BAB PETER

Francis Peter Thomas D'Souza who was well known Konkani stage actor and singer and fondly known in Konkani theatre circle as "Bab Peter", passed away at the Bahrain Defence Force hospital on Saturday (19/02/2005) at 5.00 p.m. following a heart attack.

Hailing from Anjuna, Bardez, Bab Peter was born and brought up in Bombay (Mumbai) was a singer, actor, composer, writer and director based in Mumbai. He began his career as a child artiste and was introduced by his father Domnic D'Souza tiatr "Voniechem Kortub" in 1964. It was in this drama that he sang the famous "Kunhad ani Mevnno" song with Tony Pereira. He was spotted by Alfred Rose himself at the "Natalanchi Bhett" (Christmas Gift) Konkani songs competition where he was awarded the first prize.

Initially, Bab Peter has sung several songs which were penned by Domnic de Vaidongor. As time went by, he started composing his own songs specialising in themes pertaining to social evils with political overtones. His very first song titled "Hil, Hil Pori Hil" was a trio, sung together with Jacinto Vaz and Ophelia. Bab Peter has acted in the dramas of topmost Konkani stage directors including C. Alvares, Souza Ferrao, Alfred Rose, Robin Vaz, M. Boyer and Prem Kumar. It was in Prem Kumar's drama "Kakut" he sang for the first time on the professional stage and it was in another Prem Kumar's drama "Dukh" that he first acted as a child artiste. He also wrote and directed dramas of his own and staged in several parts of the Konkan region of India with a professional cast. He has toured the Gulf States many a times at the invitation of Goan associations as well as members of the tiatrists' faternity to present his talent.

Bab Peter composed and sang over 400 songs and released five Konkani music albums, namely "Konkani Motiam" (Konkani Jewels), "My Rose", "Tourist Centre", "Goan" and the last was released in the year 2003, which he dedicated to his wife who is also a popular actress (known as 'Tragedy Queen') and titled the album in her name "Ophelia". Bab Peter agressively focussed on social and religious themes that affected the Goan community. An example of which is his once popular song "Khursachea Moidanar" which resulted in a large footage showing 'Goans as beggars' in a Hindi film "Ram Balram" were censored before it was shown in Goa.

The advent of cable TV, and a variety of TV channels saw the decline of Konkani stage dramas in Mumbai and many of the Konkani artistes took up other professions. Bab Peter turned to the Gulf and arrived in Bahrain in the year 1989. He was employed in Marketing with Alpha Fire Services.

Bab Peter was rushed to the Sitra Health Centre on Tuesday (15/2/2005) evening from his office, where he complained of chest pains and shortness of breath. The health centre immediately referred him to Salmaniya Medical Centre, where he was admitted to the intensive care in an unconscious state, as a case of heart attack. As there were no signs of improvement in his condition, he was transferred to the BDF hospital on Wednesday afternoon, where he breathed his last. His daughter, Babli who had rushed to Bahrain on hearing the news of her father's critical condition was at his bedside when he passed away.

The Managing Director of Alpha Fire Services, Frank Ryde described him as "a dedicated worker and said that his death was a loss of asset to the company". The Goan community in Bahrain has mourned the death of this theatre stalwart and in a condolence message a prominent member of the community Francis Corriea said "Bab Peter will be sadly missed by the Goans here, as he performed to our hearts content whenever an opportunity arose. His passing away is a great loss to the konkani stage in general", he said.

Some of Bab Peter's well remembered songs include "Irmanv Gitar Xinkoui" with late Alfred Rose, "Pai-che Koxtt" - a song based on a true story and "Mon boom boom boom" sung in his inimitable style by the evergreen singer. His dramas "Konn Nhoi Konnacho", "Apurbaieche Teg Khambe", 'Resperachi Nhesonn", "Aiz Na Faleam", "Mijeas", "Sang Zababdar Konn?", "Tuka Kiteak Poddlam" and "Guneanv Konnacho?".

Bab Peter was honoured by Bahrain's Konkan Singers Club and Young Goans Club in 1998 for his contribution to the Konkani stage. He was awarded for his achievements by these two popular organizations jointly.

As per information made available to www.goa-world.com, A prayer service will be held at the Sacred Heart Church at Manama, Bahrain on Tuesday (22/02/2005) at 3.00 p.m. and therafter his body will be flown to Mumbai for final rites. The funeral service in Mumbai will be held at the Victoria Church, Mahim on Wednesday (23/02/2005) evening.

R.I.P. Bab Peter, your immortal songs and contribution will always be remembered.

