TAG presented Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Awards on the occasion of Birth

Anniversary of Joao Agostinho Fernandes

The 153 rd birth anniversary of Pai Tiatrist, the late Joao Agostinho Fernandes, was commemorated with a call to preserve and promote the Konkani language and Goa’s Cultural heritage.

During the event the Lifetime Contribution to tiatr Awards (commercial) were presented. In the commercial category the award was presented to Domnigos Coelho (Comedian Domnic), Xec Amirodin (Sheikh Amir), Xavier M. Fernandes (Paklo), Jaikisan Dharmu Naik (Kissan de Chinchinim) and Samuel Carvalho. While Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Awards (Non Commercial) was conferred upon Jose Antonio (JP), Peter V. Fernandes, Jose M.F.De.J.N. Barreto (Juju), Francis Fernandes and Pedro Colaco.

The awards were presented at a specially organized function at the Pai Tiatrist Auditorium, Ravindra Bhavan, Margao – Goa on 14 th December 2024, at the hands of Hema Sardesai a famous Indian playback singer, Shri. Sagun Velip, Director of Art & Culture and Domingos Araujo- promoter of Tiatr in the presence of Shri. Anthony Barbosa, President of TAG, Shri. Rajendra Talak, Chairman of Ravindra Bhavan, Margao, Shri.Suresh Divkar Member Secretary of TAG and Shri. Arnaldo
Costa, President of Goan Konkani nonstop Tiatrist ani Tiatristanchi Saunstha. Smt. Sharmila Fernandes, granddaughter of Pai Tiatrist, was also present as a Special Invitee.

Noted singer Hema Sardesai said there was a pressing need to safeguard Goa’s culture, Sardesai advocated for the preservation of Konkani through tiatrs and other art forms and suggested teaching the language to non-Goans.

Director of the Art and Culture Department, Sagun Velip, said, “Competitions and workshops on tiatr have given children confidence to perform on stage and overcome the stage fear. We are confident the younger generation will carry tiatr forward, not just in India but globally”.
Earlier, Shri. Anthony Barbosa, President of Tiatr Academy welcomed the guests and congratulated all the awardees.

The function was compered by well-known personality of the Konkani stage Shri. Avito Pires de Menezes and Guadalupe Dias.

The function was followed by staging a Musical Show.