Tiats, films, nattaks. His work his prolific and his beginnings small in the villages of Bardez. Let’s trace his beginnings and those who inspired him.
At the age of 7, when Carvalho’s father took him to Salvador do Mundo to reside at his uncle’s place, in school Umbra Salvador do Mundo he completed his primary studies. During his stay there, Tony Fernandes penned and staged a tiatr for the feast of the Cross and offered him a chance to render a song ‘Maim’.
Back home for holidays in Saipem, the Saipem Sports Club organized a singing competition and Carvalho’s participation helped him to win a prize in the contest. Later, his dad told him to approach Tomazinho Cardozo, who offered him a trio ‘Pede’ rendered along with John Trinidade and Durgesh Raikar in tiatr ‘Kallok ani Uzvadd’. The same production was presented in Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition.
After primary education in Salvador do Mundo and return to Saipem, Carvalho started penning one-act plays to be presented during the Christmas programme in the village. “During that period,” he said, “late Fr Freddy was the chaplain in Pilerne and he would organize one-act play competition,” thus inviting him to participate and win the contest.
Carvalho’s entry on stage as an actor came about in Tomazinho Cardozo’s tiatr ‘Ontoskorn’ ani Kaide’, where he enacted the role of a sacristian. He continues with the same dramatic and cultural troupe till date.
After entry on stage, Carvalho moved to the All India Radio (A.I.R) for presentation of radio plays in Tomazinho Cardozo’s musical ‘Hanvuch To’. He continued with his acting and singing skills in 5-6 plays by the same director.
In tiatr ‘Somaz Seva’ Carvalho made an entry as a comedian with his father in Tomazinho Cardozo’s troupe. In tiatrs ‘Ami Soglle Ek’ and ‘Orth’ by the same director, he had multiple character roles, namely ‘Bap’pa and blind Muslim man respectively, with best actor award in the former and audience appeal in the latter.
For musical shows presented by Tomazinho Cardozo, Carvalho had an opportunity to travel to Muscat and Dubai. And tiatr ‘Mhovall Vikh’ had shows in Bangalore and Mumbai and tiatr ‘Goa Going Gone’ in Mangalore.
After garnering enough knowledge in theatrical skills, Carvalho penned his first tiatr ‘Bezababdar’ and presented it for the Kala Academy’s annual tiatr competition under the banner of Saipem Sports Club. He also penned another tiatr ‘Poilem Panvl Ekvottachem’ and staged it for the feast of Saipem chapel.
“As Tomazinho was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly,” Carvalho informed, “there was a short break and opportunity dawned for own production, with Durgesh Raikar winning a prize for acting and Laura Cardozo winning a prize for singing.” A little later, Carvalho decided to present his tiatr ‘Bezababdar’ into a telefilm at the Goa Doordarshan.
Carvalho also has to his credit four telefilms at Goa Doordarshan,
Carvalho also had the opportunity to act in Konkani ‘nattaks’ which included ‘Ransundhari’ by Pundalik Naik and directed by Damodar Bhobe (Saipem Sports Club, Candolim) and ‘Berem Berem Tontunem’ by the same writer and directed by late Tukaram Naik (St Theresa High School, Candolim). He has also directed Assis Cardozo’s three tiatrs, which included tiatr ‘Besanv’, presented for the village feast.
Though comfortable in acting and singing, acting is Carvalho’s forte. He picked up the skills of direction and expression from late Neves Machado, who was the founder member of Kala Mogi, Candolim and a teacher by profession.
Carvalho has proved his mantle as an actor by excelling in character roles of landlord, Hindu, parish priest, blind beggar, aged man and comedian. Though he has handled comedy with his father, he would prefer character roles on stage, only to showcase his acting skills to the audience.
Initially, the concluding message in tiatrs penned by Tomazinho Cardozo would be delivered by Carvalho and he would mesmerize the audience through his eye contact. “With the body language, followed by music and light effects, the concluding message would go out, loud and clear,” he disclosed.
To be a skilled actor, ‘natural acting skills, dedication during rehearsals is a must,” believes Carvalho. “If you are regular for practices,” he says, “you can easily become a potential actor and if not winning an award for your talent, audience appeal can be your biggest satisfaction.”
