The comic genius of tiatrist Anthony Mendes
Once upon a time (was it all really so long ago?), on Sunday mornings after every Mass got over, people streaming out of churches across Mumbai would be greeted by young men standing at the church gates distributing blue, green, and pink coloured handbills with advertisements of soon-to-be-staged tiatrs.
The venues of these plays would be either the open-air theatre at Victoria Gardens at Byculla, Princess Theatre at Bhangwadi (if you’re wondering about the name, the locality once had opium shops lining the entrance), St. Mary’s High School at Mazagon, or the Rang Bhavan open-air theatre near St. Xavier’s College.
Goans would grab these handbills and start scanning them eagerly on the way home. If the face of Anthony Mendes figured among the pictures of the tiatrists starring in the play they were sure the tiatr would be a sell-out and make a beeline for ‘Jack-of-all Stall’ at Byculla or other centres at Dhobitalao to book their tickets as early as possible to avoid disappointment.
Anthony Mendes embodied the best of comedy on the Konkani stage. He was a gifted comedian who could make audiences laugh uncontrollably without uttering a single word. Just a wriggle of his stick-on toothbrush moustache the moment he emerged from the side wings was enough to bring the house down. I remember how he would yank his pants to his armpits and make his torso disappear into them to the delight of the crowd who revelled in his zany antics. He was the quintessential perfect comedian: superb timing, an endearing stage presence, and yes, loads of talent. Those who have grown up in the post-Anthony Mendes era have only to see the Konkani film Amchem Noxib for glimpses of his comedic genius.
Had he been alive today, Anthony Mendes would have been celebrating his 92nd birthday in a few days from now. Born in Margao on 28 December, 1920, he made his professional debut on the Konkani stage at the tender age of 16 after passing out of St. Theresa’s High School in Girgaum, one of the Goan pockets in the city of Bombay.
In 1936, after watching him perform in a local stage show, Joao Agostinho Fernandes (acknowledged today as the Father of the Konkani stage) decided to offer the young Anthony Mendes a small role in his one-act play Khapri Chakor (African Servant). Joao Agostinho was so impressed by the talent of his new protégé, he gave him roles to play in many of his other tiatrs as well, till finally he picked him for one of the lead roles in his play Vauraddi. From then on there was no stopping Anthony Mendes. The upcoming young tiatrist was a hit, his popularity began to grow, directors began to pursue him for their plays, and the rest is history.
A multi-talented tiatrist
Like another great tiatrist – C. Alvares – Anthony Mendes was a multi-talented performer. His versatility extended to acting, singing, songwriting and even playwriting. He penned scores of songs and 15 full-length tiatrs, one of his major hits being “Road to Mapusa”. His remarkable inventiveness whether it was character portrayal, writing the lyrics for his songs, or entertaining the audience, made him a hit with tiatr enthusiasts.
A big reason for the popularity of Anthony Mendes’s songs was that the lyrics were so side-splittingly funny. Consider these lines from “Taxi Driver” one of his hit solos or ‘clowns’ as they used to be called in the tiatr programs:
Taxi choloitanam fattlean kitem tum poitoloi,
Gopan eka mekak dhorun aloi-doloi,
Tea amchea fuddlea arxean cinema kitem poitoloi,
(Watching lovers in the backseat through the rear mirror is like watching a movie!)
And then feeling guilty for being a peeping Tom, he ends with the lines:
Saiba maka kurpa di, steering mojem ghott dhorunc,
Haum poitam mhunn tancam gomoi!
(Dear Lord, help me hold on tight to the steering wheel… please let them know I can see what they’re doing!”
Or take these witty lines from Burgo Mog (Immature Love):
Ho tuzo guneau, mozo guneau, kestao pettota,
Bejeam suater, vontt poleancher, thapttam suzota…
(They start quarelling – It’s your fault; No, it’s yours;
And soon lips and cheeks are swollen not from passionate kissing, but from stinging slaps!)
