By Gasper Crasto
Kuwait: Few people leave a lasting impression on others,
and even fewer have the chance to truly impact people.
Rosary Ferns, who died an untimely death on 12th January
2011 while on holidays in Goa, left a permanent legacy and will be remembered
for a long, long time for his contribution towards drama and art in the form of
VCDs, CDs and cassettes.
Konkan people who were fortunate enough to see Rosary
Ferns on stage will perhaps never ever see another star of his calibre – a
great playwright, philosophical composer and singer.
Born on 16th August 1962, the late star will be fondly remembered on his 52th Birth
Anniversary.
A Mega, Unique Musical show is scheduled to be staged in Kuwait on 7th November 2014 4.30pm at American School Hall, Maidan Hawally -- as a Special Tribute to Rosary Ferns.
The show entitled 'Sath Panvdde' (Seven Steps) is written and directed by Rosary's brother Mr. Fidelis Fernandes and will feature a galaxy of well-known artistes from Goa and Kuwait.
The show entitled 'Sath Panvdde' (Seven Steps) is written and directed by Rosary's brother Mr. Fidelis Fernandes and will feature a galaxy of well-known artistes from Goa and Kuwait.
More details on the show will be
announced as the event unfolds.
A well-known Konkani star, Rosary Ferns hailing from
Colva, Salcete, Goa came to Kuwait in 1985 and worked for Kuwait Danish Dairy
Company.
As a person, Rosary was a thorough gentleman, decent and
upright in his behavior maintaining all the high attributes he learnt in his
family. In his untimely death, Rosary has left behind his beloved wife
Cassilda, two sons Cynan and Cullen, his dearly-loved mother, three sisters and
two brothers.
Rosary has been, in his own way, instrumental in
improving the overall standard of tiatr and taking the Konkani art to new
heights. His death was definitely a big loss to Goans and left a vacuum in the
field of tiatr that is hard to fill.
Rosary was one of the best tiatro writers and directors. During his 25 years in Kuwait, he staged 12 tiatros some of them for the cause of charity. Many associations in Kuwait staged his tiatros including Goan and Mangalorean.
Rosary was one of the best tiatro writers and directors. During his 25 years in Kuwait, he staged 12 tiatros some of them for the cause of charity. Many associations in Kuwait staged his tiatros including Goan and Mangalorean.
In all, Rosary wrote and directed 21 full-fledged Konkani Tiatros. Some of his masterpieces include ‘Mhojem Dusrem Ghor’ (My second home), ‘Tumkam Lagon Jielom’ (I lived for you), ‘Sukh Khuim Asa’ (Where is Happiness), ‘Bhurgim Mai Paichem Sukh’ (Children, a joy of parents), ‘Devachea Marak Avaz Nam’ (Justice of the Almighty reigns Silent) ‘Ghor Bandlem Ghorabo Moddlo’ (Built a house, broke a home), etc.
Rosary was gifted in writing tragic stories and his forte
lied in composing tragic 'cantos'. Among the expatriate artistes Rosary Ferns
was the only person known to be a great composer of traditional 'Mandos'. He
was famous for his powerful, captivating solos which had messages of good morals, religious doctrines and beliefs. Some of his golden, original Mandos feature in
his Audio/Video albums.
Rosary has produced 14 Audio Albums which are as follows:
1. Chuck Konnachi in February 1990.
2. Bogxinche Devan in February 1992.
3. Atam Kiteak Roddtai? In September 1993.
4. Gulfantle Koixtt in 1994.
5. Devachea Hathan in 1995.
6. Pirachit in 1997.
7. Khast Devachi in 1998.
8. Dinar 2000.
9. Padre Pio in 2001.
10. Tem Bhurgeponn in 2002.
11. Matharponn in 2004.
12. Raag in 2005.
13. Mog Visvas Sosnnikai
14.Dinaracho Valor.
Additionally, Rosary has produced 3 Video Albums.
1. 'Kanvllo Roddlo Lozen' (The Crow cried in Shame)
2. 'Mogan Tujea Lasota' (Burning in your Love)
3. Thank You Kuwait - Sept 2011
As a matter of interest, Rosary was the first person in
the history of Goan-Konkani world to produce the first CD of songs which was
made in Kuwait.
Incidentally, at the time he breathed his last, Rosary
was working on a video album entitled ‘Thank You Kuwait” which was later
released by his brother Fidelis Fernandes.
The eminent artiste had his first professional break in
his fellow villager’s drama. Goan stage great C.D Silva on seeing the immense
singing potential of Rosary booked him for his show ‘Kalliz’. Rosary was in the
7th standard at that time studying at Infant Jesus High School, Colva.
Rosary was later enrolled in St. Anthony’s High School,
Majorda, and stayed at his sister’s place at Velsao. Though uprooted from his
tiatrical friends and surroundings, he built a ‘tiatrical’ community wherever
he went, Velsao was no exception. Here too, he staged a tiatr. This tiatr
created a record of sorts as it turned out to be the first ‘All Ladies Show’.
The Tiatr was staged all over Goa in 1980.
Rosary created history yet again when his Konkani Drama
"Kuwait Soddun Vetana" was staged in Kuwait by the Mangalorean
Konkani community in a Mangalorean dialect in the year 2009. The original drama
was in Goan Roman Konkani which was well received by the Goan audience as one
of the classic masterpieces of the great writer.
A very humble and soft spoken person, Rosary Ferns
strived through Konkani stage and cultural programs to bring about fusion of
all the Konkani speaking people in Kuwait, Mangalorean and Goans in particular.
In the past, he wrote and directed Songit Sanz under Kuwait Konknni Kendr.
Rosary also encouraged and promoted young and budding
artistes and developed them into full-fledged artistes.
Rosary Ferns is on record to have staged more Tiatros in
Kuwait than any other artiste and all of his tiatros have been well attended
and appreciated by the audience. In fact in Kuwait, he created a special and
very precious niche for himself among the audience. For this reason his tiatros
were handsomely attended not just by Goans but also Mangaloreans and other
Konkani speaking people.
In August 2005, for his enormous contribution in the
promotion of Konkani Songit Kala, Rosary Ferns was honored by the Mangalorean
Association Konkani Kulvar, Kuwait. He was also felicitated by Kala Mogui
Kuwait (KMK) in 2010 at the hands of the Indian Ambassador to Kuwait.
Besides tiatrs, Rosary wrote a number of One Act Plays,
Operettas, Mandos & Dulpods and countless other songs.