Philomena Braz e Crasto (born Filomena Piedade Bras; 24 September 1933 – 15 February 2011) was an Indian actress, and singer known for her work in Konkani films and '' tiatr'' productions from 1963 to the 2000s.

Career

Braz was a character actress known for her contributions to the Konkani stage. Her career began in 1963 with her appearance in Alfred Rose's production of ''Zotkaxi Dorji''. Throughout her career, she collaborated with a multitude of directors and playwrights, including

Saib Rocha Domingos José Rocha (23 August 1898 – 28 April 1972), known professionally as Saib Rocha or A. J. Rocha, was an Indian playwright, theatre director, and actor who worked on the Konkani stage. Career During the early stages of the Konkani ' ...

, J. P. Souzalin,

Kid Boxer Caetano Manuel Pereira (17 February 1917 – 3 March 1991), known professionally as Kid Boxer, was an Indian singer, writer, director, comedian, and lyricist who worked on the Konkani stage. He is best known for being the member of the popular K ...

, Prem Kumar, Jacint Vaz,

C. Alvares Celestino Santana Francisco Alvares (1 August 1920 – 27 February 1999), known professionally as C. Alvares, was an Indian actor, singer, playwright, and director known for his work in Konkani cinema, Konkani films and ''tiatr'' productions. ...

, Dod de Verna, Nelson Affonso, Kamat de Assolna,

Minguel Rod Miguel Manoel Rodrigues (10 August 1924 – 4 October 1955), known professionally as Minguel Rod or M. Rod., was a Goan singer, composer, playwright, and actor known for his work in '' tiatr'' productions. One of the greatest composers of the Ko ...

M. Boyer Manuel Santana Aguiar (11 October 1930 – 30 May 2009), known professionally as M. Boyer was an Indian tiatrist from Goa. Boyer, was originally from Marcaim in Ponda, and later moved to Raia. His parents were Sebastiao Floriano Aguiar and Mari ...

, and Remmie Colaco. One of Braz's standout performances was in Prem Kumar's '' tiatr'', ''Odhi Bakri''. However, her most memorable portrayals were in the works of C. Alvares, particularly in the ''tiatrs Axea'' (Greed) and ''Khuincho Mandament'' (Which Sacrament?), where she displayed her talent alongside an all-female cast. Braz's versatility as an actress allowed her to shine in various roles, encompassing comedy, elderly characters, and the dynamic relationships of mother-in-law and daughter-in-law. Beyond her acting prowess, she was also a singer, delivering solo, duet, trio, and

quartet In music, a quartet or quartette (, , , , ) is an ensemble of four singers or instrumental performers; or a musical composition for four voices and instruments. Classical String quartet In classical music, one of the most common combinations o ...

performances on stage. She showcased her singing talents alongside artists such as Anthony Mendes, C. Alvares, Alfred Rose, and

Star of Arossim Alegre Roque Teodoro Antao (11 September 1932 – 20 July 2016), known professionally as Star of Arossim, was an Indian singer, composer, dramatist, director, and actor who primarily worked on the Tiatr, Konkani stage. Regarded as a multifaceted ...

. Braz' performances were not confined to live shows; she also recorded her songs for platforms such as H.M.V. Records and All India Radio. Additionally, her voice graced numerous

audio cassette The Compact Cassette or Musicassette (MC), also commonly called the tape cassette, cassette tape, audio cassette, or simply tape or cassette, is an analog magnetic tape recording format for audio recording and playback. Invented by Lou Otten ...

s. While Braz did not write her own ''tiatrs'', she ventured into directing with ''Axechi Doxea'', a production penned by Anthony Fernandes of Vakola, Bombay. The ''tiatr'' garnered acclaim, receiving numerous stage performances throughout Bombay. Braz's talent transcended geographical boundaries as she also traveled to various

Gulf countries The Arab states of the Persian Gulf refers to a group of Arab states which border the Persian Gulf. There are seven member states of the Arab League in the region: Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. ...

to showcase her ''tiatr'' performances abroad.

Personal life

Filomena Piedade Bras originally hailed from Bombay (now Mumbai). She entered into a marital union with Bernabe Caitano Do Rosario Inacio Crasto and together they had a daughter named Candida "Candy" Crasto (b. 1974) in Bombay and later married

seafarer A sailor, seaman, mariner, or seafarer is a person who works aboard a watercraft as part of its crew, and may work in any one of a number of different fields that are related to the operation and maintenance of a ship. The profession of the s ...

Dennis Rebello, who was employed on the MV Queen of the Oceans. According to the book titled ''100 Years of Konkani Tiatro'', published in 2000, Braz is mentioned as hailing from Orlim, Salcete, while also having a residence with her family at Dockyard Road, Mazagon, Bombay. On 15 February 2011, Braz died at the Grace Intensive Cardiac Hospital in Margao, Goa.

Filmography

Selected stage works

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Braz, Philomena category:1933 births 2011 deaths Goan people Tiatrists People from South Goa district Konkani-language singers