Team Herald
MARGAO: The legacy of Joao Agostinho Fernandes, fondly remembered as Pai Tiatrist and known as the Father of Konkani Tiatr, was honoured on Thursday on the occasion of his 77th death anniversary at the Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.
Several leading figures in the tiatr fraternity were present to pay tributes to the Pai Tiatrist, such as directors Domnic Carvalho, Menino de Bandar and singer C D Silva.
They hailed the rich contributions by Pai Tiatrist, which they say laid the foundation for tiatr and gave a platform for it to evolve to what it is today. They also expressed gratitude for the recognition given by Ravindra Bhavan, where a hall has been named after him and for the functions held to commemorate his birth and death anniversary. They added that it is also a way of keeping Konkani language alive.
Ravindra Bhavan Chairman Rajendra Talak also praised Pai Tiatrist and recalled that they had decided that on his birth anniversary, tiatrs will be staged for free.
Ravindra Bhavan Member Secretary Agnelo Fernandes also detailed the life history of the legendary artiste.