UpdateBot at 10:45, 15 June 2022

2022-06-15T10:45:44Z

New page

{{Short description|Indian actor (1929–2022)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2022}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Gerson da Cunha
| birth_date = 16 June 1929
| birth_place = [[Bombay]], [[British Raj]]
| death_date = 7 January 2022 (aged 92)
| death_place = [[Mumbai]], India
| occupation = Advertising professional, actor, author, and social worker
| known_for =
| spouse = Uma da Cunha
| honours = [[Order of Rio Branco]] (Brazil, 2018)
}}

'''Gerson da Cunha''' (16 June 1929 – 7 January 2022) was an Indian advertising professional who was also a stage and film actor, social worker, and author. He headed the Indian market communications agency [[Lintas]] and also worked for [[J. Walter Thompson]], and [[Hindustan Unilever|Hindustan Lever]] in a career spanning 25 years. He worked with [[UNICEF]] in Brazil and was awarded the [[Order of Rio Branco]] by the government of Brazil in 2018 for his services to that country.

Da Cunha acted in English-language plays and movies such as ''[[Electric Moon]]'' (1992), ''[[Cotton Mary]]'' (1999), ''[[Aśoka (film)|Asoka]]'' (2001) and ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]'' (2005), among others.

==Early life==
Gerson da Cunha was born on 16 June 1929 into a Bombay [[Goans|Goan]] family of [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] descent and grew up in the [[Mazagaon]] neighborhood of [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai).<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|title=Gerson da Cunha, adman who wore many hats, dead|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/gerson-da-cunha-adman-who-wore-many-hats-dead/articleshow/88767073.cms|url-status=live|access-date=8 January 2022|work=The Times of India|language=en|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108081757/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/gerson-da-cunha-adman-who-wore-many-hats-dead/articleshow/88767073.cms}}</ref> He graduated in science from the [[University of Bombay]] studying at [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai|St. Xavier's College]]. He would later describe his college as a 'fussy and priggish Jesuit College'.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|title=Renaissance man of Mumbai no more|work=The Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/renaissance-man-of-mumbai-no-more/articleshow/88754836.cms|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107134652/https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/renaissance-man-of-mumbai-no-more/articleshow/88754836.cms|archive-date=7 January 2022}}</ref> His uncle was [[José Gerson da Cunha]], physician and historian, who had written one of the first historical works documenting the origins of Bombay, somewhat aptly titled, ''The Origins of Bombay''. Da Cunha Sr. was also the family physician of the [[Aga Khan]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Goodbye, Gerson, the Bombay boy bows out|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/featured-blog/goodbye-gerson-the-bombay-boy-bows-out|access-date=8 January 2022|website=Free Press Journal|language=en|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108081759/https://www.freepressjournal.in/featured-blog/goodbye-gerson-the-bombay-boy-bows-out|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Vaz|first=J. Clement|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7DJLxYBYA-YC&dq=%22Gerson+da+Cunha%22&pg=PA118|title=Profiles of Eminent Goans, Past and Present|date=1997|publisher=Concept Publishing Company|isbn=978-81-7022-619-2|pages=118–119|language=en|access-date=8 January 2022|archive-date=9 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109003946/https://books.google.com/books?id=7DJLxYBYA-YC&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA118&dq=%22Gerson+da+Cunha%22&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Career ==
Da Cunha started his career as a journalist with [[Press Trust of India]] and later worked with [[Reuters]]. He also worked during this time with [[All India Radio]]. After five years in the news industry, he moved to advertising working with the Indian marketing communications agencies [[J. Walter Thompson]], [[Lintas]] and later to [[Hindustan Lever]], working for over 25 years in the advertising industry between 1955 and 1980. The last ten of those years were spent heading Lintas.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|title=Veteran theatre personality and former ad man Gerson da Cunha passes away|language=en|work=[[The Hindu Business Line]]|url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/veteran-theatre-personality-and-former-ad-man-gerson-da-cunha-passes-away/article38170015.ece|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107140959/https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/variety/veteran-theatre-personality-and-former-ad-man-gerson-da-cunha-passes-away/article38170015.ece}}</ref>

{{Quote box
| quote = Nowhere is ever home 
but this may be the town 
of least effort for me. 

Here the idiom is known. 

| author = {{spnd}}Gerson da Cunha
| source = ''Bombay Wallahs'' (2000)<ref>{{Cite web|title=528 Gerson Da Cunha, Decline of a great city|url=https://www.india-seminar.com/2003/528/528%20gerson%20da%20cunha.htm|access-date=8 January 2022|website=www.india-seminar.com|archive-date=12 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512053528/https://www.india-seminar.com/2003/528/528%20gerson%20da%20cunha.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>
| align = right
| width = 300px
| qalign = left
}}

He was a writer for ''[[The Earth Times]]'', a newspaper for the [[1992 Earth Summit]] which remained in publication through 2003. His column in the newspaper was titled ''View from the South'' and highlighted the need for legislation in driving environmental actions.<ref name=":4" /> He also worked with the [[United Nations Children's Fund]] (UNICEF) in [[Latin America]] and later at its headquarters in [[New York City]]. He worked on [[social marketing]] programs focused on nutrition, health, and wellness in the region, including [[vaccination]]s in Brazil's [[favela]]s and healthy motherhood initiatives in the Central American regions.<ref name=":4" /> Da Cunha was awarded the [[Order of Rio Branco]] by the government of Brazil in 2018 for his services to that country.<ref name=":1" />

