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{{Short description|Indian writer and playwright (born 1938)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use Indian English|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar
| image = Brazinho Soares, the collector of Konkani books (cropped).jpg
| caption = Soares in 2015
| birth_name = Brasinho de Santa Nunila Soares
| other_names = Brazinho De Vanta Nunila Soares
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1938|10|24|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Calapor]], [[Goa]], [[Portuguese India]], [[Portuguese Empire]]
| occupation = {{hlist|Writer|playwright|actor|critic|archivist}}
| spouse = {{marriage|Natalina Fernandes|1964}}
| children = 1
| years_active = 1958–present
}}

'''Brazinho de Santa Nunila Soares''' (born 24 October 1938), known by his [[pen name]] '''Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar''', is an Indian writer, playwright, theatre actor, [[theatre critic]], theatre [[archivist]], and former singer known for his work in ''[[tiatr]]'' (musical theatre) productions.

==Early life==
Young Soares was known for his extensive collection of publications from [[Bombay]] (now Mumbai), India. While employed at Dr. Tamba's laboratory, where Dr. Tamba would eventually join [[Escola Médica Cirúrgica de Goa]], Soares dedicated his free time to perusing a range of news publications originating from Bombay. At a particular moment, a close associate of Soares, who shared a musical education background with him from a [[parish school]], gifted him a copy of the [[periodical]] ''Aitarachem Vachop'' published by the [[Salesian]]s. He was a friend of Soares, who worked at a [[printing press]], and recommended that Soares try his hand at composing a poem. Soares composed a poem and submitted it to the periodical, where it was published by the then-editor Fr. Caitan Lobo, an event which appears to have encouraged Soares' interest in writing and publishing.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Menezes |first=Dale Luis |date=7 August 2013 |title=Brazinho Soares: A 'Konkani Munis' |work=Gomantak Times |pages=30}}</ref>

Soares habitually perused news periodicals, retrieving them and storing them safely at his home. Over the years, he developed an avid interest in collecting publications from Bombay, amassing a large collection that included magazines such as ''Sot'', ''Sot Uloi'', and ''Cine Times'', as well as local [[Konkani language]] [[handbill]]s he found on the streets. Commencing in 1953, he initiated the assembly of this assortment, which expanded considerably as the years passed, eventually occupying a substantial portion of his family's residence. In 1986, as Soares' family required home renovations, the collection was transferred to an alternative site. However, when it was returned a few months later, Soares uncovered that the majority of the materials had succumbed to destruction caused by [[termite]]s. Saddened by this loss, Soares had to burn the damaged items, an experience that reportedly caused him great distress.<ref name=":1" />

==Career==

=== Konkani literature: writing and editing ===
Soares has contributed to [[Konkani literature]] since the late 1950s. His [[literary]] career began with the publication of his first poem, ''Doriachem Ojeap'' (1958), in the [[Konkani language|Konkani]] [[Weekly newspaper|weekly]] ''Aitarachem Vachop''.<ref name=":0" /> Throughout his professional career, Soares has written and contributed to a wide range of literary works, such as articles, [[short stories]], essays, plays, and poems.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scripting the Goan Tiatr |url=https://www.artandculture.goa.gov.in/en/art-culture/scripting-the-goan-tiatr |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, India}}</ref> His work has appeared in a wide range of [[periodical]]s, such as ''Ave Maria'', ''[[Vauraddeancho Ixtt]]'', ''A. Vanguarda'', ''Porjecho Adhar'', ''Goan Express'', ''Vauraddi'', ''Cine Times'', ''The Goa Mail'', ''Udentichem Noketr'', ''Goencho Sad'', ''Sot'', ''Divtti'', ''Uzvadd'', ''Loksad'', ''Gõykar'', ''Novem Goem'', ''Goencho Avaz'', ''Goenchem Ful'', ''Konkan Mail'', ''[[O Heraldo]]'', ''Goan Sports Weekly'', ''[[Dor Mhoineachi Rotti]]'', ''Konknni'', ''Arso'', ''Gulab'', ''Goencho Porzoll'', ''The Goan Review'', ''Goenchim Kinnam'', ''Goencho Pormoll'', ''Goencho Fuddari'', and ''Jivit'', among others. Soares has also served in [[editorial]] roles, working as the [[assistant editor]] for several Konkani monthlies, including ''Karnaval'', ''Goencho Gulab'', ''Hea Sonvsarant'', and ''Konknni Neketracho Uzvadd''. He has also authored and released two literary works: ''Mogachi Doulot'' (Poems) and ''Oparincho Jhelo'' (Collection of [[proverb]]s). Additionally, his works in Konkani have been showcased in the compilation, ''Who is Who of Indian Writers,'' by the [[Sahitya Akademi]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=25 October 2015 |title=Tiatrist Profiles (Konkani Drama): Brazinho Soares |url=https://tiatracademyofgoa.com/ |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=[[Tiatr Academy of Goa]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110210194355/https://tiatracademyofgoa.com/ |archive-date=2011-02-10 }}</ref>

Soares's interest in literature began with [[Romi Konkani]] books and news publications, at a time when this activity was not widely practiced by the general populace. He is an avid reader of [[Konkani literature]], with a particular fondness for the works of fellow Konkani writer [[Reginald Fernandes]], who was known as the "King of Konkani Fiction". There were frequent exchanges of communication between Soares and Fernandes.<ref name=":1" />

