Cezar Aleixo Jose Fernandes de Melo (born 12 April 1956), better known as Cezar D'Mello, is an Indian playwright, theatre director, actor, singer, dancer, and former

amateur football Amateur sports are sports in which participants engage largely or entirely without remuneration. The distinction is made between amateur sporting participants and professional sporting participants, who are paid for the time they spend competing a ...

er known for his work in

Hindi Modern Standard Hindi (, ), commonly referred to as Hindi, is the Standard language, standardised variety of the Hindustani language written in the Devanagari script. It is an official language of India, official language of the Government ...

, Konkani films, television, ''

tiatr ''Tiatr'' (; ) is a type of musical theatre that is popular in the state of Goa on the west coast of India, as well as in Mumbai and among the Goan expatriate communities in the Middle East, United Kingdom, and other cities with a significant pr ...

'' productions, and

folk play Folk plays such as Hoodening, Guising, Mummers Play and Soul Caking are generally verse sketches performed in countryside pubs in European countries, private houses or the open air, at set times of the year such as the Winter or Summer solstices ...

Early life

Cezar Aleixo Jose Fernandes de Melo was born on 12 April 1956 in Pangim,

Goa Goa (; ; ) is a state on the southwestern coast of India within the Konkan region, geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats. It is bound by the Indian states of Maharashtra to the north, and Karnataka to the ...

, which was part of

Portuguese India The State of India, also known as the Portuguese State of India or Portuguese India, was a state of the Portuguese Empire founded seven years after the discovery of the sea route to the Indian subcontinent by Vasco da Gama, a subject of the ...

during the

Portuguese Empire The Portuguese Empire was a colonial empire that existed between 1415 and 1999. In conjunction with the Spanish Empire, it ushered in the European Age of Discovery. It achieved a global scale, controlling vast portions of the Americas, Africa ...

. He was the son of João Luis Leão Sebastião de Melo, a postal employee and registered

male nurse Nursing is a profession which is staffed unproportionately by women in most parts of the world. According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2020 ''State of the World's Nursing,'' approximately 10% of the worldwide nursing workforce is m ...

. De Melo's early exposure to ''

'', a traditional

Goan Goans ( Romi Konkani: , ) is the demonym used to describe the people native to Goa, India, formerly part of Portuguese India (''Estado Português da Índia''). They form an ethno-linguistic group resulting from the assimilation of Indo-Aryan, ...

musical theater Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, moveme ...

form, began at the age of nine. He regularly attended performances featuring popular ''tiatr'' actors from

Bombay Mumbai ( ; ), also known as Bombay ( ; its official name until 1995), is the capital city of the Indian States and union territories of India, state of Maharashtra. Mumbai is the financial centre, financial capital and the list of cities i ...

alongside his father at various sites in Panjim, including Azad Maidan and Patto. De Melo's fascination with the art form led him to transcribe the scripts of these performances, a practice that ultimately contributed to his development as a playwright. De Melo's father, João, was a known figure in the ''tiatr'' world, known for his singing ('' kantaram'') and

violin The violin, sometimes referred to as a fiddle, is a wooden chordophone, and is the smallest, and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in regular use in the violin family. Smaller violin-type instruments exist, including the violino picc ...

playing in village performances. The family's involvement extended beyond João's individual performances, as de Melo and his father frequently participated in ''tiatr'' productions staged by local priests for a range of celebratory events. Young de Melo's theatrical talents were nurtured within this environment, with him performing alongside his father and sister Pia. He also displayed a talent for writing, composing biblical theatrical performances, which he showcased in the square of the Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception Church in Panjim during the festive

Christmas Christmas is an annual festival commemorating Nativity of Jesus, the birth of Jesus Christ, observed primarily on December 25 as a Religion, religious and Culture, cultural celebration among billions of people Observance of Christmas by coun ...

period. His musical abilities were further honed through the performance of musical works authored by his father. De Melo's artistic interests extended beyond the ''tiatr'' sphere. He took an active role in both school and church activities, demonstrating his abilities in traditional dances and religious theatrical performances.