Da Cunha was the founder and CEO of the Mumbai-based [[NGO]] and citizens initiative ''Mumbai First'' and was also part of its organizing board. He was also active in various other NGOs and citizen groups in Mumbai.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Advertising 'Pitamaha' Gerson da Cunha passes away|url=https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/the-people-report/advertising-veteran-gerson-da-cunha-passes-away/88756068|url-status=live|access-date=7 January 2022|work=Economic Times Brand Equity|language=en|archive-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107141615/https://brandequity.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/the-people-report/advertising-veteran-gerson-da-cunha-passes-away/88756068}}</ref> He was a trustee of NAGAR and convenor of AGNI (Action for Good Governance and Networking for India).<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|title=Advertising industry veteran Gerson da Cunha dead at 92|work=[[Press Trust of India]]|url=http://www.ptinews.com/news/13028801_Advertising-industry-veteran-Gerson-da-Cunha-dead-at-92.html|access-date=7 January 2022|archive-date=7 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220107134653/http://www.ptinews.com/news/13028801_Advertising-industry-veteran-Gerson-da-Cunha-dead-at-92.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He also worked as an advisor to various Indian union ministries and the [[National Technology Missions]] under the Cabinet Secretariat.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2" />

Da Cunha had also acted in English-language plays and movies including ''[[Electric Moon]]'' (1992), ''[[Cotton Mary]]'' (1999), ''[[Aśoka (film)|Asoka]]'' (2001) and ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]'' (2005), among others.<ref name=":2" /> Some of his notable theater performances included ''[[Othello]]'' directed by [[Zul Velani]] in 1956 and ''Begum Sumroo'' directed by [[Alyque Padamsee]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|date=8 January 2022|title=Ad man, writer and activist Gerson da Cunha passes away|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ad-man-writer-and-activist-gerson-da-cunha-passes-away-7712313/|access-date=8 January 2022|website=The Indian Express|language=en|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108081813/https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/ad-man-writer-and-activist-gerson-da-cunha-passes-away-7712313/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=8 January 2022|title=Gerson Da Cunha told me theatre is a great education. I understand it now: Tara Deshpande|url=https://theprint.in/opinion/gerson-da-cunha-told-me-theatre-is-a-great-education-i-understand-it-now-tara-deshpande/798376/|access-date=8 January 2022|website=ThePrint|language=en-US|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108081800/https://theprint.in/opinion/gerson-da-cunha-told-me-theatre-is-a-great-education-i-understand-it-now-tara-deshpande/798376/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Chowdhury|first=Nandita|date=4 August 1997|title=Begum Sumroo promises to be a play for all seasons|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19970804-begum-sumroo-promises-to-be-a-play-for-all-seasons-831855-1997-08-04|url-status=live|access-date=8 January 2022|website=India Today|language=en|archive-date=15 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211115100616/https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/society-the-arts/story/19970804-begum-sumroo-promises-to-be-a-play-for-all-seasons-831855-1997-08-04}}</ref> His poetry anthology, ''So far'', was published by [[HarperCollins]] in 2000.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cunha|first=Gerson da|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/45086916|title=So far|date=2000|publisher=Harper Collins Publishers India|isbn=81-7223-395-7|location=New Delhi|oclc=45086916|access-date=8 January 2022|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108081801/https://www.worldcat.org/title/so-far/oclc/45086916|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Da Cunha was married to Uma, a theater and film critic.<ref name=":3" /> His younger brother Sylvester was also involved in advertising and English theatre.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/Family-Matters/articleshow/154584.cms|title=Family Matters|date=31 August 2003|work=The Times of India|first1=Sudeshna|last1=Chatterjee|access-date=6 August 2010|archive-date=4 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110704162738/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/sunday-toi/Family-Matters/articleshow/154584.cms|url-status=live}}</ref> Gerson da Cunha died from a cardiac arrest in Mumbai on 7 January 2022, at the age of 92.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":4" />

==Works==

=== Books ===
*''So far''. HarperCollins (India), 2000. {{ISBN|81-7223-395-7}}.

=== Films ===
Source(s):<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite web|title=Gerson Da Cunha movies and filmography - Cinestaan.com|url=https://www.cinestaan.com/people/gerson-da-cunha-24763/filmography|access-date=8 January 2022|website=Cinestaan|archive-date=8 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220108081817/https://www.cinestaan.com/people/gerson-da-cunha-24763/filmography|url-status=live}}</ref>

* ''[[Electric Moon]]'' (1992)
* ''[[Cotton Mary]]'' (1999)
* ''[[Aśoka (film)|Asoka]]'' (2001)
* ''[[Water (2005 film)|Water]]'' (2005)
*[[Rangoon (2017 Hindi film)|''Rangoon'']] (2017)
*''[[Gandhi of the Month]]'' (2018)

== See also ==

* [[José Gerson da Cunha]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0196091}}
*[https://www.india-seminar.com/2003/528/528%20gerson%20da%20cunha.htm Decline of a Great City]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cunha, Gerson Da}}
[[Category:1929 births]]
[[Category:2022 deaths]]
[[Category:Date of birth missing]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male actors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Goa]]
[[Category:Indian male film actors]]
[[Category:University of Mumbai alumni]]
[[Category:Indian male stage actors]]
[[Category:Indian male journalists]]
[[Category:Journalists from Goa]]

Gerson da Cunha - Revision history

UpdateBot at 10:45, 15 June 2022