- By G.R. Crasto in Bahrain, www.goa-world.com. Additional input by Gaspar Almeida based on The Goan Review interview of Gable D'Souza.

Tribute to D’Souza

THE death of Peter D’souza, a stalwart of Konkani stage widely known among the Goans as Bab Peter, in Bahrain on February 19, brought great grief to his fans worldwide. Bab Peter was one of the rarest jewels produced by the Konkani stage of Goa. He was known among the tiatr lovers for his scintillating performances on every stage he performed. His specialty was in composing and singing songs in a unique way. His songs served as a whip to all types of injustice in the society. He mesmerized Goans as an actor, composer, singer, writer, director and producer. He had to his credit several dramas, over 400 songs and several audio cassettes which all are the masterpieces. He along with his wife — another stalwart of stage, Ms Ophelia known as ‘tragedy queen’ and his only daughter Babli, stole the hearts of his admirers with the quality performances. Though in his fifties, he had the style and caliber to perform as an evergreen hero. He was the one who had the privileges to associate him with the present and late legends of Konkani stage, his wife first among them. In 1991 he left India for Bahrain and since them he performed on various occasions in Bahrain. His last performance here was in 2000 in my drama Tuvem Uzo Lailo. Before his untimely demise he was preparing himself for his show in Bahrain and to return back to his roots on Konkani stage. The death has snatched away a dear friend and a great entertainer from us. The void left in his death will be difficult to fill. I offer my poignant tribute to this legend and heartfelt condolences to his bereaved family. May his soul rest in peace.

PIO FERNANDES, Bahrain (In the Navhind Times)

Konkani stage actor, 52, dies

By EUNICE del ROSARIO/Gulf Daily News (Bahrain)

MANAMA

POPULAR Konkani stage actor and singer Francis Peter Thomas D'Souza, widely known as Bab Peter, died at the BDF Hospital yesterday at 5pm, four days after suffering a heart attack. Mr D'Souza, 52, who worked as sales and marketing manager at the Alpha Fire Services, was rushed to the Sitra Health Centre on Monday evening from his office after he complained of chest pain and shortness of breath.

The health centre immediately referred him to Salmaniya Medical Complex, where he was admitted to the intensive care that same night. Doctors confirmed the case as a heart attack. With no signs of improvement, friends transferred Mr D'Souza to the BDF Hospital the following day.His wife Ophelia and daughter Tatun Clare (Babli) who are both living in Mumbai were immediately notified of his condition.Babli flew to Bahrain to be with her father immediately. She was at his bedside when he died.Hailing from Goa, Mr D'Souza was a singer, actor, composer, writer and director based in Mumbai.

He began his career as a child artiste at the age of seven. As time went by, he started composing his own songs specialising in themes pertaining to social evils with political overtones. He also wrote and directed dramas of his own and staged in several parts of the Konkan region of India with a professional cast. He has also toured the Gulf states. Mr D'Souza has composed and sang over 400 songs and has released five Konkani music albums. He came to Bahrain to work in 1989. Alpha Fire Services managing director Frank Ryde described him as a dedicated worker and said that his death was a loss of asset to the company.

Prominent Goan community member Francis Corriea said that the community in Bahrain is mourning the death of the theatre stalwart. "He will be sadly missed by the Goans here, as he performed to our hearts content whenever an opportunity arose," he said."His death is a great loss to the Konkani stage in general." Mr D'Souza was jointly honoured by Konkan Singers and Young Goans' Clubs in 1998 for his contribution to the Konkani stage. A condolence meeting will be held at the Konkan Singers Club in Manama tonight, starting at 8.30pm. A prayer service will be held at the Sacred Heart Church, Manama, tomorrow at 3pm. Mr D'Souza's body will be accompanied by his daughter back to India for the final rites. The funeral service in Mumbai will be held at the Victoria Church, on Wednesday evening.

Konkani Theatre mourns Bab Peter's demise
PANAJI: It is an irony of sorts that some who had a 'big heart' was destined to die of a heart attack. The news of tiatrist Bab Peter's untimely death has stunned Goa's tiatrist and tiatr lovers. But as Bab Peter would have loved it, the show had to go on. However, a minute's silence was observed at both Menino de Bandar's tiatr "Dha Lakh" and Mario Menezes' khell-tiatr "Mhozo Ghorabo, Mhojem Ghor", at the Kala Akademy on Sunday. On Saturday evening, midway during his Lenten tiatr "Vho Amcho Bhavarth", Fr Nevel Gracias broke the sad news to the audience during a performance at Tollecanto in Velim, and a minute's silence was observed. (Alister Miranda in GT)