Another brilliant composition is the song Dadlo, an ode to the macho male and his remarkable “strength”. Anthony Mendes begins with the line “Dadlea, dadlea, dadlea, dadlea, kitlo ghott tum vortotai“(O man how great is your strength), continues with creatively conceived plaudits like “Dantanim battleancheo guddeo kaddtai” (You can remove the crown caps of soft drink bottles with your bare teeth), but ends sardonically with “Punn bailanc poitoch pochok zatai” – (But the mere sight of ladies makes you go weak in the knees).
When this wonderful actor died in 1964, just one year after the immensely popular Amchem Noxib was released, he was only 43. His sudden demise due to blood cancer shattered not only his young wife and three school-going sons, it came as a cruel shock to tiatr lovers as well. I was just a kid in school at that time, but I clearly remember the silver-throated Alfred Rose’s heart-breaking rendition of a song dedicated to Anthony Mendes just a few days after the demise of the master comedian. The jam-packed auditorium listened in complete silence, many with tears in their eyes, till he concluded his moving tribute with the lines:
Mendes amche modem jieunk, tevuim zalear amchem noxib,
Mendes bhurghech ponnin moronk, tenvuim amchem noxib.
Anthony Mendes had only a brief love affair with the Konkani stage, but till today, 48 years after he passed away, the bond Goans and lovers of tiatr share with him still endures, and it will continue to endure well into the future.
I conclude my own small tribute to this giant among tiatrists with one of his hilarious songs on the challenges a young man faces while looking for love, titled ‘Loving’.
Viva Goa!
And Merry Christmas!
Hi! Many thanks for this post Veena. Saw this movie Amchem Npxib as a kid. Anthony was a family friend, and a great actor, and that was a great movie. Sad that only two Konkani movies are worth remembering and mentioning, the other being Nirmon. They don’t make movies like Amchem Noxib anymore, and neither do we see actors like Anthony Mendes anymore.
Regards,
Keith
Thanks for the appreciation Keith. Anthony Mendes was a personal favourite and I agree with every word you’ve written.
Was happy to read your tribute to Anthony Mendes. I knew his daughter well and am hoping to get in touch with her.
Thanks Brenda. Hope you succeed in making contact with Anthony Mendes’s daughter.
Hi Veena, This is Teresa, Anthony Mendes’s daughter. Reaching out to an old friend who commented to your lovely article.
Hi Brenda dear. This is Teresa. How amazing that I just read yr comment. I live in Kuwait and can be connected through WhatsApp at 965 67076507. Hope to hear from you soon.
Glad you can connect with your friend through my website, Teresa.
Dear Veena,
I do not know you, but I see that you do know about my grandfather quite a bit and am assuming that you were his fan. I too am his greatest fan and till date, I push my dad and his brothers (Mendes Brothers) to pay tribute to their father before it’s too late… God willing we may get to see something like that during our lifetime, as according to me the quality of tiatrists has diminished from the good old yesteryears.
Randall, I feel so happy that the grandson of a tiatrist my late parents, and my siblings and I loved, and had the good fortune of watching perform on stage (and inevitably bring the house down each time) has appreciated my little homage to him. I agree with you that we and future generations of Goans may never see the likes of Anthony Mendes again. I do hope your dad and uncles will accede to your plea and organize a public stage show/tiatr in memory of your illustrious grandfather. (I would be glad to provide help with the scripting.) In the US, I have enjoyed similar tributes to Patsy Cline and ABBA, and in India we have tributes to Mohammed Rafi and others arranged by their family. In fact, the Konkani stage could do with tributes to other greats like C. Alvares, Alfred Rose, M. Boyer and others and I’m sure these stage shows will receive the full support of tiatr lovers.
Thanks for the inputs Veena. What about his children?
