Team Herald
PANJIM: Julio Hilario Purificacao Rodrigues, popularly known as Jr Rod and son of legendary tiatrist Minguel Rod, from Cortalim, passed away after a brief illness. He underwent two eye operations and was admitted to Goa Medical College Hospital, Bambolim, after a fall at home and was being treated for brain haemorrhage. He passed away on June 20 at 11.15 p.m.
Born on January 14, 1949, Jr Rod made his debut on the tiatr stage at the tender age of 8 and instant audience appeal prompted his father to introduce him in his tiatrs. As Minguel Rod was a gifted tiatrist, it was natural for the son to inherit his father’s talents and take an easy plunge on the Konkani stage.
As late Minguel Rod was popular for his lyrics, Jr Rod followed in his father’s footsteps and started penning meaningful songs with morals. He rendered his own compositions in style and would win mass appeal for his social themes.
Noting his talent of penning songs and renditions on stage, invitations from tiatrists followed and gradually Jr Rod became part of various tiatr troupes. Jr Rod’s unique compositions on family and socio-political issues carried more weight and his high-pitched renditions were additional asset to any tiatr director.
Besides thought-provoking solos, Jr Rod is also remembered for his comedy duets in tiatrs, which were often rendered with Josephine Dias. He was also a part of the popular trio Rom-Rem-Rod, with Roam Tony and Remmie as his partners on stage.
Jr Rod not only left a mark in compositions and singing soul-searching solos and duets on stage, but he also proved his skills in acting too. He would be offered character roles in tiatrs and he picked them up with much ease and perfection.
Some of Jr Rod’s tiatrs include ‘Paichi Girestkai’, ‘Pain Vibaddlem, Putan Samball’llem’, ‘Ruzar Manxekar’ and ‘Hench Tem’. He also made efforts to stage and directed some of his late father’s tiatrs.
For his dedicated service and contribution towards the tiatr stage, Jr Rod was one of the recipients of Tiatr Academy Goa’s ‘Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Stage Award 2012’. He was also the recipient of Gulab Magazine’s Best Singer Award in 2009 and Goa Kala Gaurav Puraskar.
Expressing her grief over the death of Jr Rod, Jessie Dias, a noted senior tiatrist from Anjuna, said that he was good artiste, master composer and singer of powerful solos and duets. “He had a good personality and always stepped on the Konkani stage with a smiling face. He was understanding and a great support to his family members,” she added.
Dias recalled a trio which was composed and rendered by Jr Rod, Angela Moraes and Jessie Dias in one of Mariano Fernandes’ tiatrs. “It was an instant hit and well appreciated by the audience. Staunch pillars of the tiatr stage are slowly collapsing. Earlier, it was Lawrence de Tiracol, followed by Rico Rod and now this great artiste and singer of the Konkani stage,” she sighed.
Jr Rod acted and rendered several songs in tiatrs of all the well-known directors of the tiatr stage like Souza Ferrao, Jacint Vaz, C Alvares, Prem Kumar, Aristides and Luciano Dias, John Claro, Alfred Rose, Kamat de Assolna, Mendes Brothers, Tony Sax, M Dod, Fr Freddy J da Costa, M Boyer, H Britton, Jose Rod, Ligorio Fernandes, Menino de Bandar, Mariano Fernandes, comedian Dominic and several others.
C D’Silva, senior most tiatrist, said that Jr Rod’s death has created a vacuum on the Konkani stage. “No doubt, he was a good composer, but cannot be compared to his father, who was a classic on the tiatr stage with exemplary skills. His duets along with Josephine Dias were highly appreciated,” he added.
Premanand Lotlikar, president of Dalgado Konkani Academy, actor and director said that Jr Rod was part of his dramatic troupe when he staged his tiatr ‘Loz ani Dukh’. “He was a true gentleman and was always punctual for shows. Tiatr world has lost a good composer and singer as his songs always carried a moral, unlike today’s singers whose songs are sometimes superficial,” he said.
Jr Rod was also part of John Claro’s dramatic troupe when he staged his tiatr ‘Portugez Kolvont’ and served for this director for several years. “He enacted the role of a doctor and delivered his dialogues with perfection,” he informed, “he was an exceptional singer, but cannot be compared to his father, Minguel Rod. His father was extraordinary and I drew inspiration from him.”
Fabian da Costa of Manfa Music assisted Jr Rod in producing two CDs, ‘Palkachim 5 Noketram’ and ‘Devacho Ugddas Ietolo.’ Earlier, Jr Rod had provided to da Costa his late father Minguel Rod’s old songs which were released under the title ‘Paixim Maddachim Son’nam’. Recently, Manfa Music also released MP3 of 50 songs ‘Jr Rod’s Top Hits.’ “We have lost a very good singer and he will always be remembered for his humility and soft-spoken words,” he revealed.
