Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru
Mangaluru, Aug 24: Konkani theatre activist and playwright Benedict Miranda, popularly known as Benna Ruzai to Konkani theatre lovers, passed away on Monday August 24.
Born on March 21, 1946, Benna was a renowned playwright, dramatist and journalist. He had acted in numerous Konkani popular plays since the last 5 decades. He considered Late Gabbu Urwa as his Guru.
As a playwright, he had written and staged many social and religious plays. To his credit, he had a total of five social plays, eight religious plays, eight comedy short plays and six poems.
As a journalist, he was sub-editor of Mai-Gavn (Konkani monthly) for two years and editor of Ruzaichin Laran, parish bulletin of Rosario parish for three years.
He was the vice president of Konkani Natak Sabha for six years and first president of ‘Kala Sampath’.
Benna had been honoured by ‘KON CAB’ Bengaluru; ‘Konkani Kutam’ Bahrain; ‘Kannik’ Konkani Fortnightly; Konkani Writers’ Forum - Karnataka ®; ‘Karnataka Konkani Academy’; Karavalli Konkans; Konkani
Natak Sabha Mangaluru.
He had formed an association called ‘Bennar’ and staged many musical nites; Konkani plays. Benna also acted in numerous plays and with more than 40 writerslike Gabbu Urwa, VJP Saldanha, A T Lobo, Chapra Dacosta, Wilfy Rebimbus, Luvi Netto, JB Rasquinha, MP D’Sa, C G S Tacodde, Claud D’souza, Dolla Mangalore, Dolphy Cascia and many more popular Konkani writers.
’Shirap’, ’Hanv Kunnigar Nhoim’, ’Bernadett’, ’Misther’ “Ankwar Moriachi Katha’, and ‘Sant Antonichin Tera Ajapan’ are some of his plays.
His wife Theresa Miranda, popularly known as Minna Ruzai, was also a stage artiste.
Funeral rites will be held on Monday August 24, with public viewing at Jeppu Cemetery Chapel from 3 pm, and funeral Mass at 4 pm followed by burial at Jeppu cemetery.
Final journey of Benna Ruzai: