I can see good days ahead for
tiatr
Counting among the dons of the Konkani Tiatr is the sexagenarian from
Britona who goes by the assumed name H Britton. Truly a gifted artiste, Britton,
in fact, unfurled his theatrical talent at a young age of just eight by dishing
out a stupendous performance in a village tiatr. His father, Francisco Camilo,
and mother, Maria Agusta, being out and out tiatr buffs went out of their way to
encourage Britton to take to the stage in a big way.
After completing his schooling at Panjim’s Progress High School, Britton went to
Bombay where he landed a lucrative job with Metal Box India Limited. His career
in big-time tiatr really took off while in Bombay, his maiden performance in a
major tiatr being in the legendary Robin Vaz’s Bebdo Put in which he rendered a
superlative solo.
An epitome of versatility, Britton has written, produced, directed and set to
music, no fewer than seven classy tiatrs. As a singer, he has been really
prolific having lyricised a whopping 600 plus songs. His 12 song-albums have
been, by and large, very successful. Now in the pipeline is his next album
Kalchi Koddi, which will, in all probability, be in the market in a month’s
time.
Although Britton has won his spurs primarily because of his singing ability, he
is no mean an actor, and is adept at playing, especially the female role. In
recognition of his mammoth contribution to Tiatr, the Goa Government conferred
on him the coveted State Cultural Award.
Britton is a dyed-in-the-wool adherent of the traditional Tiatr, but, unlike
most such tiatrists, he is not antagonistically disposed towards the purveyors
of Khell-Tiatr. In a friendly chat with the Managing Editor VINAYAK NAIK
at the Goa Today office, this multi-competent tiatr personality spoke
about his experiences in the field over the past four decades and a half.
Excerpts from the interview:
Unquestionably, today you count among the bigwigs of tiatr. Tell me, how did you get into this field in the first place?
I started acting in village dramas when I was very young. In fact, when I was only eight years old. I was encouraged to go on the stage by my parents. More than my father it was my mother who pushed me into this line of tiatr.
When did your career as a tiatrist actually begin? I became a real tiatristprofessional tiatrist after I went to Bombay. I was 20 years old then. There I came in contact with Robin Vaz. He was impressed by my singing talent and gave me a chance to do a solo in his drama. The name of that drama was Bebdo Put. The song was a big hit. My first performance in a tiatr was at Ranibaug in Byculla.
So, singing is your forte, right?
Absolutely. I came into tiatr mainly as a singer.
That means acting has been of secondary importance to you.
It is difficult to say that, but I agree that I have built my reputation mainly because of my singing. I have acted also, but not in many tiatrs. I have done roles in Boyer’s and C Alvares’s dramas only. In most of the dramas I have only sung. Actually people flock to tiatrs to hear me sing.
I have produced seven dramas. They were mine in the real sense. I wrote them, directed them, participated in them, composed and set music for them I did everything.
Remarkable! I think I should call you an all-rounder.
Yes, yes. You can call me an all-rounder. I don’t think anyone will deny that.
Could you name some of your most successful plays?
Yes yes, why not? Jivit Kuwaitchem,, Custom Officer, Bunhad Naslelem Ghor, Mogan Pottoch,, Gunyao Konacho? are some of my very successful dramas.
Your music albums have always been the rage among tiatr buffs. Tell me something about that.
I have cut 12 albums. They have all been hit albums. Last November I launched my 12th album Goem Konachem. It is doing very well. Its sale has been fantastic. For the first time I have Lorna figuring in my album. She has sung two songs.
Is it a paying proposition, coming up with song-albums?
Real tiatrists don’t do such things for money. Of course by making albums, mostly we do make profit. Sometimes there may not be any profit. Personally, I make them because of my love for Konkani.
Can you give me an idea about the sale of your albums to date?
There was a golden period when 4 to 5 thousand cassettes of my albums would sell. Now that period is over thanks to TV and Cable TV. But still the situation is not bad as such. My cassettes are selling very well. I have never regretted making any album.
