THE LATE TIATRIST PHILOMENA BRAZThe recent news of the death of well known Konkani Stage Artiste Philomena Braz was indeed saddening. It is really a pity to notice these days many of our Tiatrists one after the other leaving this world.
Philomena Braz was an yester years Tiatrist from Bombay whom I saw for the first time in 1959 when she came to Goa along with C. Alvares troupe for his Tiatro ‘AXEA’. C. Alvares was instrumental in introducing new – new female artistes in his Tiatros. In this Tiatro with the exception of Jacinto Vaz all the artistes were from Bombay especially brought by C. Alvares for his Tiatro. During that period it was not easy to travel for Goans from Bombay to Goa and vice versa as there was blockade imposed by Bharat Serkar for the free movement of Goans from Bombay to Goa and back. Some of the Goa based tiatrists mainly those who were working at Emisora de Goa (now All India Radio Panjim) were also banned to enter Bombay for being Pro-Portuguese and anti-Bharat. During those days Tiatrists were marked Goans by both the Governments – Bharati Government and Portuguez Government in Goa. In this tight situation travel for Goans from Bombay was very difficult but possible with the help of Identity Cards identifying the genuineness of Goans as real Goans.
By taking advantage of the facility of Identity Cards (Bilhete Identidade as it was called then) C. Alvares then the most renowned Actor and Director came with his troupe to Goa minus Anthony Mendes a Bombay based ace comedian who was replaced by the Goa based top comedian Jacinto Vaz, he was banned to enter Bombay by Bharati Serkar for being Pro-Portuguese and anti Bharat. Among all the visiting tiatrists there were four beautiful looking females namely teenager Ophelia Cabral, majestic Cecilia Machado, pretty Violet and chubby Philomena Braz who played the most admiring role in Axea as that of an old lady in which she really excelled. Her facial appearance depicting as old lady, her slow talk like that of our Goan “Garamae” and slow movement with the help of walking stick made her to gain tremendous appreciation from the audience.
Philomena Braz was an yester years Tiatrist from Bombay whom I saw for the first time in 1959 when she came to Goa along with C. Alvares troupe for his Tiatro ‘AXEA’. C. Alvares was instrumental in introducing new – new female artistes in his Tiatros. In this Tiatro with the exception of Jacinto Vaz all the artistes were from Bombay especially brought by C. Alvares for his Tiatro. During that period it was not easy to travel for Goans from Bombay to Goa and vice versa as there was blockade imposed by Bharat Serkar for the free movement of Goans from Bombay to Goa and back. Some of the Goa based tiatrists mainly those who were working at Emisora de Goa (now All India Radio Panjim) were also banned to enter Bombay for being Pro-Portuguese and anti-Bharat. During those days Tiatrists were marked Goans by both the Governments – Bharati Government and Portuguez Government in Goa. In this tight situation travel for Goans from Bombay was very difficult but possible with the help of Identity Cards identifying the genuineness of Goans as real Goans.
By taking advantage of the facility of Identity Cards (Bilhete Identidade as it was called then) C. Alvares then the most renowned Actor and Director came with his troupe to Goa minus Anthony Mendes a Bombay based ace comedian who was replaced by the Goa based top comedian Jacinto Vaz, he was banned to enter Bombay by Bharati Serkar for being Pro-Portuguese and anti Bharat. Among all the visiting tiatrists there were four beautiful looking females namely teenager Ophelia Cabral, majestic Cecilia Machado, pretty Violet and chubby Philomena Braz who played the most admiring role in Axea as that of an old lady in which she really excelled. Her facial appearance depicting as old lady, her slow talk like that of our Goan “Garamae” and slow movement with the help of walking stick made her to gain tremendous appreciation from the audience.
This Tiatro I saw as a small boy in my village where even Portuguese officers from Aguada attended with rapt admiration and silence even though they could not understand Konkani. But their Goan friends were interpreting something for them in Portuguez. Her role was perfect because she was trained, guided and directed by an ace director C. Alvares and not by any Altu-Faltu director. C. Alvares was a great director and guide for his artistes, he was seasoned in this art with long years of experience and he was not any ‘kalcho porcho potto’ director”. The artistes males and females trained by C. Alvares showed totally different outlook on the stage, especially the females.
