C. Alvares
| |
|---|---|
Portrait of Alvares during his youth
| |
| Born | Celestino Santana Francisco Alvares (1920-08-01)1 August 1920 |
| Died | 27 February 1999(1999-02-27) (aged 78)
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
|
| Nationality | Indian |
| Occupations |
|
| Notable work |
|
| Relatives |
(brother-in-law)[1] |
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 films and tiatr productions.
Alvares specialised in composing and singing poignant duets on various social issues, so he was called the "King of Duets". He acted in two of the most memorable Konkani films, including Amchem Noxib (1963), Nirmon (1966), Mhoji Ghorkarn, Bhuierantlo Munis, and Uddta to Buddta. He received the award for best actor for Nirmon, while the film won a National Award.[2]
Alvares is credited with renewing the trend of female participation on the Konkani stage. He encouraged the maximum number of girls who succeeded in earning a reputation for themselves as actresses. Actresses whom he introduced on the Konkani stage were Shalini Mardolkar, Philomena Braz, Carmen Rose, Cecilia Machado, Antonette Mendes, Mohana Cabral, Ophelia, Jessie Dias, and Betty Ferns.
Alvares has written 107 tiatrs besides acting in thousands of tiatrs during the span of 60 years that he served the tiatr stage. Because of his lifelong work, he has been called the greatest contributor to the Konkani stage.[3] He also produced the Konkani film Faxi Mogachi.