Career

De Melo's theatrical journey commenced with his debut in Nelson Afonso's ''

Árso'' (Mirror), marking his entry into professional stage performance. This development culminated in the creation of the

musical group A musical ensemble, also known as a music group, musical group, or a band is a group of people who perform instrumental and/or vocal music, with the ensemble typically known by a distinct name. Some music ensembles consist solely of instrumen ...

Mil-Mel-Nel, which garnered fame in the regions of

and

. The trio's collaborations extended to popular directors such as C. Alvares, Robin Vaz, John Claro, Bab Peter,

Ophelia Cabral Ophelia Cabral e D'Souza (born Clara Merciana Ophelia Cabral; 8 November 1938 – 19 February 2016), popularly known as Ophelia Cabral, was an Indian actress, singer, playwright, and theatre director, director known for her work in Konkani cine ...

, Betty Ferns, M. Boyer, Fr. Planton Faria, Mike Mehta, Valente Mascarenhas, Mario Menezes, Maxie Pereira, Menino De Bandar, etc. De Melo's directorial debut occurred in 1974–75, aged 20, when he directed Bernard D'Silva's ''Eksurem Jivit'' (Lonely Life) at

Kala Academy Kala Academy (Academy of the Arts) is a prominent cultural centre run by the Government of Goa, in Goa, India. Situated at Campal, Panjim, it is registered as a society, and was started in February 1970. The building was designed by Charles Cor ...

's annual ''tiatr'' competition. During the years 1976–77, he produced and directed his debut original ''tiatr'', titled ''Konn Kirmidor'' (Who is the Murderer?). This production received acclaim, winning the first award at the same competition. In the mid-1980s, de Melo initiated the formation of the Çezar Dramatic Troupe. This theatrical group became known for its performances and achievements in state-level ''tiatr'' competitions hosted by the Kala Academy, earning several awards. De Melo's contributions to the ''tiatr'' genre are marked by a series of acclaimed productions. He achieved first prize for several works, including ''Konn Kirmidor?'', ''Kal ani Aiz'' from 1982 to 1983, ''Kalliz Ostorechem'' from 1983 to 1984, and ''Kednanch Ghoddchenam'' from 1985 to 1986. He also achieved recognition with second-place wins for ''Kitem! Tum Mhozo?'' (1978–79), ''Konn Zai?'' (1979–80), ''Konnuch Noko'' (1982–83), and ''Kaide Konnak?'' (1984–85). His third-prize winning productions include ''Kirmidoracho Rosto'' (1980–81), ''Kaliz Naslolo'' (1986–87), and ''Kolakar'' (1988–89). De Melo's directorial work extends beyond these award-winning productions to include ''Visvasi vo Ghatki'', ''Konknni Machie Fattlean'', and ''Kallo Fator''. He has also made contributions to the realm of radio theatre, producing and showcasing musical theatrical performances for

All India Radio All India Radio (AIR), also known as Akashvani (), is India's state-owned public broadcasting, public radio broadcaster. Founded in 1936, it operates under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (India), Ministry of Information and Broa ...

(AIR). These include ''Kalljivont Nazia'', ''Khoro Mog'', ''Konknni Machier Oxem Ghoddta'', ''Abgath'', ''Soddvondar'', ''Fattim Pavlo'', ''Adhar'', ''Asro'', ''Kor Kazar'', ''Kolakar'', ''Kallo Dhondo'', and ''Kelelea Mapan Gheta''. De Melo's contributions to the

theatre scene are diverse, spanning

one-act play A one-act play is a play that has only one act, as distinct from plays that occur over several acts. One-act plays may consist of one or more scenes. The 20-40 minute play has emerged as a popular subgenre of the one-act play, especially in writi ...

musical production A record producer or music producer is a music creating project's overall supervisor whose responsibilities can involve a range of creative and technical leadership roles. Typically the job involves hands-on oversight of recording sessions; ensu ...