In this Tiatro Axea, Philomena Braz as Mother-In-Law with Violet as Daughter- in- law rendered a beautiful duet ‘Chear Anne Zai Asle Panacho Haddpak’. This duet caught the attention of the entire ‘Mattouful’ of audience where Philomena Braz gained more attention. She also sang one beautiful duet with the then hero Alfred Rose as Hindu couple and with Hindu style Konkani expression. The local Hindu Brahmins attending this Tiatro were all took great admiration for Philomena Braz who was well trained by Alfred Rose for this duet.
Later on after Goa was forcibly annexed by Bharat, Philomena Braz came to act in Goa with number of directors, one of them was Kid Boxer with whom she rendered a magnificent duet ‘Somzonnen Zatoch Chuk’ which was very witty, full of idioms and sayings. Such songs nobody sings now. This song looked more beautiful because their voices blended very well and because Philomena Braz well suited to sing this song along with him, Kid Boxer selected her only by discarding others This was the title song of the Tiatro staged by Kid Boxer soon after his release from Nasik prison where he was confined for about 6 months for singing an anti-Indian solo in Bombay. The late Evagrio Jorge who considered himself more Indian than others was responsible for getting Kid Boxer arrested. That Tiatro Kid Boxer wrote in prison while serving his term. Later on I saw Philomena Braz in Goa in Prem Kumar’s Tiatro “Abdul Narayan Desouza” where she played the role opposite to Prem and rendered one romantic “Canto” touching each other’s foreheads purely in filmi style.
Before the invasion and liberation of Kuwait she came to Kuwait to act in one Tiatro at Indian Arts Circle Hall, Funaitees where she played a great role of an old lady which was her forte.
In her death Konkani Stage lost one more great tiatrist. Will Konkani Stage produce another Philomena Braz? I doubt very much. She became great in doing great role of Old Lady because she loved this Tiatro Art more than money. May her soul rest in peace.
In this Tiatro Axea, Philomena Braz as Mother-In-Law with Violet as Daughter- in- law rendered a beautiful duet ‘Chear Anne Zai Asle Panacho Haddpak’. This duet caught the attention of the entire ‘Mattouful’ of audience where Philomena Braz gained more attention. She also sang one beautiful duet with the then hero Alfred Rose as Hindu couple and with Hindu style Konkani expression. The local Hindu Brahmins attending this Tiatro were all took great admiration for Philomena Braz who was well trained by Alfred Rose for this duet.
Later on after Goa was forcibly annexed by Bharat, Philomena Braz came to act in Goa with number of directors, one of them was Kid Boxer with whom she rendered a magnificent duet ‘Somzonnen Zatoch Chuk’ which was very witty, full of idioms and sayings. Such songs nobody sings now. This song looked more beautiful because their voices blended very well and because Philomena Braz well suited to sing this song along with him, Kid Boxer selected her only by discarding others This was the title song of the Tiatro staged by Kid Boxer soon after his release from Nasik prison where he was confined for about 6 months for singing an anti-Indian solo in Bombay. The late Evagrio Jorge who considered himself more Indian than others was responsible for getting Kid Boxer arrested. That Tiatro Kid Boxer wrote in prison while serving his term. Later on I saw Philomena Braz in Goa in Prem Kumar’s Tiatro “Abdul Narayan Desouza” where she played the role opposite to Prem and rendered one romantic “Canto” touching each other’s foreheads purely in filmi style.
Before the invasion and liberation of Kuwait she came to Kuwait to act in one Tiatro at Indian Arts Circle Hall, Funaitees where she played a great role of an old lady which was her forte.
In her death Konkani Stage lost one more great tiatrist. Will Konkani Stage produce another Philomena Braz? I doubt very much. She became great in doing great role of Old Lady because she loved this Tiatro Art more than money. May her soul rest in peace.
A. Veronica Fernandes,
Kuwait.