Thank you Antonio. It was a pleasure to pay a tribute to one of our greatest tiatrists. Anthony Mendes had five children – Felix, Xavier, Derrick, Theresa and Emilia. His three sons performed in tiatrs as a trio under the name of Mendes Brothers and were quite a hit with tiatr audiences. They migrated to Kuwait for better prospects but continued to be actively involved in Konkani stage shows there as well. Xavier who recently moved back to Goa for health reasons is now in a wheelchair. Last year he was felicitated along with some other senior tiatrists including Rita Rose with the ‘Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr’ Award.
Hey, really nice post. My dad was just talking to me about Anthony Mendes as he had just received a video of his song ‘Zalem te zao’ from the movie Amchem Noxib. It’s true what you say that people of my generation may never get to witness the likes of such a great tiatrist but Anthony Mendes lives in the heart of every Goan who has witnessed him in action. Just listening to my dad got me interested and I thought I would google his name to find out more and found your post. But recently a movie was made called NACHOM-IA KUMPASAR which was a Konkani movie based on the life of Lorna and it was also a tribute to all our Goan singers and tiatrists. It was a really nice movie, many people went to watch it. One of my neighbours liked it so much that he went to the theatre and watched it a total of 3 times!!! I love tiatrs and am sad that I might never get to witness such a great tiatrist.
Thank you for the appreciative comments, Orian. There will never be another Anthony Mendes. But who knows, the newer generation of Goans like you might produce fresh talent worth appreciating too. And yes, it’s great when a well-made Konkani film like Nachom-ia Kumpasar is released that keeps the memory of past Goan tiatrists and musicians alive.
Where are Anthony Mendes’s children? They were my good neighbours. Once they left the old house and after that there was no news of them. Just read about Xavier, where can I meet him? And what about the others, their mother? Thanks.
Sorry Joe, I don’t know the family personally. Hence I cannot provide the information you seek. However, since Anthony Mendes’s grandson Randall has also left a comment here, I could share his email address with you if you write to me. I’m sure he would be able to help you out. (My contact details are available on my website.)
You must be so proud to be related to one of our greatest tiatrists!
I’m the first cousin of Felix, Xavier, Derrick and Theresa. My mother and Felix’s mother were sisters.
Hi! This is Derrick. Felix, Theresa, Amelia and I are at present in Kuwait with our children, their spouses, and our grand children. Xavier with his family is in Goa. He is bedridden. Please keep him in prayers. Mummy expired in 1975.
So sorry to hear your brother Xavier is bedridden, Derrick. I’m sure your Dad’s thousands of fans will pray for him, and your relatives, including Bob Gomes, will be happy to receive this update from you. God bless you all, the family of one of our most loved tiatrists and surely a great Goan!
Hi Veena, it’s me Teresa, again, trying to connect with a relative with whom I had lost touch.
Loyola, this is Teresa.
Hope you and your family are doing fine.
Hope you renew your contacts with your cousin, Teresa. Your father was one of the brightest stars of the Konkani stage, and I’m glad to be of help. I’ll send you his email address.
A great comic who can never be replaced. I was 15 when he died and was his great fan. I cried hearing abut his death. A legend of the Konkani stage.
Anthony Mendes was a legendary tiatrist indeed, Santana.
I used to hear a lot of crap in Goa about the death this great Goan artiste. Not on the negative side but mostly made up. Surely there won’t be another one like him. Thank you for all the useful inputs and also to goanetter Roland Francis for sharing it with us.
You’re welcome Mariano. So glad you liked the post.
Xavier (of Mendes brothers) died in GMC Goa on 12.3.18
Thanks for that update, Joe. I’m sure visitors to this site and fans of Anthony Mendes will appreciate this information from you.
I’m a 90’s kid, but grew up listening to all these songs and I want to watch the old movies. Where can I find the movies?
Fiona, the old Konkani classics like Amchem Noxib and Nirmonn are available on Amazon.
19.KONKANI PALK DUKHAM GOLLOITA – Alfred Rose
Gharar Ghaloi kalluk, am’cher poddlo Kalluk,
Geloi Anthony Mendes palkacher ghalun kalluk,
Sonvsar dista kalluk,uzvadd asson kalluk,
Khorench mun’xeachem jivit chintlear bhirankull kalluk
Kotta somplo, tuka roddlo, lok ozaramnin,
Ansoitaloi, khelloitaloi, mogall utramnin,
Bhurgeank tujea, polloun Mendes, dukham bhorlim amcheam dolleamnim
Konkanim palk aiz roddta tuka dukamnim.
Xinn Koria Konnancher, Xinn Koria Devacher,
Nam axea nam, porot disxi mhunn tea palkacher,
Odrustt ailem tujer, odrustt noxibacher,
Auchituch geloi, ghaye ghalun soglleam kallzancher,
Tache oslo, anink dusro sodlear mevchonam,
Kunvor amcho, foler tumcho anink dischonam,
Arhtivont to, onodvnt to, anink amkam to ansouncho-nam
Sasnnank nidlo, uttonk gelear kedinch uttchonam.
Orteam xegunnancho, moipaxi utrancho,
Fokot challis anim tin vorsanche idadicho,
Porzoll amchea palkacho, soglleanchea mogacho,
Aiz lhan toso vhodd roddta , ugddassuch kaddun tacho.
Poilench picture kaddlem amim tem “Am’chem Noxib,
Konnank lagon fankarlem zaite tem “Am’chem Noxib”
Goemkaram modem Mendes Zolmonk, hemvui zalear am’chem noxib
Burgechponnim Devan taka voronk hem am’chem noxib.
Konkani Picture Fankarlem aiz, vhoi tukach lagon,
Palkacherui sob etali, vhoi tukach lagon,
Saibinn Maim-xim, vetam mhunnon, nimnnem am’kam tum geloi sangon.
Tichech lagim, bhurgeank tujeam, dhadd borem magon,
Thanks for sharing these lyrics of Alfred Rose’s tribute song for the benefit of the many, many fans of Anthony Mendes.
“Konkani Palk Dukham Golloita’ – Though this song is not available on cassettes or records, I found out from the old tiatrist Titta Pretto that this song was sung by Alfred Rose at tiatrs. Later C. Alvares also sang a tribute song to Anthony Mendes. Another source told me that after Anthony Mendes passed away the tiatrists got together and staged one of Anthony Mendes’s own tiatrs as a tribute to him and to support his family.
I had shared the lyrics of Konkani Palk Dukham Golloita on the Alfred Rose Fan Group Page on Facebook. I had found the lyrics in Alfred Rose’s now out of publication booklet ‘Kantaramcho Jhelo – 1’. (These lyrics and the lyrics of other Alfred Rose songs are currently available in Fr. Joaquim Fernandes’s book). The lyrics posted by a reader on this website are copied from my blog of Alfred Rose where I have posted most of the lyrics of his songs. Thanks.
http://alfritz.blogspot.com/search/label/Alfred%20Rose%20Song%20Lyrics%20-%20K
Thanks, Edward, for sharing some more background information about this tribute song to Anthony Mendes by the legendary tiatrist Alfred Rose. Though I was a young schoolgirl then, I remember how Alfred Rose was moved to tears while singing this tribute song at a tiatr soon after the great Anthony Mendes passed away.
Hi Veena, it was great to find the lyrics of Alfred Rose’s beautiful tribute to Anthony Mendes here.
Antonio Alvares, thanks a million for sharing the lyrics of this song.
It is priceless, the second last verse of the song is a masterpiece of composition.
Love to all from freezing Canada.
I was a child when I heard Alfred Rose singing this lovely tribute to a Goan audience stunned by the sudden passing away of their beloved tiatrist, Anthony Mendes. Am sure, like you, Malcolm, the fans of this great son of Goa also appreciate the sharing of the lyrics by Antonio Alvares.
