gaspersWorld

By Gasper Crasto

In recent years, Goan girls have been making significant strides in both singing and acting, captivating audiences with their talent and charisma.

These emerging starlets are making their mark from a tender age. Their journeys often begin with a passion for performing and are nurtured by supportive families and mentors.

The young prodigies not only showcase exceptional vocal abilities but also demonstrate impressive acting chops shaping the future of entertainment.

One of the young girls reaching a height at an unprecedented pace is Rioma Menezes, well-known as ‘The Wonder Girl of Konkani Stage’.

Rioma is the daughter of late Mario Menezes – the ‘Tragedy King of Konkani Stage’, it is evident that the art of ‘tiatristponn’ runs in her blood.

The ‘wondergirl’ will feature in the Musical Drama ‘𝗞𝘂𝘄𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗰𝗵𝗶 𝗠𝗮𝘁𝗶’ –directed by Shri Fidelis Fernandes based on a true story and set to be staged on 4th Oct 2024 at SIMS school.

𝘼𝘽𝙊𝙐𝙏 𝙍𝙄𝙊𝙈𝘼

Hailing from the beautiful village of Chinchinim (Dandeavaddo), Rioma has a Master’s in Arts from SP Chowgule College, Margao, while she did her high school & Bachelors from Rosary College.

The talented girl began her tiatr career at a tender age of 7 years, first featuring in her father’s tiatr ‘Hevui Chukik Bhogsonnem Nam?’ and subsequently went on to act and sing in more than 20 of his tiatrs.

Rioma’s most recent Tiatr is ‘Sopnantlim Fulam’ by Lawry Travasso.

She has also sung in many audio and video CDs for well-known producers such as Francis de Tuem, Xavier Gomes, S. Caitan, Lawry Travasso, Fr. Domnic, and many others.

She has also performed in various musical shows across Goa while many of her songs uploaded are on YouTube, popular among them being ‘Xinkop’, ‘Bhurgeacho Fuddar, etc.

𝙊𝙉 𝙏𝙑 & 𝙊𝙏𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙋𝙇𝘼𝘾𝙀𝙎

A star in the making, Rioma has so far performed all over Goa and in Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Gujarat.

She has also performed several times in the Gulf countries like Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, and Qatar and also in the United Kingdom.

Right from her childhood, Rioma has bagged many awards, some of the important ones include the Gulab award, Dr. Jack Sequeira award, an award by the Brain Box Institute, and Tiatr Academy of Goa accolades.

The 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebration Committee also honored Rioma for her contribution in tiatrs.

In high school and college, Rioma has often participated in singing contests and skits, and received a lot of recognition for her talent.

Lately, Rioma was exclusively interviewed by Michael Gracias for CCR TV.

𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗦𝗛𝗢𝗪 𝗜𝗡 𝗞𝗨𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧

The star-studded ‘Kuwaitchi Mati’ will be a FREE SHOW - entirely produced, organized & directed by the dynamic writer-director Fidelis Fernandes.

Some of the iconic superstars of Konkani stage booked to entertain include Lawry Travasso, Saby de Divar, Comedian Agostinho Temudo, Comedian Janet, Antonette De Maina, and Comedian Ben Evangelisto Fernandes – great entertainers in the Konkan world and major attractions at any stage event.

Other popular stars that will also don the stage include Laurente Pereira, Princewell Fernandes, Andrea, Bab Andrew Desouza and Simon Gonsalves – all from London.

𝗞𝗨𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧 𝗔𝗥𝗧𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗦

A select cast of Kuwait-based artistes will also be part of the musical drama comprising Gasper Crasto, Clemmie Almeida, Xavier Furtado, Gracy Rodrigues, Mario de Majorda and Esparansa Barretto.

𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖 & 𝗠𝗨𝗦𝗜𝗖𝗜𝗔𝗡𝗦

Music for the show will be arranged by famed Maestros – Maestro Shahu Almeida & Armando (UK) with Maestro Faustino Menezes (Trumpet), bass guitarist Dennis Gonsalves, Lennon Blasco Dsilva (Rhythms), and Tony Fernandes on drums.

Cheslee Dsouza will be in-charge of innovative stage-sets and sound. The event will be powered by INSYNC.

𝗔𝗕𝗢𝗨𝗧 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗗𝗜𝗥𝗘𝗖𝗧𝗢𝗥

The director, Shri Fidelis Fernandes hails from Colva, Goa. His last musical in Kuwait was ‘Sath Panvdde’ which also starred a number of megastars.

Another of Fidelis’ event – a 4K mega Konkani musical ‘Ami Goenkar’ that was scheduled in February 2020, was shelved due to Covid.

Shri Fidelis was President of Konkani Heritage Kuwait (KHK) which has, in the past, presented Konkani tiatrs, one-act play competitions, singing competitions, and Konkani ‘songit sanz’ (musical) shows in Kuwait under his direction.

Fidelis has also headed the Kuwait Indian Football Federation (KIFF) as its President for 5 consecutive terms apart from holding other key positions.

𝗪𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗱𝗲𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗼𝗻 ‘𝗞𝗨𝗪𝗔𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗜 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗜’ 𝗮𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘂𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗱𝘀.