Pai Tiatrist

João Agostinho Fernandes (According to the baptism register from 1871 at the Holy Spirit Church, Margao, Agustinho was recorded as his middle name.) However, Fernandes personally spelled it with an 'o' instead of 'u', so the spelling has been changed to Agostinho. Portuguese names may vary in spelling due to the availability of diacritical marks like ~ and ¸ on typewriters and the knowledge of computer typists to use them, for example João or Conceição. he is known for his contribution to the first teatro, Italian Bhurgo . The play was first performed on 17 April 1892 in Bombay at the New Alfred Theatre, along with playwright Lucasinho Ribeiro, Caitaninho Fernandes, and Agostinho Mascarenhas.

Fernandes continued the tiatr tradition when his mentor Ribeiro quit being part of Konkani theatre during the early 20th century. Over a span of more than fifty years, he created 30 plays, with the majority being original works crafted by him, totaling 26, while the remaining four were adaptations from external sources.

Early life João Agostinho Fernandes was born on 14 December 1871, in Margão, Portuguese Goa. His baptism took place a week later. His mother, Maria Francisca, was a native of Portuguese Macau, while his father, Conceiçao Fernandes, worked as a mariner. Initially, there was some confusion regarding his date of birth, as it was erroneously linked to his baptism on 21 December 1871. Fernandes received his primary education in the Portuguese language and initially pursued studies at the Rachol Seminary. However, he later opted to discontinue his education there and relocated to Bombay. In Bombay, he completed his matriculation at St. Xavier's School in Dhobitalao and subsequently secured employment as a chemist at Messrs Phillips and Company,

The legacy of Fernandes's work, particularly his play Pandurong Kusmonnkar, can be observed in the present-day portrayal of Hindu characters and their accents in tiatr performances. This artistic style was subsequently inherited by individuals such as Souza Ferrão. Fernandes holds the distinction of being the first to introduce Kunbi dances and songs to the stage, incorporating original rhythms. Among his compositions, the song "Sintidan paim ghal re, Jaki...." from Kunbi Jaki achieved significant popularity among the general public due to its vibrant and engaging rhythm.

Plays