Media Release
Doha, Feb 13: Mangalore Cultural Association (MCA), a vibrant community organization dedicated to preserving and promoting the rich cultural heritage of Mangalureans working and residing in Qatar, has announced that renowned veteran Konkani playwright, actor-director, poet and creative graphic artist Eddie Sequeira has been chosen for this year’s Kala Puraskar award. The award will be presented to Edie Sequeira during the 287th Wilfy Nite to be held as part of MCA Annual event, on Friday, May 30, in Doha.
Eddie Sequeira was chosen for the prestigious award by MCA executive committee, considering his immense contribution to the cause of Konkani theatre and literature. The annual award, which was instituted in 2013, comprises of a citation, a memento and a cash component of Rs 1 lac.
MCA president Gladson Almeida informed that the MCA is proud and privileged to announce that Kala Puraskar 2025 will be bestowed on Konkani actor, director, playwright, compere and singer for his tremendous, relentless and unwavering contribution to Konkani for over six decades.
Born on August 28, 1951 as Edward Francis Augustine Sequeira, in Bejai, Mangaluru, Eddie Sequeira made his debut in Konkani theatre at the famed Don Bosco Hall, at the tender age of 12, when he acted in the Konkani drama ‘Mai Tum Khaim Asai’. There was no looking back thereafter for young Eddie Sequeira as he continued as prompter, actor, stage manager at Urwa parish as well as at Don Bosco Hall, until 1970 when he left for Mumbai in search of greener pasture.
Once he came back to Mangaluru during the latter part of 1970s, Eddie Sequeira became a household name among Konkani drama lovers as he went on to act in more than 50 Konkani dramas. His love for Konkani stage took him to take up direction and Eddie Sequeira became a full-fledged Konkani play director in 1980. Thereafter he went on to direct more than 25 Konkani plays of prominent Konkani playwrights Benna Ruzai, Chafra D’Costa and Wilfy Rebimbus. His directorial recorded more than 150 stage performances till 1990 when he left to Qatar for better future. During his stint as actor and director in Mangaluru, he won several awards for acting and directing in the ‘Kala Samapth’ drama competitions in Mangaluru. (Bhangar Monis & Boncho Bandh KD Bona, etc).
It was Eddie Sequeira who established ‘Rang-Tarang’ Drama Troupe in 1982 along with Chafra and presented plays in Mangaluru and surrounding parishes. Eddie Sequeira is attributed for giving a fresh, professional look to Konkani drama, through directing plays with artistic blend of lights, music and pre-planned movements and placements. Thus, Eddie Sequeira is credited for ushering in new era of Konkani theatre.
This was also the period when Eddie Sequeira’s association with the legendary Konkani Kogull Wilfy Rebimbus began. As integral part of Wilfy’s troupe, Eddie Sequeira not only performed as actor and singer in Wilfy Nites, but also garnered popularity for his vivacious and vibrant compering. He accompanied Wilfy’s troupe in India and abroad and has compered for more than 100 Wilfy Nites.
He translated Ramananda Churya’s play ‘Don Ghadi Hasson Kadi’ (1978), staged it a few times and later presented it in cassette (a first for Mangalorean Konkani) and also contributed as co-writer for two of Chafra’s plays ‘Tem To ani Hanv’ and ‘Vorsaak Ek Pavttim’ and number of short plays and skits. His play ‘Parath Ek Pavttim’ (One More Time) written in 1989, was adjudged as the best one act/play (script) during ‘Raknno’ Weekly’s Golden Jubilee Celebration. The same play published in 1999 received the Best Drama Award by Karnataka Konkani Sahitya Academy for plays published in the year. He acted, directed and presented the same play in the All-India Drama Competition organized by ‘Udayavani’ Kannada Daily Vimshathi (20 years) in collaboration with ‘Rangabhoomi’ Udupi Rajata Mahotsav (25 years) held in Udupi. It bagged 1st place for play and direction and acting prizes for all the three actors.
During his professional stay in Qatar, he worked as senior graphic designer with Gulf Times daily. He was one of the pioneers to start Konkani activities of local talents in Doha and mentored several budding talents.
Post his relocation to Mangaluru, he penned a new drama Gulf Sargar Eik Sukrar which bagged the best play award from DaijiDubai in 2015. He has also established a new theatre troupe ‘Rang-Antrang’ and has already staged plays through the troupe. He was deputed as the director of Vishwa Konkani Nataka Academy by the late Basti Vaman Shenoy and over the years he has assisted in organizing Konkani Nataka Mahotsav in 2018 in Mangaluru and in 2020 in Goa, wherein plays from Konkani plays from Kochi, Goa, Mumbai and Mangalore were staged under the patronage of Konkani Bhaas Ani Samskriti Pratishtan, under the aegis of Vishwa KonkanI Kendra. In 2024, Eddie Sequeira has published ‘Nav-Rang’, a compilation of 7 Konkani plays and two articles on Konkani theatre.
About MCA
Mangalore Cultural Association (MCA) is one of the pioneer community organizations in Doha Qatar, affiliated to the Indian Cultural Centre (ICC), under the aegis of Embassy of India, Qatar. MCA is actively involved in organizing major social, cultural and sports events and supporting the community at large in Doha and back home in the native. MCA came into existence in the year 2008, primarily to foster closer relations between people hailing from native land and residing in Doha Qatar and to provide platform and promote native values and culture amongst residents and younger generation in Qatar. MCA’s mission is to improve the lives of the less fortunate children back home, by supporting them financially to meet their educational needs and ignite hope in them for a bright future. Currently, there are hundreds of students pursuing their primary education and also hundreds of less fortunate people availing medical aid through your kind-hearted support and benevolence.
Along with this, MCA is also at the forefront of promoting Konkani language and culture through its various initiatives and programmes. MCA Kala Puraskar and Seva Puraskar which comprise of citation, memento and cash component of Rs 1 lac, are aimed at recognising stalwarts who have contributed immensely to the field of Konkani literature and language and those who have selflessly rendered yeoman’s service to the society. MCA has time and again provided an excellent stage to various Konkani artists, singers, dancers, comperes and actors from back home to showcase their talent at the international level.
MCA serves as a hub for Mangalurean Catholics and others from the Mangaluru region, fostering a sense of community and cultural identity. It continues to be a cornerstone for Mangalurean expatriates in Qatar, offering a platform to celebrate their cultural heritage and strengthen community bonds.
Wilfy Nite has been the numero uno entertainment package of Konkani and the 287th Wilfy Nite in Doha promises to continue this superlative legacy of Konkan Kogull the late Wilfy Rebimbus.
MCA dynamic team led by president Gladson Almeida, along with the executive committee and the advisors Felix Lobo, Wilfred Fernandes, Jerry Pinto, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure the success of 287th Wilfy Nite and MCA annual event.