Matheus Correia (14 February 1974 – 25 July 2022), known professionally as Comedian Selvy, was an Indian comedian, actor, playwright, singer, director, and producer known for his work in Konkani films and tiatr productions. Referred to as the "Comedy King of the Konkani stage" by The Navhind Times, he is regarded as one of the greatest Konkani comedians of his generation.[7] He was noted mainly for his comedy performances and was deemed "Goa's most loved comedian".[5]
Career
Tiatrs
From left; Correia, Com. Janet and Com. Agostinho in 2015
Correia always had an immense love of, and keen interest in, the Konkani stage. He began acting at the age of 8 in his elder brother, Saude's tiatrs and village folk plays. Correia was also active in traditional Carnival folk plays (Konkani: Zomnivhele khell) before becoming a full-time professional tiatrist. He was first discovered by Tony Park who noted his skills in comedy and cast him for his non-stop tiatr.[8] Correia had previously worked in the water resources department of the Goa Government before getting his big break at age 24 in 1998 as a professional comedian in John D'Silva's tiatr Vatt (Way).[3]
Correia performing in Striketiatr in February 2016
During his career span of more than two decades as a Konkani comedian, Correia has acted in more than 60 tiatrs and was cast by prominent Konkani directors such as John D'Silva (14–15 tiatrs), Agostinho Themudo[9][10][11] (23 tiatrs) from 2007 to 2019, beginning from the tiatrSir to signing off in Pai (Father)[8][12][13] and Roseferns (20 tiatrs)[14][4] in the late 1990s, 2000s and 2010s.[3] He was also cast by other notable Goantiatr directors like Mario Menezes,[15] Comedian Sally,[16]C. D'Silva, Pascoal Rodrigues and Milagres de Chandor. Joyel Fernandes, known professionally as Comedian Joyel, an emerging Konkani comedian from Maina-Curtorim also recalls that Correia was his inspiration[17] to take up the comedy genre.[8][18][19][20][21]
VCDs and CDs
Correia was also featured in more than 200 VCDs. He produced 5 of them namely, Bekar Louddi, Second Hand, Garbage and Wrong Number.[8] He was also known for his singing skills,[22] and has sung in about 25 CDs.[8] After attaining much success in his tiatr career, Correia went on a global tour with his troupe in places like United Kingdom, Paris, The Middle East[23] to perform for his audience.[8][24]
Directoral debut and films
Correia eventually started writing, producing and directing his own tiatrs. Raza Jeita Kombo Choita and 8 Dis (8 Days)[25] remain his only and most popular productions till date, which resulted in a tremendous positive response from the Goan diaspora in the United Kingdom.[3] The latter also crossed the silver jubilee mark prior to his death and was on the way towards the golden jubilee with a scheduled show in London in late July.[8]
Correia was also known for his role of Mad Man in the 2018 Konkani film, Welcome M1LL10NS. He was also seen acting in his last Konkani film, Rong (Colour) directed by Aggi Rod and produced by Joywin Fernandes, which was posthumously released on YouTube on 24 August 2022.[26]
Personal life
Selvy's elder son, Jr. Selvy (Myron Correia) in May 2018
Matheus Correia was born to Goan Catholic parents, Jose Correia and Joana Batistina Fernandes, on 14 February 1974 in Velim, hailing from Fursabhatt.[4][8] He was a practising Roman Catholic and was married to Candolina Fernandes, with whom he had two sons, Myron (Jr. Selvy) and Ryan.[27]
Awards
Prasad Lolienkar (C), Sonia Shirsat (L), Roma (top right) and Selvy (R) at Yuva Srujan Puraskar Award ceremony in February 2013
Correia was honoured by the Gulab Award in 2007[28] and Dr. Jack de Sequeira Memorial Award for his contributions towards the Konkani stage. He was also a recipient of the Yuva Srujan Puraskar award[29] from the Arts and Culture Department of the Goa Government for the year 2011–2012.[4][30]
Death
Correia had complained to his troupe about uneasiness and toothache while performing in his tiatr, 8 Dis (8 days). On 15 July 2022, he visited the South Goa District Hospital in Margao for a checkup during which he was informed by the examining specialist that his diabetes and haemoglobin levels were showing negative signs.[3][4][31] He was moved swiftly to Goa Medical College and was admitted on 16 July 2022. Selvy's elder son, Myron Correia, informed the media that his father's diabetes was under control but the blood platelet count was still low.[3][4][8] He later was shifted to the intensive care unit of the hospital, wherein he received many telephone calls from his loved ones. Several Goans also offered to donate blood to save his life after many blood donation requests were made.[32] However on 25 July 2022, Selvy unexpectedly died at the age of 48, due to diabetes-related complications.[3][4][33][34]
Reactions
The Chief Minister of Goa, Pramod Sawant and several other political leaders gave their condolences to the bereaved family.[35][36]
Funeral
Correia's funeral was held on 27 July 2022 at St. Francis Xavier Church, Velim.[37] It was attended by tens of thousands of Goans, including his family, friends, tiatr fraternity and political leaders.[5] He was later laid to rest at St. Francis Xavier Church cemetery, Velim.[38]
Legacy
On 31 July 2022, Correia's tiatr 8 Dis (8 Days) was staged posthumously in response to public demand and as a fulfillment to his last wish. Myron, Correia's elder son, also mentioned that prior to his father's death, he wanted the doctors to discharge him so that he could perform in the show. Hundreds of tiatr lovers were seen paying their respects at Ravindra Bhavan in Margao, and a one-minute silence was observed to honor Correia.[39][40]
.jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
