Making the most of her natural talent

Born on August 12, 1956, Aurora Martha Fernandes originally hails from Mandur in Tiswadi taluka, but presently resides in Mapusa. She completed her primary education in St Anne’s High School, Tivim, and enjoyed singing for competitions and cultural functions at the school level.“When I was in class III, I sang two songs for a singing competition: the Konkani song ‘Claudia’ and ‘Pearly Shells’ in English,” recalls Aurora, who went on to win that competition and a pink soap dish as the prize, one she treasures till today as it gave her the impetus to explore her god-given talent.

Aurora actively participated in various cultural activities during her school days and this love for singing and acting continued in college at DM’s College, Mapusa. For one cultural function, she jammed with her colleague, Francis Dias, and rendered a duet,‘I’m a Crooner’.

Apart from the cultural activities at college, Aurora was equally involved in the church choir and all activities carried out by the church authorities. When tiatrs were staged in aid of the church, she would be a part of them, both as an actor and a singer.

Aurora’s first entry on the tiatr stage came about when her fellow villager from Tivim, Jack Lamington, penned and staged his tiatr, ‘Tumkanch Khuxeal Korunk’. “He always encouraged me to act and sing in his tiatrs staged in the village,” she recollects.

Aurora’s next entry followed in Egidio de Souza and Marshall Sequeira’s tiatr ‘Dadosponn’ staged in Tivim. She also acted in Jack Lamington’s tiatrs ‘Chorienchem Choriek’, ‘Padricho Pai’ and ‘Atam Sampoddle’.

Aurora also had ample opportunities to showcase her acting and singing skills in tiatrs staged in the villages by Steve Rod (Avem Nichev Kela), Mathew Fernandes (Nimanno Suskar), Blasio Gonsalves (Kottecho Bikari), Marshal Sequeira (Mog) and Fr Planton Faria (Jezu Krist).

Aurora’s talent in singing came into the limelight when she won the first place at Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition in Panjim. She was a regular member of Menino & Dramatic Troupe and Cezar’s Dramatic Troupe and bagged several prizes for her performance in KA’s tiatr competitions.

Aurora bagged the best singer award at tiatr festivals in tiatrs ‘Avoichem Utor’, ‘Upkar’, ‘Cesar’ and ‘Kalliz Naslolo’. She won the second place in singing in tiatrs ‘Kednanch Goddchenam’ and ‘Kallo Fator’, besides winning prizes in singing in tiatrs ‘Konnuch Noko’ and ‘Kaide Konnank’.

When Panjim Jaycees organised the All Goa Konkani Singing Contest, Aurora picked up the first place in solo singing and the second prize in duet singing. “It was the in-born talent that continued to develop for progress and posterity,” she adds.

Aurora has also contributed in acting and singing towards the musical plays (songit khell) broadcast by All India Radio (AIR). She was part of Cezar D’Mello, Steve Rodrigues, Menino Afonso, Agnelo de Borim, Bosco Menezes and Fr Planton Faria’s troupes. Musically inclined that she was, she also excelled in several musical shows such as ‘Melody of Goa–Panjim’, ‘Musical Show (Kantarancho Jhelo)–Panjim’, ‘Musical Show–Margao’, ‘Musical Show–Tivim Gymkhana’ and ‘Musical Show–Agacaim’.

Aurora’s last performance in acting and singing was in Agnel de Borim’s musical play ‘Asro Zai’ broadcast on AIR in April 2017. She says she had the opportunity to work with great tiatr personalities like Mike Mehta, Young Chico, Anthony, Mil-Mel-Nel, Steve Rod, Marcelin de Betim, late Mary Vaz, Jacint Vaz, Fr Planton Faria, Anil Kumar Souza Boy, Conception and mestro Agnelo Dias.

When asked whether music runs in the family, Aurora reveals that her grandfather, Fermino Fernandes, was a musician and a choir master in churches of Mandur and Batim. Her uncle, Damian Fernandes, and grand uncle, Francisco Fernandes, pharmacists by profession, were musicians. “The former played the violin while the latter was inclined towards singing,” she adds.

Since childhood, as Aurora excelled in studies, her prime focus was on education and when she acquired employment in a bank, job responsibilities followed instantly. “I had the talent for singing and I’m sure had I put in a little effort, I would have been able to compose songs as well,” she adds.

Aurora got a job in State Bank of India in 1980 and worked with them for 36 years in various branches as a cash officer. Her longest stint was in the Mapusa branch and she retired in August 2016 while serving at the Tivim branch.

Today, after retirement, Aurora is willing to make a comeback on the tiatr stage as she has more time on her hands. “It is a passion that drives me. When it comes to prerefence, the scales would probably tip towards singing rather than acting,” she mentions.

Aurora has also lent her voice for the CD ‘Upkar’ by Freddy Fernandes, Dubai, in aid of the children affected by AIDS. 

About the new entrants on the Konkani stage as far as singing is concerned, she opines, “The English accent introduced in Konkani songs by some of the budding singers should go if we wish to preserve and promote our rich ‘maim-bhas’ for posterity.” 

For her immense contribution towards the Konkani stage in acting and singing, Aurora was felicitated by the 125th Tiatr Celebration Committee at Institute Menezes Braganza Hall, Panjim.