The Almeida family from Tonca, Panjim has always been drawn towards
acting hence it is no surprise that Cyril has dedicated almost his entire life
to the grand stage. Son of late Domingos Almeida and Maria Conceição Almeida,
Cirilo Almeida, known by his stage name Cyril Almeida, will be celebrating his
50th birthday on July 7, 2017. His father was a well known tiatrist and used to
write khell tiatrs and perform them in the neighbouring villages of Nauxe,
Odxel, Taleigao and Dona Paula. “I was too young to act in his tiatrs and he
passed away very early but the rich heritage of tiatr has certainly been
inherited in this family,” says Cyril, who has eight siblings.
He got his chance to perform on stage when his brother-in-law, late
Anthony D’Silva, wrote and directed tiatr ‘Hanvunvh Zannam’ in 1979. “I was so
nervous to be on stage and I had to sing a duet with my younger brother,
Francis. Over the years, I gained more confidence and lost my stage fright. I
continued working in tiatrs and at the same time, I studied and completed my
ITI Diploma in Electrical engineering from ITI Altinho. Tiatr is my passion but
I also have a full-time job in Panjim. It takes more effort and time to write,
act and direct,” says Cyril, who was last seen in Maxie Pereira’s tiatr ‘Ghor
Moddat Ghorabo Samballat’.
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In 1994, Cyril directed his first tiatr, ‘Kabar Zatoch Suru Zalem’,
written by late John Noronha of Borda, Margao. He got his first break to sing
on the professional stage for late C Alvares in the tiatr ‘Zav Zav Teg Bav’. He
has acted and sung in tiatrs by directors like Bernard Fernandes, Mariano
Fernandes, Anil Pednekar, C D’Silva, Mario Menezes, Comedian Agostinho, Kenny
Ferns, Soccoro De St Cruz, Aldrin, Maxie Pereira and Onassis D’Cruz. He has
written and directed over 15 tiatrs and composed and sang for many audio albums
such as ‘Visa’, ‘Voddponn’, ‘Recad’ by Cajetan De Curtorim, ‘Holiday’ by Com
Jesus, ‘Maim Pai’ by Mario Menezes, ‘Okman’ by C D’Silva, ‘I’m In Love’ by
Chitra and ‘Xikxea’ by Soccoro De St Cruz. He has VCD ‘Bhojekan’ to his credit as
well as audio albums ‘Apswarti’, ‘Donapaula’ and ‘Hoch Inam Mhozo’.
“As a tiatrist, I enjoy singing, writing and composing songs. I can
compose a song in under 15 minutes; it depends on the tune. When I am directing
a tiatr, there are more responsibilities and more time is required to put
everything together but while acting, I only have to make time for my
rehearsals,” says Cyril.
Married to Lucy, Cyril is the father to Claniffa and Clasrissa.
“Claniffa has won four awards for her singing at the Kala Academy Singing
Competition while Clarissa acts in tiatrs including those which I direct,” says
the proud father.
He has won the awards for Best Singer of Kala Academy Tiatr
Competition, Best Script for ‘Voiz’ at the Kala Academy Tiatr Competition and
Best Choral Song ‘Chukleli Vatt’ by TAG. “Tiatr is a unique dramatic form and
it recently celebrated 125 years. I am extremely thankful to TAG, Kala Academy
and the Art and Culture Department of Government of Goa for encouraging
tiatrists and taking tiatr to greater heights,” concludes Cyril.
