Mario Piedade Menezes (29 May 1960 – 25 June 2022), popularly known by his sobriquet Tragedy King,[1] was an Indian theatre director, playwright, and actor who primarily worked on the Konkani stage. He was the vice president of the Tiatr Academy Goa.[2][3][4][5][6]

Mario Menezes
Menezes in 2010
Born
Mario Piedade Menezes

(1960-05-29)29 May 1960
Died25 June 2022(2022-06-25) (aged 62)
Chiplun, Maharashtra, India
Burial placeOur Lady of Hope Church cemetery, Chinchinim, Goa, India
NationalityIndian
Other namesTragedy King
Occupations
  • Actor
  • theatre director
  • writer
Years active1982–2022
SpouseEpiphania Menezes
Children2

Career

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Menezes made his debut as a professional tiatrist in 1982.[7] He was part of Rosario Rodrigues' troupe and was a long time member of Prince Jacob's troupe before starting out as an independent director and forming his own troupe "Menezes Theatre" in 2001.[2] Menezes has also acted in tiatrs by directors like Roseferns, Comedian Agostinho, Jose Rod, Pascoal Rodrigues, Patrick Dourado, Ligorio Fernandes and Menino De Bandar.[8] Menezes staged tiatrs in India as well as in other countries including the United Kingdom[9] and Gulf nations like Kuwait.[10] In 2018, he produced a tiatr with 25 children cast of leading tiatrists in Goa acting in it.[11] Menezes prior to his death had directed nearly 50 tiatrs and performed in about 10,000 shows during his career.[12][8]

Personal life

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Mario Piedade Menezes was born on 29 May 1960 in Chinchinim, Goa, which was then part of Portuguese India during the Portuguese Empire (now in India), to Leopoldino and Esmeralda Menezes. He was married to Epiphania Menezes, the couple had two daughters, Rioma and Riosha.[8]

Awards and honours

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Menezes won the 2014 Dalgado Konknni Akademi Annual Dalgado Cultural Award for his contribution to the development of Konkani in the Roman script.[8] He has also been honoured as the Best Actor (1981), Best Director and Best Performance (1992), "Goa Bandh" and Best Duo with Lawry Travasso in 2002 at Kala Academy Tiatr Festival.[8]

In 1985, Menezes was awarded the Gulab Best Actor for "Amchem Ghor", Best Director for "He Chukik Bogsonem asa?" in 2001, for "Tiatr Somplo Cholat Ghara" in 2003, for "Tanchem Chintat Tevui Munxeam" in 2005 and Best Writer for "Sangat Ami Burguim Khonachim" in 2004 and for "Tanchem Chintat Tevui Munxean" in 2005.[8] Menezes is also the recipient of the Dr Jack Sequeira Award for Best Director for "Kal Aiz Ani Falleam in 2009, for Beiman Kir" in 2010, for "Hatachin Panch Bottam" in 2011 and Best Tiatr for "Maim Tuka Khoim Soddum"[13] in 2012 Best Actor for "Beiman Kir" in 2010.[8]

He was amongst the first three in all editions of the Tiatr Academy of Goa Popular Tiatr Festival. In the first year, he won First Place for Best Actor and Best Director and second place for Script and Performance for "Beiman Kir". In the second year, he won awards for 'Futtleli Boxi" and in the third year he won the first place for negative role in "Xirlo".

In the fourth Year of Tiatr Academy Popular Tiatr Festival, he won the first place for Writer, Director and Performance for "Hi Vatt Khoim Veta" and the following year he won the second place for Director, Script and Performance for "Kollxear Udok". In the sixth year of the awards, he won the second place for performance and third place for director for "Eke Fottik Xembhor Fotti".[8] The Goa Konkani Akademi also awarded him for Best Script for Tanchem Chintat Tivui Munxeam.[8]

Death

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Menezes died as a result of massive heart attack at Chiplun, Maharashtra,[14] while he was en route to Mumbai. He was on his way by train along with Menino de Bandar's troupe for a tiatr performance.[12][2] His funeral was attended by hundreds of fans and dignitaries.[15][16]