Have you begun working on your next allbum?
Kalchi Koddi is going to be the name of my next album. It will be out in one or two months.
Which of your albums, you reckon as successful, commercially?
Dis Jesuchya Zolmacho, Amchim Festam, Dubau, Bhorti ani Sukti, Cheddum Zait Konnalem, Cheddo ou Cheddum and the latest Goem Konachem are some of my cassettes that have done well in the market.
How is it that you have been able to maintain your mellifluous voice for well over forty years?
By the grace of God, as you said, my voice has not changed. People say they find it as appealing as it was some years ago. I don’t do anything special to preserve my voice. I eat anything. I have never tried to maintain it through a particular diet and other things, which many singers do.
I understand, you are a huge draw even abroad, especially in the Emirates.
That’s correct. I am told by a friend of mine that he heard two girls in London sing my composition Mojea Gora Samkar Tujem Ghor. It made me feel very happy. I had composed that mando-type song by looking at a girls staying in front of my house. Whenever I have performed abroad, I have been greatly appreciated.
Tell me, what is the numerical strength of your compositions thus far?
I have composed over 600 songs. I am constantly thinking of new songs. When I have no show to do, I compose songs. On an average I compose two songs every month.
What do you do in the off-season?
Where is the off-season? There is no off-season in tiatr now. We have tiatr performances right through the year. In the past, monsoon used to be the off-season. Now we are having monsoon, but tiatr is continuing. In Vidya Niketan Hall in Margao you have a tiatr show almost daily. Tiatr shows are also held in other cities like Panjim, Mapusa and Vasco.
By the way, because you are known to be an inveterate tiatrist, khell-tiatr must be anathema to you.
Of course, I am for tiatr, but I am not against Khell-tiatr as such. It is only in tiatr that there is scope for songs. In Khell tiatr there are no songs. If at all there are, they are in bits and pieces. But I am not against Khell-tiatr. I have no problem with Khell- tiatrists, although I can never belong to that form of drama.
Your name is pretty interesting. I know it is an assumed name. Tell me, why did you choose to adopt H Britton of all names?
A friend of mine suggested to me that I should be having a powerful sounding name since I am a showman. I thought about it and felt that there was truth in what he had said. Since I live in Britona, I thought I too could have a name like that of that famous English film actor, Burton. So, I made it Britton. Since that time I am known as H BrittonH for Herculano. My Official name is Herculano Camilo.
The Gulf is especially your happy hunting, nay singing ground. Goans are just bowled over by your voice, I am told.
You are absolutely right. I have done shows all over the GulfKuwait, Bahrain, Dubai, Doha, Muscat etc. I used to go there with tiatr troupes. In fact, the Gulf is a familiar place for me. I have even had a seven-year stay in Kuwait.
What did you do there during that long stay?
I was singing. I was doing so many solo shows there. In Kuwait, where my eldest son is living, I have performed even with my four grandsons.
Did your children ever perform with you?
My son and my daughter are also gifted with a good voice. They have also acted and sung in tiatrs, but only in my tiatrs, about 15 years ago. They didn’t take up tiatr as a profession.
Although you are well into your late sixties, age doesn’t appear to be catching up with you. What is the secret of your youthfulness?
I am very active. I am 67 but I can still sing with the same enthusiasm I was having when I started my tiatr career. Presently I am doing a solo in the tiatr Tujea Hatan Ditam. It’s my song. It tells the full story of my career in tiatr. Bhau bhoini khoxi zata poloun rupkar tumcho, tumcho mog zaun assa aundo mojea kalzacho. That is how that song begins. It has become a super hit song. I wear ladies’ outfit while singing this songsari, blouse etc. My fans love it.
Tiatr isn’t in a particularly sound state at the moment. Do you visualise better days for it in the days ahead?
I do. I can see good days ahead for tiatr. Tiatr is never going to die. Now, in the rainy season, you have three new tiatrs being staged in Goa. You can’t ask for anything better than this. Tiatr still is in a sound state. (Goa Today/August 2003)