s, and

Konkani __NOTOC__ Konkani may refer to: Language * Konkani language is an Indo-Aryan language spoken in the Konkan region of India. * Konkani alphabets, different scripts used to write the language **Konkani in the Roman script, one of the scripts used to ...

dramas. His

repertoire Repertory or repertoire () is the list or set of works a person or company is accustomed to performing. Whether the English or French spelling is used has no bearing, but it was the French word, with an accent on the first e, , that first took ho ...

of one-act plays consists of: ''Azilo Mhojem Bhirad'' and ''Akrek Sudorlo'', while his Konkani drama ''Bhurgim ani Doth'' was featured as part of the annual drama competition organized by

. His productions exhibit a unique pattern in their titles, often commencing with the letter "K." This practice is rooted in a personal belief in the letter's auspiciousness, stemming from the success of his first ''

'', ''Konn Kirmidor'', which secured first prize. Despite this, his subsequent ''tiatr'', known as ''Visvasi vo Ghatki'', did not attain any recognition or awards, leading him to adopt the "K" convention for his ''tiatr'' titles, a strategy that appears to have contributed to his success in the genre. Beyond his theatrical work, de Melo has also participated in cultural events abroad. In 1987, he contributed to the Goan Elnish Festival in

Dubai Dubai (Help:IPA/English, /duːˈbaɪ/ Help:Pronunciation respelling key, ''doo-BYE''; Modern Standard Arabic, Modern Standard Arabic: ; Emirati Arabic, Emirati Arabic: , Romanization of Arabic, romanized: Help:IPA/English, /diˈbej/) is the Lis ...

by performing as both a dancer and musician with the

folklore Folklore is the body of expressive culture shared by a particular group of people, culture or subculture. This includes oral traditions such as Narrative, tales, myths, legends, proverbs, Poetry, poems, jokes, and other oral traditions. This also ...

ensemble led by Timoteo. He has engaged in several cultural events arranged by the Indian Cultural Club located in both Dubai and

Sharjah Sharjah (; ', Gulf Arabic: ''aš-Šārja'') is the List of cities in the United Arab Emirates, third-most populous city in the United Arab Emirates, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi. It is the capital of the Emirate of Sharjah and forms part of the D ...

. De Melo has participated in over 50 ''tiatr'' productions, showcasing his talent in both acting and singing. His artistic endeavors extend beyond live performances, as evidenced by his recorded works: a

video album A music video is a video that integrates a song or an album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a music marketing device intended to ...

titled ''Vazouia Kumpasar'' (Play to the Rhythm) and the audio albums, ''Obsoeg vo Abgath'' and ''Goa's Rumblé''. The former, ''Obsoeg vo Abgath'' is a

musical play Musical theatre is a form of theatrical performance that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance. The story and emotional content of a musical – humor, pathos, love, anger – are communicated through words, music, movement ...

that addressed the sensitive issue of

AIDS The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...

. De Melo's career encompasses both artistic and public service roles. He held positions in the Goan government, serving in the Education Department from 1981 to 1985 and subsequently in the Sports and Youth Affairs Department from 1986. His involvement with the cultural sector continued as the department evolved into the independent Art and Culture Department, where he retired as an assistant cultural officer in 2016. De Melo's expertise in ''tiatr'',

s, and

s has been recognized through his appointment as a

judge A judge is a person who wiktionary:preside, presides over court proceedings, either alone or as a part of a judicial panel. In an adversarial system, the judge hears all the witnesses and any other Evidence (law), evidence presented by the barris ...

in several competitions hosted by the

and

Tiatr Academy of Goa The Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) is a government body established by the Government of Goa in 2009 during the tenure of Digambar Kamat as the Chief Minister of Goa. The academy was inaugurated on 16 January 2009 in Margao at the hands of Konkani l ...