Adios Amigo, Adios my Friend
"Keep the lamp of friendship burning with oil of love because sun rises in east and sets in west but friendship rises in heart and sets after death." This was the SMS my good friend Bab Peter sent me on 13 Feb 2005 at 16.18 hours Gulf Time. I received yet another beautiful SMS message from him for Valentine's Day...As I recollect the events that suddenly took place in Bab Peter's life from 14 Feb and the way his life took a twisted turn, everything looks so very strange. I can't help but just wonder in utter disbelief whether my friend Bab Peter had a premonition about his impending death? The entire tiatrist fraternity across the Konkani speaking world was plunged into a deep abyss of grief at the sudden and untimely passing away of Konkani stage's stylish and most adorable tiatrist Francis Peter D'Souza, better known by his stage name Bab Peter, who passed away on 19 February in Bahrain. (Daniel F de Souza in GT)

Bab Peter's mortal remains
The mortal remains of Bab Peter will be flown to Mumbai early Wednesday (Feb 23) morning. The funeral cortege will leave his residence at Mahim Mumbai for the Eucharistic celebration and later burial at the Our Lady of Victoria Church, Mahim, Mumbai, on the same day at 4 pm in the evening. (GT)

http://www.goacom.com/news/getStory.php?ID=1475
Courtesy Goacom News

The man who considers himself just 28-years of age and who has thoughts of always remaining so and young at heart also, always, Francis Peter Thomas D'Souza had to say that not many people might know him by this name as he is known as BAB PETER on-stage and and remembers about the title of "BAB" being given to him by his Father, when very young and he remembers singing for the first time at the age of seven in the drama "Cortub Voniechem", a drama that his Father penned for him.

Bab Peter recalls that it was while taking part in Alfred Rose's "Natalachi Bhett" programme in Bombay, that he bagged the first place in the singing competition for child artistes and Prem Kumar (who was in the audience at that time) coming back stage to commend him for his performance and thereafter, inviting him to sing in his dramas.

It seems after this, there was no looking back for Bab Peter as Prem Kumar and later C. Alvares also, kept him on the go and he still feels grateful to both of them for their support as he remembers a lot of Child artistes of that time coming up and later fading off into obscurity.

Bab Peter had to say that his career got a boost after meeting Ophelia, as it was She who encouraged him to compose & sing his own songs and also to act, which he never used to do, prior to this.

It seems love blossomed between Ophelia & Bab Peter and both of them got married (when Bab Peter was 23-years and Ophelia much senior to him in age) and remembers the brunt of people's talks, write-ups in newspapers & publications, that both of them bore, with regards to their age differences, but he stated that it was Love & Love alone that prompted both of them to get married.

He remembers the drama "Resperachi Nessoun" which he & Ophelia wrote & directed and considers Ophelia as his favourite actress because of her ability to play tragedy roles (for which She is known as the Tragedy Queen) and had to say that Prince Jacob is his favourite director while Jose Rod as his favourite amongst the actors.

He talked about his Daughter, Babli, who he says is good in acting but does not want to take to acting full time as She is pursuing her career as an Editor with the Dicovery Channel and mentioned about her acting in his drama and her intention of doing so in his future dramas as well.

Taking into account his love for singing, Bab Peter has to date released three albums namely "Konkanni Mottiam", "My Rose (which he considers as his best) and "Tourist Centre".

Presently he is based in Bahrain (since 1989), where he works full time in marketing, he performs on & off when he gets an opportunity. He requested Goan Parents to encourage their Children to speak Konkanni and also at the same time to encourage their sibilngs (if talented) to come forward and show off their talents on-stage and was all for encouraging new and budding artistes so that the Konkanni stage & our culture can be kept alive.

Having come to perform in Kuwait, he had to say that people out here should also encourage the Goan artistes based here and not only the ones coming from outside to perform.

Remembering the encouragement he received from the late C. Alvares & Prem Kumar that kept him in good stead on the Konkanni stage during his early days and allowed him to succeed, Bab Peter does not forget the same and was intrumental in getting Child Artiste Babloo and his Sister Valanka from Bahrain to Kuwait to sing with him in Jose Rod's drama "Tujem Naum Vhodd Zaum".

Speaking about the messages given in dramas, he said about actors being human beings who like priests may not always tend to practice what they preach.

With his enthusiasm for acting, he stated that when anytime he is in the audience and is watching any peformance he always feels a strong urge to go on-stage and act and had to say that he would prefer & it is his dream TO BE ON-STAGE AND DIE ON-STAGE.

