Jack Souza Ferrão

Joaquim Conceicão "Jack" Souza Ferrão (15 March 1937 – 25 November 2013) was an Indian actor, singer, playwright, and theatre director known for his work in Konkani films and tiatr productions.

Career
Ferrão made his debut in the world of tiatr, a traditional Goan form of musical theater, at the tender age of seven in 1944. He first appeared in the tiatr production called Kunbi Jakki, based on Kunbis, originally written by João Agostinho Fernandes and later restaged and produced by his uncle, A. R. Souza Ferrão. He realized his dream of becoming a tiatrist by participating in another tiatr directed by Antonio Joaquim Dias, who was the father of the Konkani playwright Aristides Dias. This early experience marked the beginning of Ferrão's journey as a performer in the tiatr industry. Throughout his career, Ferrão established himself as a tiatrist, collaborating with Konkani directors such as Florence Fernandes de Santa Cruz, Tony Sax, Menino Colaço, Jephsis Hitler, Remmie Colaço, Rosario Dias, Mike Mehta, Anil Kumar, and others. He showcased his talent and versatility by taking on various roles and working with different directors. He also performed with the group turned organization Goenche Fulte Bonge led by Rosario Dias.

Ferrão's performance in Sadashiv Bandekar's adaptation of William Shakespeare's Hamlet in 1959, staged in Curchorem, garnered acclaim. Another role was his portrayal of a mamlatdar, a local administrative officer, in Mike Mehta's production titled Goem Tum Roddonaka (Goa, don't Cry). Initially, Ferrão started his career by taking on comedy roles but later transitioned to character roles. In addition to acting, Ferrão displayed his musical abilities by lending his voice to several tiatrs, including Bhauponnacho Kaido (The rule of Brotherhood), Onupkari Put (Ungrateful Son), Bhavank Lagon (Due to feelings), Kitem Amcho Fuddar (What is our future?), Kirmidor (The Criminal), Botler Bab, and others. Ferrão's contributions to the tiatr industry extended beyond acting and singing. He ventured into directing, taking charge of Fr. Jose Antonio Costa's tiatr Dr. Alfred and John Dias' Hanv Rinnkari (I'm the Debtor). Furthermore, Ferrão wrote and directed three of his own tiatrs: Nossai (Jealousy), Avoichem Sukh (Mother's Happiness), and Pai Hanv Bhurgo Mungha. Outside of tiatr, Ferrão also made appearances in Konkani films such as Amchem Noxib (1963), Nirmon (1966), Bhuierantlo Munis (1977), Zababdari, and others.

Personal life
Joaquim Conceicão Souza Ferrão was born on 15 March 1937 in Sanvordem, Goa, which was a part of Portuguese India during the Portuguese Empire (now in India), to A. F. Souza Ferrão and Maria Consescao Mascarenhas. Ferrão hailed from a family deeply rooted in the tradition of tiatr, a form of Konkani theater. His paternal uncle, A. R. Souza Ferrão, was a Konkani actor and playwright. Ferrão's passion for tiatr blossomed during his formative years as a student at Guardian Angel High School in Sanvordem. He actively participated in several tiatr productions as an actor. Ferrão performed under the guidance of directors such as Paixão Manuel Pereira, Sebastião Pereira, Abdonio Rodrigues, Mathew Pereira, and Prof. C. A. Gomes. On 25 November 2013, Ferrão died in Margao, Goa, aged 76.

Awards
On 14 December 2011, Ferrão was honored with the "Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Award" during the commemoration of the 140th Birth Anniversary of João Agostinho Fernandes, the father of tiatr. The event took place at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao and was arranged by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG).

Legacy
On 12 September 2023, the Nosa Senhora De Rosa Mystica Association Goa, in partnership with Special Olympics Bharat Goa, Gujarati Samaj Educational Trust Special School, Margao, and Rev Fr. Franky Fernandes OFMCap, coordinated the inaugural All Goa Jack Souza Ferrao Memorial Special Olympics Futsal Championship 2023. The event took place at the Camp Souza Multi Sports Facility in Camurlim and welcomed sixty special students from six teams representing six schools. Additionally, the tournament included a unified futsal match featuring international footballers.