Among the 11 stage artistes who were honoured by the TAGwith the ‘Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Stage Award 2012’, Julio HilarioPurificacao Rodrigues, known by his stage name, Jr Rod was one amongst them forrendering dedicated service to tiatr stage.
The son of one of the illustrious tiatrist the late MinguelRod hailing from Cortalim in Mormugao Taluka, his father was a popular stageartiste, playwright, composer and singer who displayed exemplary skills and isremembered with respect and admiration till date. It was but natural for hisson to inherit his father’s talents and eventually take a bow onto the theatrestage. Jr Rod made a debut onto the stage at a very young age, when he firstsang a Portuguese song in a concert at Sancoale and won a prize. He was onlyeight years old then. The response from the audience was positive and hisfather was impressed with his talent. This prompted him to cast him in histiatrs in the future.
Like any other child his age, Jr Rod was inspired by hisfather’s popularity on the Konkani stage and it but natural for him to followhis footsteps. His father, the late Minguel Rod, was a legend in his own rightand an admired lyricist of the Konkani stage. Jr Rod picked up this trait fromhis father and began to pen his own lyrics and sing them to the satisfaction ofhis fans from a young age. Offers from other senior artistes of the Konkanistage were not far in coming and Jr Rod soon became a permanent member of thetiatr troupe, ostensibly due to his skills at singing and composing.
One admirable quality of Jr Rod is that his lyrics bear alot of weightage and are meaningful and carry a good moral and message to thelistener. His voice is his biggest asset, and as a singer he can sing at a highpitch effortlessly. He is admired for the solos as well as duets that hecomposes and renders on contemporary family and socio-political issues.
Jr Rod has rendered some of the best and memorable comedyduets in tiatr, teaming up with Josefina Dias. He has, for a brief period, alsobeen part of the famous trio Rom-Rem-Rod his other two partners being Roam Tonyand Remmie. Jr Rod is mostly offered character roles in tiatrs which heexecutes to perfection. A gifted composer, he keeps a close watch on thehappenings in society and the ever changing social scenario. This is what giveshim the fodder to compose thought provoking lyrics for his solos and duets.Well-built with a short stature and a broad face, Jr Rod is identified by hisequally broad smile.
Jr Rod has written and directed his own tiatrs: ‘PaichiGirestkai’, ‘Pain Vibaddlem Putan Samball’llem’, ‘Ruzar Manxekar’ and ‘HenchTem’. Besides these, he has also staged and directed a few of his late father’stiatrs.