Selected stage works

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Year Title Role Ref
2022 Thank You [17]
2018 Bhurgem Tem Bhurgem [18]
2016 Toh Porot Yetolo [19]
2015 Suknneachem Ghor Ghontter Nhoi [20]
2015 Amkam Kiteak Poddla [8]
2011 Rogtacho Rong Tambdo [8]
2020 Ho Uzo Palounk Zata Writer & director [21]
2017 Ghor Nhoi Ghorabo Actor, writer & director [22]
Moronk Pasun Suseg Nam Actor, producer, writer & director [23]
Goem Konn Samballtolo
Sorry
Renver Bandlelem Ghor
Don Roste
Hi Vatt Khoim Veta?
Bendol
Xirlo
Apurbaiechim Fulam
Aslelim Dukhi Naslelim Sukhi
Beiman Kir
Bhurgem Tem Bhurgem
College Life
Dev Konn? Hindu, Kristanv Vo Musolman
Dogui Bodmas
Don Roste
Duddu Anik Ginean
Eke Fottik Xembhor Fotti
Fattim Pavlem
Fattlean Poi
Floriano Vaz – Poilo Martyr
Futtleli Boxi
Ghor Nhoi Ghorabo
Ghorabeache Vantte
Grandpa
Hatachim Panch Bottam
He Roste Chukiche
Hevui Chukik Bhogsonnem Assa
Hevui Chukik Bhogsonnem Nam
Hevui Chukik Bhogsonnem Assa – Part II
Hi Kudd Matiek Laitam
Hi Maim Konnachi
Ho Uzo Palounk Zata
Kaide Konnak Keleat?
Kal Aiz Ani Faleam
Kazari Put Konnacho?maicho Vo Bailecho?
Love Story 2009
Naginn
Nhoim Mogache Pun Rogtache
Omtea Kollxear Udok
Osleo Suno
Padri
Padri Mogan Poddla…
Pai
Pangllo
Papi
Parvo
Passport
Patkam
Peddo
Pergaum
Pidda
Piso
Pisuddlelim Fulam
Podvi
Poixe Poixe
Poltodd
Pontti
Pordexi
Posko
Prachit
Put
Rag
Randdponn
Raza-rani
Rogot
Rogtacho Rong Tambddo
Rosto
Rupia
Somaz Osso Cholta
Sonvsarant Konn Nhoim Konnacho
Suicide
Sukhachi Zalim Dukham
Sukhnneachem Ghor Ghontter Nhoi [24]
Tem Tuka Naka
Tempa Pormonnem
Tiatr Somplo Cholat Ghara
To Porot Yetolo
Tum Tujea Jivitacho Boroinnar
Tumi Tumche Dolle Ugddat

References

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  1. ^ "Scripting the Goan tiatr". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "The legend will live on". oHeraldo. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  3. ^ "Mario Menezes President of Tiatr Academy Goa passes away". oHeraldo. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  4. ^ "Remembering Mario Menezes | The Tragedy King | Mannkam Motieam". www.prudentmedia.in. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  5. ^ "Goa bids adeus to the King- Mario Menezes". oHeraldo. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  6. ^ "The script still matters". oHeraldo. Retrieved 2022-10-22.
  7. ^ "Tragedy King - Mario Menezes". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k "A delightful time for the Tragedy King of Tiatr". oHeraldo. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  9. ^ "Noted tiatrist Mario Menezes no more". The Navhind Times. 25 June 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  10. ^ "Mario Menezes & Troupe arrives Kuwait to stage Konkani Drama 'Xirlo' - Abroad Indians". www.abroadindians.com. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  11. ^ "A young generation of tiatrists". oHeraldo. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  12. ^ a b Mergulhao, Marcus (June 26, 2022). "The King of Tragedy takes his final bow". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-07-27.
  13. ^ "Mario Menezes' monsoon magic!". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-11-03.
  14. ^ "Life journey of 'Tragedy King' ends abruptly". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 2022-10-23.
  15. ^ "Tragedy King of Konkani stage Mario Menezes laid to rest". Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  16. ^ "People from all walks of life bid tearful adieu to 'Tragedy King' Mario Menezes". The Goan EveryDay. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  17. ^ Pires, Mario. "A tragedy to the world of 'tiatr' in Goa". Gomantak Times. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  18. ^ "Mario Menezes' Bhurgem Tem Bhurgem is the new tiatr in town". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  19. ^ Azavedo, Gary. "Mario Menezes makes a splash with a thought-provoking drama". The Times of India. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  20. ^ "Mario Menezes Konkani drama - Suknneachem Ghor Ghontter Nhoi". www.daijiworld.com. Retrieved 21 October 2022.
  21. ^ "Herald: "Ho Uzo Palounk Zata' bags first prize in popular tiatr competition". oHeraldo. Retrieved 2022-12-02.
  22. ^ Desk, N. T. (15 November 2017). "TIATR REVIEW – JP PEREIRA – The Navhind Times". Retrieved 2022-12-02. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  23. ^ Fernandes, Joel (10 May 2020). "Moronk Passun Suseg Nam". tiatr.in. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  24. ^ Gary Azavedo (October 25, 2015). "'Renver Bandlelem Ghor' set to make waves across the state". The Times of India. Retrieved 2022-11-03.