Qatar: Mangalore Cultural Association to Confer Kala Puraskar – 2013 to 3 Konkani Theater Artistes o

Media Release

Doha/Qatar, 23 Oct 2013 : On Completion of glorious and successful 5 years Mangalore Cultural Association, Doha Qatar takes a step forward and institutes ‘MCA Kala Puraskar’ to honor deserving Mangalorean Konkani artists and activists who have contributed to the Konkani, stage,  Art & Culture in various forms and ways. This year as an initial step MCA Kala Puraskar – 2013 will be awarded to 3 legendary Konkani stage artistes, Benedict Miranda populary known as Benna Ruzai , Charles Sequeira – Charlie Sequer, both from Mangalore and Mable Fernandes Nee Baretto currently residing in Doha Qatar.


The Puruskar comprises Rs 1 lac, memento, citation letter and public honor. This award will be conferred on all the 3 recipients in Qatar on Friday October 25t at the MCA’s annual event a popular Konkani play by the Daiji Rangh Mandir artistes – ’Aami Nathlya Vellar’.

 
About Benedict Miranda

 

Benna Ruzai

 

Born on 21st March 1946, Benedict Miranda is popularly known as Benna Ruzai. He is a renowned playwright, Dramatist and journalist. He has acted in numerous Konkani popular plays since the last 5 decades. He considers Late Gabbu Urwa as his Guru.


As a playwright, he has written and staged many social and religious plays. To his credit he has a total of 5 Social Plays, 8 Religious Plays, 8 Comedy short plays,6 Poems.

As a journalist he was sub editor of Mai-Gavn (Konkani monthly) for 2 years and editor of Ruzaichin Laran, parish bulletin of Rosario parish for 3 years.


He was the vice president of Konkani Natak Sabha for 6 years and first president of of ‘Kala Sampath’.

He has been honoured by ‘KON CAB’ Bangalore; ‘Konkani Kutam’ Bahrain; ‘Kannik’  Konkani Fortnightly; Konkani Writers’ Forum - Karnataka ®;  ‘Karnataka Konkani Academy’; Karavalli Konkans; Konkani Natak Sabha Mangalore.


He formed an association called ‘Bennar’ and staged many Musical Nites; Konkani Plays; He has acted in numerous plays and with more than 40 writers. To name some, Shri Gabbu Urwa, VJP Saldanha, AT Lobo, Chapra Dacosta,Wilfy Rebimbus, Luvi Netto, JB Rasquinha, MP D’Sa, CGS Tacodde, CLaud D’souza, Dolla Mangalore, Dolphy Cascia and many more popular Konkani Writers.

 

’Shirap’, ’Hanv Kunnigar Nhoim’, ’Bernadett’, ’Misther’ “Ankwar Moriachi Katha” , “Sant Antonichin Tera Ajapan”are some of his plays.

 
His wife Thereza Miranda popularly known as Mina Ruzai is also a stage artiste.

About Charles Sequeira

 

Charles Sequeira

 

Charles Sequeira was born in Derebail parish and it was here he made his debut dabbling in Konkani dramas. Charlie considers Donny Menezes Bejai as his guru and gratefully remembers that it was Donny who spotted his talent and initiated him to Konkani theatre. Charlie made his debut with the Konkani Drama “mathlabi piso” written by Alphonse D Costa and directed by Donny Menezes. Under the association of “mithr mandali”, Derebail, many dramas were staged in Derebail parish giving an opportunity for Charles to showcase his all-around.

It is to the credit of Charlie Sequer that he has acted in over 100 plays doing justice to every lead role he did. Ás CGS says “Charlie Sequeira is a unique actor who did justice to the roles be it comedy, tragedy or serious roles. If there is an actor who filled life into his roles with his booming voice and matched it up with his acting skills it is none other than Charlie Sequer. Konkani theatre aficionados still recall his acting in plays like ‘sequeram driver’. ‘chedun kashen laglen’, ‘kedi bona’, ‘devnsar nadtha’, ‘ran dukor’, ‘ramba root’, ‘thu maka naka’, just to name a few. His acting skills fetched him the role of a villain in Wilfy Rebimbus’s Konkani film ‘mog ani maipas’ and Charlie lived that character to the satisfaction of all. Roles came searching for him and Charlie also acted in a number of Tulu plays, which mirrors his versatility as an actor. Bhangar Munis, Gergi Bhutel, Anvkwar Mestri, Doro and many more popular Dramas brought to him the title of Best actor. M.P.D’sa’s – Kazarachi Dotorn a short comedy play and as a Gurkar in Wilfy Rebimbus’s song  ‘Gurkarachi Bolaiki’ has made even the most serious person to laugh out loud. Charlie has given justice to all types of Role let it serious, negative or as a comedian thus proving that he as a versatile actor Mangalore has ever produced.