=== Chronicler and critic of ''tiatrs'' ===
Soares is a [[chronicler]] of the ''[[tiatr]]'' form of Konkani theater. He authored several Konkani stories and ''tiatr'' plays over the course of his career. He has researched and chronicled the historical evolution of Konkani ''tiatr'', meticulously recording the events and progressions in the Konkani theatre. During the mid-1990s, Soares frequently shared his insights on theater in newspapers.<ref name=":2">{{Cite book |last=Mazarello |first=Wilson |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=K-1PAQAAIAAJ |title=100 Years of Konkani Tiatro |date=2000 |publisher=Government of Goa, Directorate of Art & Culture |pages=263 |language=en}}</ref>

=== Participation in ''tiatrs'': Singing, acting, writing and directing ===
Apart from his contributions to literature and [[criticism]], Soares engaged in writing, directing, and acting in ''tiatr'' dramas like ''Ho To Monis'' (This is the Man) and ''Soddvonddar Mel'llo''. Soares performed alongside three fellow actors in the latter production. Additionally, his popular ''tiatr'' productions included ''Mogacho Xevott Simiterint'' (1970), ''Konn to Khuni'' (1980), and ''Bhutanchem Ghor'' (Ghost House), with the first two works being published as books, in addition to their theatrical productions.<ref name=":0" />

Soares initiated his acting career during his attendance at [[parochial school]] by portraying a blind boy in the popular ''tiatr Jurament Bhogsonam'', written by Luis Gonsalves. He went on to distinguish himself in the [[Kala Academy]]'s Tiatr Competition, winning the first prize for Best Setting three years in a row from 1977 to 1979, for theatrical works penned by Caetano Pereira. Over the course of his career, Soares has acted in several other popular [[Konkani language|Konkani]] ''tiatrs'', including ''Kirmidor Bhav'' by Anthony Pereira, ''Norton Advogad'' by Paulino Dias, ''Noxibantlem Chukonnam'' by Peter Fernandes, and ''Bebdo Put'' by Gabrial Moraes. In addition to his acting work, Soares has been recognized for his literary accomplishments. In 1982, he won the second prize in the Ave Maria Furtado Award competition for his poem at an event held in [[Doha, Qatar]]. In 1992, he won the second prize in the Konkani Tiatristanchi Sonvstha's Tiatr Script Writing Competition for his work ''Konn To Khunni''.<ref name=":0" />

In his early career, Soares was involved in the ''tiatr'' performance scene as a singer in productions such as ''Angvonnecho Put'' by Frank de Santa Cruz and ''Kallokuch Kallokh'' by Caitano Pereira, among others. In the theatrical play ''Goenchi Suttka'', authored by F.X. Dias, he took on [[dual role|four different roles]].<ref name=":0" />

=== Collector of ''tiatr'' handbills ===
Apart from his roles in ''tiatr'' as a performer and writer, Soares has amassed a collection of Konkani [[literary]] works and scarce ''tiatr'' [[handbill]]s for preservation in his [[Private library|personal library]]. As of October 2015, Soares' collection comprised over 2,000 Konkani books and in excess of 1,000 historical ''tiatr'' handbills originating from the [[Portuguese India|Portuguese colonial period]] in [[Goa]]. Soares has shared his extensive collection with wider audiences on several occasions. In 2007, he was invited by the Kuwait Goans Tiatristanchi Sonvstha (Kuwait Goan Tiatr Artists' Association) to hold an [[exhibition]] of his ''tiatr'' handbills and books in [[Kuwait]]. He was requested by the [[Dalgado Konknni Akademi]] to exhibit his collection during their event Tisrem Konknni (Romi Lipi) Sahitya ani Sonvskruti Sommelon and by the [[Kala Academy]] Goa for the Celebration of 100 years of Tiatr in 1992.<ref name=":0" /> A 2016 article, titled, ''Collection of Handbills,'' on the [[Sahapedia]] platform, featured a collection of [[handbill]]s from Soares' collection of ''tiatr'' productions, spanning the years 1956 to 2001.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Collection of Handbills |url=https://www.sahapedia.org/collection-of-handbills |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Sahapedia |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Soares is a resident of the Dando [[Ward (electoral division)|ward]] in [[St. Cruz, Goa]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Brazinho De Vanta Nunila Soares ( aka: Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar ) |url=https://www.artandculture.goa.gov.in/en/brazinho-de-vanta-nunila-soares-aka-brazinho-soares-kalapurkar |access-date=2024-06-21 |website=Directorate of Art and Culture, Government of Goa, India}}</ref> Soares' home contains a substantial collection of [[handbill]]s, publications, and other materials related to the ''[[tiatr]]'' theatrical tradition and the [[Romi Konkani]] [[dialect]].<ref name=":1" />

Accounts have described Soares as being something of an "addict, lover, or crazy collector" of these items.<ref name=":2" /> During his early years, to support his collecting passion, Soares was known to carefully save his small daily breakfast allowance of {{INR Convert|0.75}} in order to quickly purchase books or newspapers before others could acquire them.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar |url=http://archive.org/details/motiam0000braz |title=Motiam |publisher=Tadeu Soares Prokaxon |others=Servants of Knowledge |pages=96 |language=gom}}</ref> Soares frequently allocated a significant portion of his funds to purchasing [[Goan Catholic literature|Romi Konkani literature]]. He would also occasionally take time off from work to travel the {{Cvt|30|km}} to [[Margão]], in order to expand his collection of [[Romi Konkani]] books.<ref name=":1" />

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kalapurkar, Brazinho Soares}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1938 births]]
[[Category:Tiatrists]]
[[Category:Writers from North Goa district]]
[[Category:Konkani-language singers]]
[[Category:Actors from Goa]]

Brazinho Soares Kalapurkar - Revision history

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