Gasper Crasto, Kuwait

Kuwait, Sep 10: His dramas are a visual delight. The ‘scene-sceneries’ he portrays on stage catch attention and leaves the audience spellbound.

Simon Gonsalves was just 15 years old when he first came up on stage. He later worked in Kuwait bringing out the best of his talent in the 16 years he spent.

In fact, his most notable accomplishments have been outside Goa.

Now based in London since 2011, the multi-talented star returns back to the oil-rich country that gave him a base for his stardom.

The humble writer-director-actor-singer-artist, hailing from Panchwadi-Shiroda, is best remembered for his exploits in one-act plays and for his epic hit drama ‘Challis Dis Challis Rati’ staged in Kuwait back in 2007.

He is all set to stage his star-studded drama ‘My First Love’ in Kuwait 13th September 2019.

‘King of Modern Sceneries’ back to his ‘home’.

A modern-day Prem Kumar

Simon Gonsalves usually plays major roles in his dramas and shoulders greater responsibility - a la Prem Kumar style, and as a writer-director, he surely knows what to do.

Otherwise also, as a talented actor, he is always very impressive.

Simon Gonsalves' legacy is his passion for scene-sceneries. In his tiatr, ‘Government of God’ for instance, there was a scene in which the actor portraying Jesus suddenly descends from the clouds.

Simon proudly discloses that he has created nearly 50 such unconventional sets for his plays over the years. These include the scene of a falling star in ‘Suria, Chondrim ani Noketram’ and the imitation of an earthquake in ‘Tuzo Ganv Mhojem Nanv’ that left many an audience mesmerized.

Writer-director of great quality

Having personally witnessed his 'one-act plays' and his performance in other Konkani dramas in Kuwait, we can categorically state that his acting is of the highest standards.

As a writer, his dialogues have philosophical musings and painful admissions which go a long way to prove his creativeness and intellectual abilities.

Simon Gonsalves regales the audience by losing himself in roles that he plays; he leaves no stone unturned to bring the best out of his co-stars as well.

About the ‘star’ that he is...

Little did anyone know that a simple lad born in a remote Panchwadi village would rise to be an indomitable star of the Konkani stage.

An actor of exceptional talent, winner of several awards for acting, a good singer, composer, and producer of Konkani audio and video albums, Simon has developed into a playwright of noteworthy scripts.

He is surely there in the chronicles of tiatr history; his achievements over the years are proof of his calibre.

A struggle to rise...

Simon's immense talent was first noticed by his village folks when he went up on stage to participate in a Kunbi dance for a school gathering.

People, amazed at his poise and graceful stage presence, prompted him to take up acting in tiatros.

Landing his first character role of a police inspector in a village tiatro, and later in Bab Agnel D'Costa's ‘Xapai’, Simon went on to excel in every performance that followed and in ‘Carnival Khells’ in which he had become a name to reckon.

Simon discovered his multi-faceted gift when he shone in his directorial venture with 3 consecutive dramas in his village, two of which were written by Bab Santan de Xelvon and other by Reginald de Panchwadi. A perfectionist that he is, Simon personally painted the Tiatr posters of these tiatrs.

A few years later, Simon moved to Kuwait. With few tiatros staged in Kuwait those days, Simon saw minimal chances of himself working on the stage.

But God had other plans for him. Jeff de Assolna who knew his abilities put him in his tiatr ‘Bhik’ in Kuwait.

Thereafter Bab Rafael de Majorda cast him in his maiden venture ‘Aliza’ where Simon ignited the stage with his acting finesse. His role as an errant husband in that drama is still remembered by the audience.

With perfect dialogue delivery matched with precise stage angles, his presence left the audience desiring for more of this newly established stage celebrity.

Later, his acting career got a boost with his portrayal of a negative role in Mario de Majorda's tiatr ‘Anvddo’ staged in December 2000.

Simon’s productions

Simon had his sights focussed on greater heights. He opted to test his directorial skills in Kuwait by participating in the one-act play competition organized by United Club of Utorda.

He was greatly surprised to bag many awards for his one-act play ‘Devacho Ghutt Dev Zanam’. And indeed, he had outshone as an artiste, director and more importantly playwright of remarkable capabilities.

Encouraged by his success, Simon staged his first full-fledged Konkani tiatr ‘Tujea Kallzak Vinchar’ in 2002 with artistes from Goa and Kuwait.

Thereafter, he and his brother, Felix, co-directed another one-act play ‘Resped Diat’ and bagged the second place which again reinforced Simon's position as a production unit of high calibre.

Simon entertained Kuwait Goans again with his novel Konkani tiatr ‘Tuzo Ganv, Mojem Nanv’ staged in November 2004.

Pleased with the admiration his tiatrs received, Simon took to writing and directing religious plays.

‘Challis Dis Challis Rati’ (Forty days, forty nights), ‘Suria, Chondrim ani Noketram’ (Sun, moon and stars), ‘Amcho Dhorm’ Kiteak Halta’ (Why is our religion faltering), ‘Government of God’, ‘Jezuchem Povitr Rogot’ (Jesus’ precious blood), ‘In or Out’, etc, are the dramas Simon has successfully directed.

Simon is the first director to stage his lenten dramas in the Gulf, Goa and London. Most of his dramas have done Silver Jubilee shows.

Overall, Simon has staged 2 shows in Goa, 3 in Kuwait, and 4 in London including the latest ‘My First Love’.

Audio and video albums

VCD produced by Simon Gonsalves includes ‘Chovis Voram’, ‘Devacho Ghutt Dev Zannam’, and ‘Boroupi ani Digdorspi’.

His audio albums are ‘Devachim Denim’, ‘Mhozo Bhav’, ‘Fokannam’ and ‘Challis Dis Challis Rati’.

Personal life

A devout, humble man, Simon thanks God for all his accomplishments over the years. He is now a content man enjoying his life in England.

He lives in Southall, London with sweet wife Angela Gonsalves and children Everly Shania, Bracklen, and Chris Gonsalves.

Simon is indebted to many people who have supported him in the tiatr world but more importantly the audiences who have stood by him throughout his acting career in Kuwait.

In recent times, Simon has been to Kuwait for Maestro Shahu’s musical show ‘Konknni Machiechi Seva’ in October 2018 and Joicelan Furtado’s drama ‘Lifetime Award’ in January 2019.

Simon reiterates his words, “God has blessed me with an 'art' for acting. I will put my best efforts forward to promote this art in myself and others for the progress of Konkani stage.”