He got more popularized with his comedy trio group Dol-Fel and Chal which ruled the Konkani stage for more than a decade and in nearly 100 Wilfy Nites as a part of the Wilfy Nite in and around Mangalore, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi and the Middle East.

It is rather ironic that the man who gave goose bumps to the audience with his booming voice and his very stage presence had lost his speech following the stroke he had 12 years ago. He had become completely dumb and it is only in the last five years he has regained his voice. His routine these days comprises going to church in the evening every day and attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings once a week every Wednesday. He is self dependent now but has difficulty only in counting money and therefore whenever he goes out he holds the required money for the bus in his hands.

Charles is married to Leena and has two children Manoj and Rekha who are married and settled in life.

About Mable Fernandes Nee Baretto

 

Mable Fernandes

 

Acting was her passion.  It started right from her Class I in the school. As her teachers found her talents, she was selected to perform first in Don Bosco Hall, Mangalore.  From there, all the church functions, social events she was given different roles which were mostly played in Urwa church open ground.

In 1964 when she came to Mumbai, she was involved in many Konkani associations who were putting up many Konkani shows every month.   Mable has acted in all most every Konkani stage plays from 1964 to 1976 in Mumbai and in Mangalore.


It was not an easy task for Mable to go on the stage, as her family had a great objection on her acting on stage; hence she requested her Directors and Writers not to publish her pictures in the weekly papers or in any advertisements.  Mable is grateful to all her Writers and Directors who gave her their utmost support and guidance in acting specially, Cha Fra D’Costa, Gabbu D’Souza, Baptist Mendonca, Stany Pinto, Sunny A D’Souza, Lorry Andrade, A C Misquith,  Rose Karwar, Maurice Kabral, Wilfred Fernandes, Rocky Kirem, Austin Prabhu, Francis Fernandes and many more whose names she cannot recollect at this moment as it has been 35 long years since her acting career came to an end. Mable conveys her kind gratitude to  Eddi Sequeira who helped her to come back again on the stage in Doha-Qatar for a short play. Some of the famous plays are: Shegunanchi Soon, Dev Ditha, Jillache Novre, Mamchi Bachhi, Gharacho Divo, Moryadichem Forman, Ragthache Thembe, Lottery Lagli, Bangar Piklam and many more.


At this point, she remembers all the famous singers who gave their music in supporting to her acting they are Wilfy Rebimbus, Meena Rebimbus, Jerome D’Souza, Henry D’Souza and Peter Lobo.


In 1967, she got an opportunity to act in a Tulu play.  It was a big success and further she was offered roles in Kannada stage which gave her great knowledge and experience.  In such plays one has to be very sincere and dedicate in exhibiting the talents.  The Directors were very strict, serious and expected the best from the artists.  These plays helped her to mould herself into a fine artist. Today Mable proudly says that she got the chance to act in good plays and with famous Writers and Directors in Mumbai.


Some of the Tulu plays are: Baiyya Mallige, Saraswati, Mokeda Ponnu, Kannada Plays are: Sathyam shivam sundaram, Ammana madilalli


Then came a point where she had to make a difficult choice of giving up stage due to her family.  In 1974 Mable got married to Wilfred Fernandes and settled in my life.  She came to Doha-Qatar in 1979 and was busy in bringing up her children and she drew a curtain to her stage career. She has 4 children Dr Glen, Floyd, Dr Wilma and Valin, all well settled in life today. Even though her acting career ceased completely Mable was actively involved in church activities. She taught catechism to the children in the church of our Lady of Rosary, Doha Qatar.


She says, ‘When I see today’s generation, I feel happy to see the parent’s support towards their children to exhibit their talents in Konkani. I have tremendous love and respect towards my language as this is the main route of our home land and keep us united all the time,’ said Mable.


Mangalore Cultural Association is proud to honor these great legendary actors whose contribution to the Konkani Stage is incomparable and has enriched our culture.

The event will begin at 5:00pm at the Regency Halls, Near Al Ahli Stadium, D Ring Road, Qatar on the Friday October 25.

Tickets are available with MCA executive Committee members.