I am someone who lived in Juhu, close to where Anthony Mendes lived while I was still a child. I knew all his sons but knew Xavier the best. I was there when he expired and that incident at that time to me was the worst tragedy that could ever have happened. The grief at his funeral is still active in my memory. Seeing these posts and the accompanying music of all time greats brings back a lot of memories.
Thanks, Luis. Glad my posts are reviving beautiful old memories for you.
Tomorrow is our Dad’s 100th birth centenary, and my son Chris will be releasing the song sung by my Dad “Mogachem Tarum”. Hope you like it. It will be released on FB and you tube. Right now Felix and I are in Goa. We came here last March and are stuck in Goa since then due to the pandemic. Anyway we love it here. Please pray for my son’s success.🙏😀✝️🌹
That’s great, Derrick. Hope you and Felix are keeping well and safe. And I wish your son, Chris, all the best in his singing career. Looking forward to listening to his rendition of his famous grandfather’s old hit, Mogachem Tarum.
Hi Veena! Can you share something like this about Molly Fernandes (she had sung Molbailo Dou, Don Kalzam, I lost my heart to you ). We can find hardly any references to her.
Frazer, I agree that besides recently hearing about this lovely singer being given a lifetime achievement award at a function in Goa, we hardly hear anything about her. She has a beautiful voice and the songs she has sung are evergreen Konkani hits. Even after much research, I could find very scanty information about Molly. If I had enough background information, I would love to write a blogpost on her in this blog.
Is there an audio of the song “Taxi Driver” available?
To be honest, I didn’t know about this song till my mother mentioned it last year. She has seen Anthony Mendes performing this song in Bombay in the late 50s. I have tried to find an audio of it, but haven’t found any. I did find the lyrics and my mother was able to remember a bit of the melody; but nothing better than if the actual song is available.
I agree, Andrew. If only the songs of our tiatrist greats or even videos of hit tiatrs with the stars of yesteryear could have been available today. It’s so sad that such a treasure trove of Goan tiatr history is lost forever. I couldn’t find the Taxi Driver song audio anywhere either. But I found a youtube video of one of Anthony Mendes’s other hit songs “Shining Everbright” about married love. Here’s the link:
The genius of the man even as a lyricist is evident from the witty lines:
Noure korar vhoir vhodlean ladain mhunntai
Oclo sokla porte manual dhorun bitor murgottai!
And of course in the last line.
Enjoy!
Greetings, Veena! First off, it’s great to see your platform take off and really love the content 🙂 Keep going!
This is Caesar, Teresa Mendes Fernandes’s son and Anthony Mendes’s grandson. Wanted to share with your audience, that we released a tribute to Anthony Mendes a few days ago on his 101’s birth anniversary. The song is sung my by mom Teresa and is a homage to her father through one of the songs he wrote decades ago- “Tarvotti”
Hope you like it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaGjtQnRt6k
Thanks, Caesar, for sharing this tribute to your celebrated grandfather and a great Goan. I loved the ‘Tarvotti’ song, beautifully sung by your mom, Teresa. Best wishes to your whole family. And Happy New Year!
Greetings, it’s so refreshing to read about Mr Anthony Mendes and his exceptional talents. Good old memories, they are precious. His 3 sons were from the same school where I studied- St Joseph, Juhu.
I remember them singing, acting on stages very often, they were quite famous. Thanks for sharing.
You’re most welcome, Ronald. Glad you liked my post on the unforgettable Anthony Mendes.
Wow!
How did I get here? Well, I was eager to know more about the late Anthony Mendes and searching for him I landed here.
The article gave me a lot of information and it is really well written. – Thanks
I have a Konkani Lyrics site through which I am working hard to keep alive our Konkani language
Please do visit.
I will come back to visit this site again to read more.
https://www.mangoansongs.travel-goa.in/
Thank you so much for your appreciation. And sure, I’ll check out your website.
Best wishes for the good work you’re doing.