When conversing casually with Bab Peter, he said that he may not have many friends amongst the stage artistes but he considers ANYONE WHOM HE CAN TRUST AS HIS FRIEND.

wellydias@hotmail.com

Versatile Konkani actor Bab Peter passes away

HERALD CORRESPONDENT OLD GOA, FEB 19, 2005:

Well-known Konkani stage actor and singer Peter D’Souza (52) — fondly known in tiatr circles as Bab Peter — passed away following a heart attack at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) Hospital in Bahrain on Saturday at 5 pm. According to reports, the body is likely to be flown to Mumbai on Tuesday for final rites. His daughter Babli had rushed to Bahrain on Friday, on hearing the news of her father’s critical condition.

Hailing from Anjuna, Bab Peter was a singer, actor, composer, writer and director based in Mumbai. He began his career as a child artiste, introduced on the stage with songs given to him by his father Domnic D’Souza. As time went by, he started composing his own songs, specialising in themes pertaining to social evils, especially with political overtones. Bab Peter then began writing his own tiatrs.

Those tiatrs which became popular included ‘Apurbaieche Teg Khambe’, ‘Konn Nhuim Konnancho’ and ‘Tukam Kiteak Poddlam’, while the tiatr ‘Guneanv Mhozo Nhoim’ was jointly written by Bab Peter and his wife Ophelia. Bab Peter acted in tiatrs of top directors, including C Alvares, Souza Ferrao, Alfred Rose, Robin Vaz, M Boyer and Prem Kumar. Bab Peter’s album ‘Goan’ crossed sales of 5,000 copies, while he also produced several other music albums. Bab Peter — who was employed with the Alpha Fire Services in Bahrain for the last few years — was rushed to the Sitra Health Centre on Tuesday evening from his office, where he complained of discomfort in his chest and shortness of breath. The health centre immediately referred him to Salmaniya Medical Centre, the main government hospital in the kingdom of Bahrain. He was admitted to the intensive care in an unconscious state, as a case of heart attack. As there were no signs of improvement in his condition, he was transferred to the BDF hospital on Wednesday morning, where he breathed his last.

He is survived by his wife Ophelia and daughter Babli. The entire tiatr fraternity has mourned the death of tiatr stalwart Bab Peter. In a condolence message, noted tiatrist Socorro de Santa Cruz said: “Bab Peter had a unique style of singing and acting. He danced on the stage while he sang.” “He was a very jovial person and cracked jokes backstage among the artistes during a tiatr performance. His passing away is a great loss to the Konkani stage,” he added.

Roseferns, a well-known tiatrist, recalled Bab Peter as their family friend. “He and his wife Ophelia acted in my tiatr ‘Jem Tujem Team Mojem’, which I will always remember. He was a good singer and composer and he has sung in my Konkani album ‘Egema’,” Roseferns said. “In his death, the Konkani stage has lost yet another stalwart,” he added. Ceasar D’Mello, an eminent tiatrist, while condoling the death of Bab Peter, described him as a good artiste who played the hero’s role on the stage in the filmy style. “I am shocked on hearing of his death, which is a deep loss to the Konkani stage,” added D’Mello.

Ben Evangelisto, a well-known comedian and actor, said that in Bab Peter’s death, a deep void has been created on the Konkani stage. “He (Bab Peter) had informed me recently of his desire to come down to Goa for good and accordingly, I had decided to allot him a role in my new tiatr. His death therefore is indeed a stunning blow to me in particular and to the tiatr world in general,” remarked Ben Evangelisto.

http://www.oherald.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=395

Bab Peter needs prayers for he is very serious in the hospital in Bahrain

Bab Peter Hospitalised

Prayers are requested for Bab Peter, the well known Konkani stage actor and singer who is undergoing treatment at the Bahrain Defence Force (BDF) hospital in Bahrain.

Bab Peter, who is based in Bahrain for the last few years works for Alpha Fire Services. He was rushed to the Sitra Health Centre yesterday evening from his office where he complained of discomfort in his chest and shortness of breath. The Health Centre immediately referred him to Salmaniya Medical Centre, the main government hospital in the Kingdom of Bahrain. He was admitted to the intensive care in an unconscious state, as a case of heart attack. As there were no sign of improvement in his condition, he was transferred to the BDF hospital this morning. Though still under intensive care doctors have now reported a slight improvement in his health.

