalim, comedian Agostinho,
Antonette de Maina, comedienne Joana, Salvador Afonso, Jose de Benaulim, Myron
Travasso, Lawry Travasso, Wilmix/Sharon, Jr Reagan, Samuel Carvalho, Willy
Silveira, Anthony San, Prince Jacob, Simon Gonsalves, Agnelo Lobo, Jenny de
Germany, comedian Philip, Mini Mario, Irineu Gonsalves, Anil/Olga, Saby de
Divar, Elvis/Carmin, Oldrin, Constantino Crasto, Ives Tavares, comedian Succor,
Peter/Roshan, Ben Evangelisto, Jeronimo Colaco, Tony Park, Geldo Verdes, late
Cajie de Curtorim, late Donald, besides tiatrs staged at Kala Academy’s tiatr
competition by Peter Vaz and Ronny Succor.
In 2016 Anthony ventured into Lenten shows, with his first
presentation ‘Jezu Khursar Marinaka’, followed by ‘Jezu Monxeachea Rupan’ in
2017, receiving good response from the audience in the parishes. In 2021 he
penned and staged his third show ‘Patkachem Bhogsonnem’.
As far as his tryst with stage lights, Anthony said it was a
sheer self-study and gaining experience with different directors and
productions, over a period of time. Possessing the talents of acting and
singing, he always had the wish to make an entry on stage as an actor.
Anthony’s first song on the tiatr stage was a rendition of a
trio in tiatr ‘Koslo Kaido?’ presented by Alex Rangel, followed by another trio
in Tony Park’s tiatr. He rendered a solo in one of late Benny J Rebello’s
tiatrs.
When Anthony decided to shift business from lights to stage
sets, he admits that he received help from tiatr director Samuel Carvalho. “He
provided me with one full stage set, besides two stage curtains (podd’dde),” he
shared.
During a period when preparing stage curtains were expensive,
Anthony received timely assistance from tiatr director Tony Dias, who offered
him with another 4 stage curtains. “And with whatever earnings drawn from the
existing stage material, another six stage sets were added to the tiatr stage
collection,” he added.
“With the help of my cast that existed in the folk plays,”
Anthony stated, “penning and staging a tiatr became much easier.” “Initially,
it was Rumaldo Estrocio, who helped me in penning ‘zomnivhele fell’, followed
by late comedian Marcus, Elvis/Carmin, Joe de Dicarpale, Tracy, comedian
Pitush, Romeo, comedian Aston Soares, and now of late it is Jose Marcarenhas,
who is assisting with the cantos and overall management.”
In comparison to folk plays and religious plays, Anthony has
received good response to the former from the audience. “But the Lenten show
‘Jezuk Khursar Marinaka’ was well appreciated by the tiatr lovers across Goa,”
he adds.
When it comes to picking up any theatrical skills, Anthony
categorically states that it all depends on one’s taste. “And when one has
picked up one trade, performance as a duty seriously is equally important. It’s
only then one can draw satisfaction, apart from earnings,” he reveals.
When
assisting several tiatr directors as lights man and with stage sets, Anthony
has never felt ashamed to move in the auditorium among the audience for the
sale of his CDs. “Be it in major cities like Panjim, Mapusa, Vasco and
Sanvordem, people have appreciated my efforts and never declined when it came
to purchasing my products. Hard work yields fruits,” he signed off.
