A voice that draws the audience

Born on September 30, 1973 and hailing from Agalli, Borda-Margao, Nazario Pinto comes from a family of singers. Although his mother, Santana Gomes e Pinto, was a housewife, his father, Nicolau Pinto, was a good singer, participating in ‘zomnivhele khell’ held in Agalli.

“The village folk would come to invite my father to sing songs and cantos in those folk plays staged during Carnival festivities,” informs Pinto. “He was also a fan of Alfred Rose and at leisure, would sing his songs from booklets published by the noted singer of yesteryears,” he reveals, adding that his parents would always say that Alfred Rose’s one composition was equivalent to one tiatr during those days.

Pinto’s father was always an inspiration to him and he would take keen interest in listening to him sing. 

Besides his father, Pinto’s uncle, Santano Pinto, would also participate and organise those traditional ‘zomnivhele khell’ and he was into this trade for almost 10 years. “During the rehearsals of ‘zomnivhele khell’ that were held just in front of our house, we learnt what songs are, how they are rendered and various other aspects of singing,” he adds.

During his school days, during extra-curricular period, Pinto’s teacher would always encourage him to sing songs and he would render Alfred Rose’s oldies as they were on the tip of his tongue. In his ward, he used to sing for litanies, besides rendering songs with partner Paulo for weddings. “There would be no wedding without our rendition for ‘saud’ (toast song),” he notes.

In 1997, Pinto joined the catechists group in St Joaquim chapel, Borda, besides being the member of the choir group. He admits that he received ample moral support from his colleagues. During the annual Catechetical Day celebrations, he had the opportunity to compose the ‘welcome song’ and render it with the catechists and students.

During his tenure as a catechist, Pinto would move out and render songs in tiatrs staged in Agalli. In 1997, J L Dias from Agalli released an audio CD ‘Ek Chitt’ and although the lyrics were penned by Dias, the music compositions were by Pinto.

When Agnelo de Borim decided to stage his first tiatr, ‘Fantodd’, at Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition in 2007-08, Pinto was invited to render a solo, besides a duo with Francis Pinto. “After staging of tiatr ‘Fantodd’,” he reveals, “Francis and I were noted for good duos.”

From 2007 onwards, for four consecutive years, Nazario and Francis won prizes for duo singing and they were appreciated as one of the best duo pair on the Konkani stage.

Pinto continued as part of Agnelo de Borim’s troupe and he rendered songs in tiatrs ‘Asro Zai’, ‘’Poltoddcho Saib’, ‘Mar Uddi.Com’, ‘Altoddcho Sad’ and ‘Minnminnti Vat’. He also acted as a doctor in tiatr ‘Kusvo’ written by Conceicao Fernandes and directed by Agnelo de Borim and won merit certificate for acting. He also had the chance to showcase his acting skills in Agnelo de Borim’s tiatr ‘Daiz’ by acting as a villain.

Pinto stepped on the commercial stage in Tony Dias’s tiatr ‘Ami Jikle vo Harle’, Prince Jacob’s tiatr ‘Amchea Gharant Tiatr’. While acting in the latter’s tiatr, he had the opportunity to make a trip to Mumbai. Pinto also made guest appearances as a singer in Prince Jacob’s tiatrs ‘Teg Bhav Deva Pav’ and ‘Dusmanank Pasun Nirminaka’.

As singer and actor, Pinto also made appearances in Rosario de Benaulim’s tiatr ‘Amontronn’ and Roseferns’ tiatr ‘Devan Ghoddlolem’ as CID officer and doctor respectively. In Ives Tavares and Cruz Pinto’s tiatrs ‘Fott Uloinaka Sot Uloi’ and ‘Kaideachem vo Faideachem’ respectively, he came about as a singer.

Pinto has also acted in C Miranda’s Lenten shows ‘Bori Khobor’ and ‘Devachem Utor’, besides singing in P Agnelo’s show ‘Jezu Jivitacho Uzvadd’ and ‘Jezu Soddvonnecho Kunvor’, George Dias’s ‘Mhoji Adnea Tumkam’, J R Pinto’s ‘Novem Jivit’ and F X Pinto’s ‘Konn Nhoi Konnacho’. “It’s on account of my uncle F X Pinto that learning how to compose songs and render them in style was made easy,” he admits.

Pinto has also rendered songs in at least 12 CDs by Cajetan de Curtorim, Effie Fernandes, Melwyn Mario, Rons, Adrian de Canacona, John Pereira, Edwin D’Costa, Rosario de Benaulim, C Miranda, J L Dias and Ignatius de Xelvon.

With regard to compositions, Pinto has a special gift to compose the opening songs for tiatrs. He usually composes his own songs for rendition of solos and when it comes to rendition of duo with Francis Pinto, it is his own composition.

Songs composed and rendered by Pinto revolve around society and social issues, philosophical and religious themes. He mentions that he acquired the knowledge of tiatr and tiatrists from his five maternal uncles, namely Succor Gomes, Rosario, Jose Gomes, Agnelo Gomes and late Nazario.

During his involvement in tiatrs, Pinto notes that he has always received support from his wife, Prisca Soares e Pinto, besides his siblings Gabriel, Raymond, Wilson, Mario and sister Succorina Pinto.

Pinto admits that the audience appeal towards tiatr is on the decline. But he says that the newcomers on stage should not get discouraged. Instead, they should boldly showcase their talents and win honest appreciation from tiatr fans.