G.R.Crasto/Bahrain (15/02/2005)

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/gulf-goans/message/5304

(Posted by goaworldtoday@yahoo.com)

Konkani Theatre mourns Bab Peter's demise

- by Alister Miranda (Gomantak Times/20-2-2005)

Panaji: It is an irony of sorts that someone who had a 'big heart' was destined to die of a heart attack. The news of tiatrist Bab Peter's untimely death has stunned Goa's tiatrists and tiatr lovers. But as Bab Peter would have loved it, the show had to go on. However, a minute's silence was observed at both Menino de Bandar's tiatr 'Dha Lakh" and Mario Menezes' khell tiatr "Mhojem Ghorabo, Mhojem Ghor" held at the Kala Akademy, Panaji, on Sunday. On Saturday evening, mid-way during his Lenten tiatr "Vho Amcho Bhavarth", Fr. Nevel Gracias broke the sad news to the audience during a performance at Tolle-cantto in Velim, and a minute's silence was observed.

Gomantak Times spoke to some prominent tiatr artistes, musicians and writers.

Konkani Theatre mourns Bab Peter's demise PANAJI: It is an irony of sorts that some who had a 'big heart' was destined to die of a heart attack. The news of tiatrist Bab Peter's untimely death has stunned Goa's tiatrist and tiatr lovers. But as Bab Peter would have loved it, the show had to go on. However, a minute's silence was observed at both Menino de Bandar's tiatr "Dha Lakh" and Mario Menezes' khell-tiatr "Mhozo Ghorabo, Mhojem Ghor", at the Kala Akademy on Sunday. On Saturday evening, midway during his Lenten tiatr "Vho Amcho Bhavarth", Fr Nevel Gracias broke the sad news to the audience during a performance at Tollecanto in Velim, and a minute's silence was observed. (Alister Miranda in GT)

BAB PETER - Always young at heart on the Konkani stage !

The www.goa-world.com team joins Bab Peter's family and friends in prayer. Bab Peter left for his Heavenly Abode this evening (19/2/2005) in Bahrain after a brief illness. May the Almighty God grant his soul eternal rest. - G.R. Crasto.

AN INTERVIEW WITH KONKANNI STAGE ACTOR-SINGER-DIRECTOR

BAB PETER

After that, there was no looking back for Bab Peter as Prem Kumar and later C. Alvares also, kept him on the go and he still feels grateful to both of them for their support as he remembers a lot of Child artistes of that time coming up and later fading off into obscurity.

Bab Peter had to say that his career got a boost after meeting Ophelia, as it was She who encouraged him to compose and sing his own songs and also to act, which he never used to do, prior to this.

It seems love blossomed between Ophelia & Bab Peter and both of them got married (when Bab Peter was 23-years and Ophelia much senior to him in age) and remembers the brunt of people's talks, write-ups in newspapers & publications, that both of them bore, with regards to their age differences, but he stated that it was Love & Love alone that prompted both of them to get married.

He remembers the drama "Resperachi Nessoun" which he & Ophelia wrote & directed and considers Ophelia as his favourite actress because of her ability to play tragedy roles (for which She is known as the Tragedy Queen) and had to say that Prince Jacob is his favourite director while Jose Rod as his favourite amongst the actors.

He talked about his daughter, Babli, who he says is good in acting but does not want to take to acting full time as she is pursuing her career as an Editor with the Dicovery Channel and mentioned about her acting in his drama and her intention of doing so in his future dramas as well.

Taking into account his love for singing, Bab Peter has to date released three albums namely "Konkanni Mottiam", "My Rose (which he considers as his best) and "Tourist Centre".

Presently he is based in Bahrain (since 1989), where he works full time in marketing, he performs on & off when he gets an opportunity. He requested Goan Parents to encourage their Children to speak Konkanni and also at the same time to encourage their sibilngs (if talented) to come forward and show off their talents on-stage and was all for encouraging new and budding artistes so that the Konkanni stage & our culture can be kept alive.

Having come to perform in Kuwait, he had to say that people out here should also encourage the Goan artistes based here and not only the ones coming from outside to perform.

Remembering the encouragement he received from the late C. Alvares & Prem Kumar that kept him in good stead on the Konkanni stage during his early days and allowed him to succeed, Bab Peter does not forget the same and was intrumental in getting Child Artiste Babloo and his Sister Valanka from Bahrain to Kuwait to sing with him in Jose Rod's drama "Tujem Naum Vhodd Zaum".

Speaking about the messages given in dramas, he said about actors being human beings who like priests may not always tend to practice what they preach.

With his enthusiasm for acting, he stated that when anytime he is in the audience and is watching any peformance he always feels a strong urge to go on-stage and act and had to say that he would prefer & it is his dream TO BE ON-STAGE AND DIE ON-STAGE.

When conversing casually with Bab Peter, he said that he may not have many friends amongst the stage artistes but he considers ANYONE WHOM HE CAN TRUST AS HIS FRIEND.

- By Welly Dias

Kuwait/September 2000