. De Melo, known for his work with his Çezar Dramatic Troupe, has authored several ''tiatr'' books, including ''Kal ani Aiz'', ''Kolakar'', ''Kalliz Ostorechem'', ''Kallo Fator'', ''Kaide Konnank'', and ''Kirmidoracho Rosto''. His work has also extended beyond the stage, in April 2017, his ''tiatr'' named ''Kallo Dhondo'' was scheduled for publication. This production would encompass a

screenplay A screenplay, or script, is a written work produced for a film, television show (also known as a '' teleplay''), or video game by screenwriters (cf. ''stage play''). Screenplays can be original works or adaptations from existing pieces of w ...

titled ''Khell Jivitacho'' as well as a non-stop performance ''tiatr'' known as ''Kor Kazar''. De Melo's artistic endeavors have also taken him into the realm of Hindi television and

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

, where he has participated in supporting roles. He assumed the character of a

Catholic priest The priesthood is the office of the ministers of religion, who have been commissioned ("ordained") with the holy orders of the Catholic Church. Technically, bishops are a priestly order as well; however, in common English usage ''priest'' refe ...

in the television series '' Mera Yaar Mera Dushman'' and took part in a dance performance featuring

Amitabh Bachchan Amitabh Bachchan (; 11 October 1942) is an Indian actor who works in Hindi cinema. He is often considered one of the greatest, most accomplished and commercially successful actors in the history of Indian cinema.* * * * * With a cinemati ...

and

Randhir Kapoor Randhir Kapoor (born 15 February 1947) is a retired Indian actor, film producer and director who worked in Hindi cinema. Part of the Kapoor family, he is the son of actor–filmmaker Raj, grandson of actor Prithviraj and the brother of a ...

in the film '' Pukar''. Beyond his artistic pursuits, De Melo has also held the symbolic role of

King Momo King Momo or King Momos or King Momus, (Rei Momo in Portuguese or Rey Momo in Spanish) ‘’’ Rex Momus’’’ in Latin is considered the king of Carnivals in numerous Latin American festivities, mainly in Brazil and Colombia. His appeara ...

during the

Goa Carnival Carnival in Goa, also called ''Carnaval'', ''Intruz'', ''Entrado'', or (colloquially) Viva Carnival refers to the festival of carnival, in state of Goa, India. Though significantly smaller than the well-known Rio Carnival or the Portuguese Car ...

in 2011 and represented the same character in the carnival float for the

2014 Lusofonia Games The 2014 Lusofonia Games was the 3rd edition of the Lusofonia Games, a multi-sport event held between athletes from Portuguese-speaking countries and territories. It was held from 18 to 29 January 2014 in the Indian state of Goa. Brazil and Sri L ...

. He is also known for his passion for football, having played for clubs like Panjim Gymkhana, Young Challengers, Alto Guimaraes, and MICPA.

Personal life

As of April 2017, Lydia is a legal professional practicing at the

Bombay High Court The High Court of Bombay is the High courts of India, high court of the States and union territories of India, states of Maharashtra and Goa in India, and the union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu. It is seated primarily ...

. Before her marriage, she played a collaborative role in her husband's ''

s'', a form of traditional theater characteristic of

Goan culture Goa is a state of India. Goans are commonly said to be born with music and football in their blood because both are deeply entrenched in Goan culture. Religion According to the 1909 statistics in the ''Catholic Encyclopedia'', the total Catholi ...

. She later relocated to

Chimbel Chimbel is a census town in North Goa district in the state of Goa, India. Demographics India census A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population informa ...

, her mother's hometown. Together, the couple had two children: a son, Kevin, a

actor and

theatre arts Theatre or theater is a collaborative form of performing art that uses live performers, usually actors to present experiences of a real or imagined event before a live audience in a specific place, often a stage. The performers may communic ...

educator, and a daughter, Karen, a

television presenter A television presenter (or television host, some become a "television personality") is a person who introduces or hosts television show, television programs, often serving as a mediator for the program and the audience. It is common for people ...

. As of 2018, de Melo resides in Panjim, Goa.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:D'Mello, Cezar Living people 1956 births Goan people Tiatrists People from North Goa district Dramatists and playwrights from Goa Indian dramatists and playwrights