𝘈 𝘛𝘳𝘪𝘣𝘶𝘵𝘦: 𝘉𝘺 𝘎𝘢𝘴𝘱𝘦𝘳 𝘊𝘳𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘰; 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘊𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘵𝘦𝘴𝘺: 𝘛-𝘉𝘶𝘴𝘩
“𝙀𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙡𝙞𝙛𝙚.”
Kala Academy Award Winner for Best Actor and Konkani Bhasha Mandal Award Winner for Best Singer -- Cajetan Pereira, popularly known as Cajetan de Sanvordem, will be given a tearful burial at Guardian Angel Church, Sanvordem, 3.30pm on 20th November 2020.
The actor who suddenly fell ill after a freak accident, died an untimely death on 17th November 2020.
Born 5th April 1953, hailing from Khamamoll, Sanvordem, Cajetan spent much of his life working for PACI (Public Authority for Civil Information) in Kuwait, he was much popular among the tiatrist fraternity and Konkani audience for his performances, simplicity, and jovial nature.
𝘼 𝙘𝙚𝙡𝙚𝙗𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧, 𝘾𝙖𝙟𝙚𝙩𝙖𝙣 𝙙𝙚 𝙎𝙖𝙣𝙫𝙤𝙧𝙙𝙚𝙢 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙚𝙡𝙡-𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬𝙣 𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 ‘𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙆𝙤𝙣𝙠𝙖𝙣𝙞 𝙎𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚’, 𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙗𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙧𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙙 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙪𝙣𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙙, 𝙞𝙢𝙢𝙖𝙘𝙪𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙨𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙣 𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙜𝙚 – 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙠 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧.
𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗟𝗬 𝗬𝗘𝗔𝗥𝗦 & 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗧𝗢 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗥𝗗𝗢𝗠
Cajetan came into the spotlight when he was just 8 years while singing in Guardian Angel School and in village dramas. He first got the opportunity to render a comedy song in a tiatr presented by Santan Fernandes for the annual feast.
The down-to-earth warrior acted as a 'main hero' in several dramas staged in Kuwait in the '70s, '80s, and '90s, and his composing and singing abilities were highly refined.
A young Cajetan had landed in Kuwait on 31/1/1976. His first appearance on Kuwait's stage was in P. Jose de Colva's drama 'Aiz Maka Faleam Tuka' in Keefan Hall in 1977, followed by Konkani dramas directed by Jenifer Rod, Aleixinho de Maxem, Benny de Aldona, and the list went on.
Together with Marcus Vaz and Xavier Gomes, they formed the famous trio Cajetan-Marcus-Xavier, which created ripples and enjoyed tremendous fan-following in Kuwait as well as other Gulf Countries and Goa.
The trio’s famous comedy song was 'Sexy Singers' with Cajetan-Marcus-Xavier, they sang it last year (2019) in Maestro Shahu’s musical show ‘Ugddas Dovrun Ghele’ staged in Kuwait.
After Xavier Gomes returned back to Goa for good, the void was filled by Mario de Majorda, and the trio was known as Cajetan-Marcus-Mario. After Marcus left Kuwait, Michael joined to form Cajetan-Mario-Michael trio which was also very popular.
𝗦𝗣𝗘𝗟𝗟 𝗢𝗡 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗣𝗥𝗢𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡𝗔𝗟 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗚𝗘
On the professional stage circuit, Cajetan was given a break by his 'ganv-bhav' - legendary Konkani director Remmie Colaco in his drama 'Bhavponacho Kaido'.
Cajetan also staged two dramas of his own -- 'Bhattkarachem Kortub' and 'Africar' in his home town, however, much of his stardom flourished while he was abroad in Kuwait.
𝗔𝗡 𝗔𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥 & 𝗖𝗘𝗟𝗘𝗕𝗥𝗜𝗧𝗬
Besides acting and singing, Cajetan was a public figure in social activities.
Time and again, he was elected to several Indian organizations in Kuwait. He was President of United Friends Club – a football association for many years, and President of Kuwait-Goa Tiatristanchi Sonstha (KGTS).
He was also President of Guardian Angel Club of Sanvordem (Kuwait), Head of Cultural Cell of Goan Welfare Society (GWS), and an executive member of Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF).
Apart from being a flamboyant actor, Cajetan was a versatile compere as well. His voice, diction, flair, and linguistic abilities, especially in Konkani made his presence felt vibrantly at any cultural program or gathering.
Cajetan's cursive 'handwriting' was to be seen to be believed and his sense of humor heard to realize the true pleasures of living life.
𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗔𝗙𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗥𝗘𝗧𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧
After retiring from his job in Kuwait, Cajetan returned to his roots in Goa in March 2018 and ‘dressed-up’ in Mariano Fernandes’s tiatr ‘Tujem Bhangar Tujea Angar’, followed by Roseferns’ tiatr ‘Devak Zai Zalear’, Anthony Sylvester tiatr ‘Pedru Portugez’, Elvis-Carmen’s tiatr ‘Maie Mogacho Nomoskar’ and Pal Soares’s tiatr ‘Thank You God’.
The thespian actor traveled all across the Gulf, UK, and acted for numerous other directors in his time, prominent among them being Fr. Freddy J. Da Costa, M. Boyer, Remmie Colaco, Anthony San, H.Britton, Jose Rod, Roseferns, Jess Fernandes, Patrick Dourado, Vitorino Pereira, A. Morais, R. Morais, Rosario Dias, Chrismeena, Rosary Ferns, Marcus Vaz, Laurente Pereira, Mario de Majorda, Michael D'Silva, Xavier Gomes, Bonaventure D'Pietro, Jessy Dias, Jenifer Rod, Aleixinho de Maxem, Benny de Aldona, J.P. Parra, Tony Call, Mendes Bros., F.X.Pereira, F.Cardoz, Simon Gonsalves, Joe Ferrera, etc.
Acting apart, during his leisure Cajetan indulged in amusing social media friends with rephrased jokes called ‘SMILE, IT’S WEEKEND’ that defined the humor side of the star.
𝗠𝗘𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘 𝗥𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗦
Some of Cajetan’s memorable roles will remain immortal such as his role in Jose Rod's drama/VCD ‘Devan Dilem Devcharan Velem’ and T-Bush’s Konkani E-Cinema feature film ‘BLACK’.
Besides, Cajetan’s own DVD album ‘Xidduk Ravat’ was well accepted by Konkani lovers across the Konkan world.
Cajetan’s last action in a commercial drama in Kuwait was an important role in Sammy Tavares’ tiatr ‘Thim Thikam Sandlelim’ in 2018.
The acclaimed actor was awarded by the Tiartrist Academy of Goa (TAG) for his immense contribution to Goan art in the field of drama.
Earlier, the ‘Thespian’ was honored in Kuwait during the drama 'Chuklelim Pavlam' in June 2005.
𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗢𝗟𝗘𝗡𝗖𝗘𝗦
The Goan community in Kuwait has extended deep condolences to the bereaved family. Our heartfelt sympathies to Cajetan's family, daughter Clemmie Pereira, and son-in-law Shahu Almeida.
𝗠𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝘂𝗹 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗻.