https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Miss_IdaMiss Ida - Revision history2026-11-15T05:56:09ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miss_Ida&diff=517890&oldid=prevKiaGreenwald: Starting a post2026-01-13T21:06:03Z<p>Starting a post</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Goan theatre actor and singer}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Miss Ida<br />
| image =<br />
| caption =<br />
| birth_name = José Mendes <br />
| other_names = Joseph Mendes <br />
| birth_place = [[Calvim]], [[Goa]], [[Portuguese India]], [[Portuguese Empire]] (now in India)<br />
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer|playwright|female impersonator}}<br />
| known_for = ''Kombekar'' (1938)<br />
}}<br />
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'''José Mendes''', known professionally as '''Miss Ida''', was an early 20th-century [[Goan]] theatre actor, singer, playwright, and [[Drag queen|female impersonator]] known for his work in ''[[tiatr]]'' productions during the early phase of ''tiatr''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fernandes |first=André Rafael |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vKAbygAACAAJ |title=When the Curtains Rise--: Understanding Goa's Vibrant Konkani Theatre |date=2010 |publisher=Tiatr Academy of Goa |isbn=978-93-80739-01-4 |pages=135 |language=en |access-date=2024-02-11 |archive-date=2023-11-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231126045216/https://books.google.com/books?id=vKAbygAACAAJ |url-status=live }}</ref> Described as a "celebrated female impersonator on the ''tiatr'' stage" by writer Fausto V. Da Costa,<ref name=":0" /> Mendes was among the pioneering [[cross-gender actor]]s who was instrumental in preserving the vitality of the [[Konkani language|Konkani]] ''tiatr'' (theatre) during a time when there was a shortage of female performers.<br />
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Originating from the village of [[Calvim]], [[Goa]], Mendes began his career in the Konkani ''tiatr'' stage by portraying female roles. He later transitioned to singing [[duet]]s with fellow [[Konkani language|Konkani]] artists and collaborated with [[Thomas Coogan]], a Konkani composer and singer, forming a [[musical duo]]. Their work was featured in about 20–25 ''tiatrs''. The duets they recorded were aired on [[All India Radio]] after being recorded on [[Gramophone Company India]]. Mendes also ventured into playwriting, with his ''tiatr Kombekar'' (Poultryman) gaining significant attention after its staging at Indra Bhavan, [[Dhobitalao]] in [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai) in 1938. <br />
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This production was known for providing opportunities to emerging Konkani ''[[tiatrist]]s'', including Carmo Valeriano Mascarenhas known professionally as [[Valente Mascarenhas]] and [[Alfred Rose (singer)|Alfred Rose]] (Rosario Alfred Fernandes), who made their debuts and showcased their talents. The [[Trio (music)|trio]] of Selvyn, Thomas Coogan, and Alfred Rose delivered a popular performance of the song "Kiteak Jiv Khatai?" during the same ''tiatr'', earning acclaim from the audience.<br />
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==Career==<br />
During the early years of the [[Konkani language|Konkani]] ''[[tiatr]]'' stage, women were absent from the performances, and the availability of female artists was limited. Consequently, [[Cross-gender acting|male actors took on the roles of female characters]]. Mendes, among the male artists, demonstrated skill in portraying female roles and became known as a [[Drag queen|female impersonator]] on the ''tiatr'' stage. Mendes's performances were characterized by his ability to convincingly portray female characters, to the point where it was challenging to discern his true gender. Writer Irene Cardozo acknowledges Mendes and other male artists for their contribution to the ''tiatr'' tradition. Not only did they sustain the art form in the absence of female artists, but they also injected elegance and vitality into the performances, states Cardozo.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=TIATR 125th Anniversary Commemorative Volume |publisher=[[Tiatr Academy of Goa]] |year=2019 |location=[[Panaji, Goa]] |pages=6–82}}</ref> <br />
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In addition to acting as female characters, Mendes engaged in singing [[duet]]s with male co-artists.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K-1PAQAAIAAJ |title=100 Years of Konkani Tiatro |date=2000 |publisher=Government of Goa, Directorate of Art & Culture |pages=88, 110 |language=en |access-date=2024-02-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240107200151/https://books.google.com/books?id=K-1PAQAAIAAJ |archive-date=2024-01-07 |url-status=live}}</ref> Writer Fausto V. da Costa commends Mendes as an early pioneer who adeptly assumed feminine roles. ''Tiatr'' enthusiasts bestowed applause and praise upon Mendes for his performances. He undertook female roles and vocalized songs in the persona of a female character. Mendes frequently collaborated with [[Thomas Coogan]], a fellow Konkani composer and singer hailing from the village of [[Calvim]], [[Aldona]]. Their partnership in approximately 20–25 ''tiatrs'' left an impression on audiences and formed an unforgettable combination, states da Costa. Several of their duets and duos have been captured by [[Gramophone Company India]] and aired on [[All India Radio]] (known as Akashvani). <br />
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Mendes's contributions to the ''tiatr'' extended beyond acting and singing. He penned several ''tiatrs'', with their work ''Kombekar'' (Poultryman) generating a significant impact in [[Bombay]] during the [[British India]] era. The ''tiatr Kombekar'' was staged at Indra Bhavan in [[Dhobitalao]], Bombay in 1938.<ref name=":1" /> It was within this production that Mendes provided a platform for the emerging Konkani actor and singer [[Valente Mascarenhas]] (Carmo Valerian Mascarenhas), who showcased his talent through five songs. Accompanying Mascarenhas were vocalists A. M. B. Rose, [[Alfred Rose (singer)|Alfred Rose]], Thomas Coogan, and Selvyn. It was during the same ''tiatr'' that young Alfred Rose made his debut on the Konkani stage. The audience embraced the popular ''[[Tiatr#Songs|cantar]]'' "Kiteak Jiv Khatai?" performed by the trio of Selvyn, Thomas Coogan, and Alfred Rose.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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==Personal life==<br />
Information about Mendes's personal life is scarce. He was born in the island village of [[Calvim]], located in [[Aldona]], [[Bardez]], [[Goa]], which was a territory of [[Portuguese India]] during the era of the [[Portuguese Empire]] (now part of India). He had a nephew named Joaquim Mendes, who was professionally known as Young Mendes and was also involved in the [[Tiatr|Konkani theater industry]] as an actor and playwright. It was Mendes himself who played a pivotal role in introducing Joaquim to the ''[[tiatr]]'' stage at a young age, and Joaquim's debut performance in ''tiatr'' turned out to be a success.<ref name=":0" /><br />
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==Selected stage works==<br />
{| class="wikitable sortable"<br />
!Year<br />
!Title<br />
!Role<br />
!Notes<br />
!Ref<br />
|-<br />
|<br />
|''Kombekar'' <br />
|Writer<br />
|<br />
|<ref name=":0" /><br />
|}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ida, Miss}}<br />
[[Category:Tiatrists]]<br />
[[Category:Actors from North Goa district]]<br />
[[Category:Musicians from North Goa district]]<br />
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Goa]]</div>KiaGreenwald