Mario miranda biography

- Manohar Malgaonkar

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Goa was arguably the richest segment of the earth’s surface.

Mario created characters that gave his daily audience their quota of a smile without malice. Very soon, he started getting recognition as a cartoonist. His large-scale works captured lively urban and Goan life, transforming public and private spaces into vibrant storytelling canvases. Mario Miranda's caricatures are also seen in the municipal market of Panjim, Goa.

Miranda is also featured in the "Mile Sur Mera Tumhara" video, which included a host of India's most notable personalities in arts, films, literature, music, and sports.

In 1990s, Rushi Yazdegardi (then owner) asked Mario Miranda to draw murals (cartoons) on two opposite walls of Café Mondegar.

His ability to find humor and beauty in everyday life, combined with his technical mastery and cultural authenticity, makes him one of India's most important artists.

Mario Miranda's artwork reminds us that art can be both accessible and profound, entertaining and educational. They were among the very few families whose sons were admitted to jobs in Goa’s administrative service.

One of the Miranda sons, Constancio, was the Administrador, of the Ponda district in the mid 19th century when he trapped Kustoba Rane a bandit to the Portuguese, and a freedom fighter to Liberated Goa.

The Governor General of Goa rewarded and commended Constancio Miranda. Even though some of their sons had taken service under the Government, as a family they had remained farmers, and their income came mainly from their lands. The series aimed to bring Miranda’s whimsical characters and Goan life to life, narrated primarily in Konkani.
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He was posted as the Administrador of the colony of Daman on the coast of Gujarat when on the 2nd of May, 1926, his wife gave birth to their second child, a boy whom they named Mario. The film was said to be bilingual (Hindi and Konkani), set in Goa, and expected to feature Portuguese songs, aiming to offer an authentic Goan viewpoint rather than a typical Bollywood portrayal.

Works Beyond Cartooning

Murals and Wall Art:
Mario Miranda was not just a cartoonist but also a prolific muralist.

A year later, the Times of India offered him a slot, even though they had rejected him at first. Documentary: The World of Mario… Seriously Funny - Doordarshan Goa produced a documentary about Mario Miranda titled “The World of Mario… Seriously Funny”, as part of its series on Goan icons.

His trips around the globe produced subtle close observations of the local musings – a fitting example of how far can one stretch the parameters of this branch of neglected art.

In 2013, a road junction in Mumbai was named after Miranda.

In May 2016, Google honoured him with a doodle on his 90th birth anniversary. The King of Portugal bestowed on him the special honour of being entitled to a family crest.

He was honored with several national awards, including the Padma Shri (1988), Padma Bhushan (1994), and posthumously the Padma Vibhushan (2012).

Some Lesser-Known Facts

•  Self-Taught Genius: Mario de Miranda was never formally trained in art, making his artistic achievements all the more remarkable. 
•  Early Career in Advertising: Miranda started his career in an advertising studio, where he worked for four years, before taking up cartooning full-time. 
•  Literary Collaborations: He illustrated numerous books including Inside Goa by Manohar Malgonkar, A family in Goa and The Open Eyes by Dom Moraes. 
•  First Break: He got his first break as a cartoonist with The Illustrated Weekly of India which published a few of his works. 
•  Postcard Entrepreneur: As a child, after his mother gave him a blank book, he began making personalised postcards, showing early entrepreneurial instincts. 
•  International Recognition: He is one of the few internationally known Goans, bringing global attention to Goan culture through his art. 
•  Multiple Awards: He received many prestigious awards including a lifetime achievement award from All India Cartoonists' Association, Bangalore. 
•  Wall Art Beginnings: His artistic journey began with drawing caricatures and sketching on the walls of his home as a child. 
•  Cultural Bridge: Growing up in Portuguese India gave him a unique perspective that allowed him to bridge different cultural influences in his work. 
•  Posthumous Recognition: His highest honor, the Padma Vibhushan, was awarded posthumously in 2012, cementing his status as one of India's most important artists.

Conclusion

Mario Miranda stands as a giant in the field of Indian cartoon art and illustration.

Mario's body was then taken to the Hindu Crematorium in Pagifond, Margao, where he was cremated, thus fulfilling his wish, according to his wife.

Indian cartoonist Graphi and fine artist, Vijay N Seth (Vins) paid tribute to Miranda, whom he considered as a mentor:

With pen & ink that were at his command to churn out lines that every nib would be jealous of, he brushed aside the old school of cartooning using the brush, and set a new norm to use the nib pen and to master it for this branch of art.

He worked with international publications such as:
•    The New York Times
•    The Madras Weekly
•    The Illustrated Weekly of India (where his non-political works were often showcased globally)
He also represented India in various cultural exchange programs, bringing Goan and Indian art traditions to Europe and beyond.

Awards & Honours

Mario Miranda’s legacy lives on in galleries, public murals, and hearts all over India, especially Goa, where his art captures the spirit of the land.

From an early age, Mario’s penchant for drawing was evident, filling the walls of his home with caricatures before his mother bought him a sketchbook.

Later Life

After his prolific newspaper and cartooning career, Mario returned to his ancestral home in Loutolim, Goa. There, he continued to sketch, travel, and inspire admirers globally until his passing in 2011.

His powerful observational skills and vivid imagination created a body of work that transcends mere entertainment, offering profound insights into Indian society and culture. He also illustrated many children's books, including Dul-Dul, The Magic Clay Horse (1968), The Adventures of Pilla the Pup (1969), and Lumbdoom, The Long-Tailed Langoor (1968), all written by Uma Anand and published by India Book House, Mumbai, under its Echo imprint.

He loved to travel and listening to music and it was his ambition to experiment further with water colours and to write memories of his early years in Goa, on retirement.

Some of his most famous murals include:
•    Café Mondegar (Mumbai) – A popular Colaba café featuring his whimsical murals of Mumbai’s streets and characters.
•    Delhi International Airport – Illustrated panels depicting India’s cultural diversity.
•    Panaji Municipal Market (Goa) – A sprawling mural capturing everyday scenes.
•    Café Royal (Mumbai) – Another landmark venue adorned with Mario’s humorous line art.

Illustrated Books:
Mario collaborated with several authors, creating witty illustrations that became as famous as the texts themselves:
•    Dom Moraes’ “A Family in Goa”
•    Manohar Malgonkar’s “Inside Goa”
•    Sharada Dwivedi’s “A Guide to Bombay”
•    His own published collections such as Laugh it Off and Goa with Love showcased his art outside newspapers.

Commercial and Advertising Work:
Before becoming a household name, Mario Miranda worked in advertising agencies in Mumbai.

Both walls have different themes.