MARGAO
Goa’s tiatr fraternity mourned the demise of veteran tiatrist and singer Caetano D’Souza, also known as Caetaninho, who passed away on May 22.
He hailed from Penha de Franca, Britona, and was widely respected for his immense contribution to Konkani tiatr and music.
Born on March 26, 1936, Caetano D’Souza began his journey in tiatr in 1956 through the tiatr “Mogacho Put”. Over the years, he went on to write and direct several tiatrs, including “Mogacho Put”, “Ugddas”, and “Ho Somaz Atancho”, which received appreciation from tiatr lovers.
Apart from being a noted writer and director, he was also known for his powerful acting performances and melodious singing. He played several memorable roles on stage and entertained audiences through his songs and performances in various tiatrs.
He composed more than 500 songs in different categories, and around 40 of his songs were recorded by All India Radio, further contributing to the growth and popularity of Konkani music.
He also had to his credit three VCDs — Viva Penha de Franca, Kagdache Krov and Xantichem Goem — which received wide appreciation from Konkani lovers.
Caetano D’Souza had also actively participated in village tiatrs staged during the feast celebrations of Our Lady of Penha de Franca, where his performances were appreciated by local audiences for several years.
In recognition of his dedicated service to tiatr, the Directorate of Art and Culture had honoured him with the prestigious “Kala Gaurav Award”. He was also felicitated by the 125th Anniversary of Tiatr Celebrations Committee and the Tiatr Academy of Goa in 2017 for completing over six decades in tiatr as a writer, director, actor and singer.
Expressing grief over his demise, Tiatr Academy of Goa President Anthony Barbosa stated that Caetano D’Souza’s contribution to the tiatr world was immense and would always be remembered by the tiatr fraternity. He extended condolences to the bereaved family and prayed for the departed soul to rest in peace.
The passing of Caetano D’Souza marks the end of an era in Konkani tiatr, leaving behind a rich legacy for future generations of artistes.
