Late Konkani actress Mohana Cabral was equally at ease on the tiatr stage and in Hindi films. She also sang some memorable duets, which are still played on the radio even today
JP PEREIRA
One of the top artistes in the late 40’s and 50’s, Mohana Cabral, who hailed from Socorro, Bardez was born on February 3, 1929.
She and her sister the late Ophelia, who was known for her tragic roles on the Konkani stage, had an inborn talent. Studying in Victoria school in Bombay, the two would regularly perform in annual gatherings of the school. This gave them confidence and when A F Rodrigues, a budding tiatr writer invited them to act in his tiatr ‘Opurbaechi Sun’, the two sisters enthralled the audience with their performance. They were also noted by thespian, the late C Alvares, who was one of the top writer-director in those days. He was looking for a girl to act in his ‘Kortub Avoichem’, the new release in the year 1948. Mohana was booked and was the only lady in this show. The rest were males, some who would play female roles as well, owing to a dearth of female artistes in those days. Mohana received a standing ovation for her performance and later went on to act for C Alvares in ‘Avoicho Xirap’, ‘Bail de Tarvotti’, ‘Bhorvanso’, ‘Ankvar Kazari’, etc.
She acted with most of the top artistes in those days, like the late Souza Ferrao, Anthony Mendes, Alfred Rose, Master Vaz, Remmie Colaco, etc. People came from all around Bombay to watch the young beauty and this also gave tiatr a big boost. A singer with a sweet and gentle voice, Mohana also sang duets with C Alvares, Star of Arossim, and others. These songs recorded by HMV are still played over All India Radio, Panaji. In 2015, V-Events staged a Konkani musical show on her 86th birth anniversary, as a tribute to the late actress.
But Mohana did not restrict herself only to tiatr, going on to act in more 20 Hindi films like ‘Nagina’, ‘Nadaan’, ‘Sawan Aya Re’, ‘Ashiana’, and many others, that featured top stars.
Having earlier married Edward Dawning, a Royal Air Force Pilot, who unfortunately died in a plane crash, Mohana later married John Defrates and went to Beirut with him. There she began producing dance programmes for television. After the couple later settled in France, Mohana became involved and took keen interest in the Konkani programmes whenever these were staged. In 1983, she returned to India on a holiday and acted in her brother in law, Bab Peter’s drama titled ‘Aiz Nam Faleam’. The show was staged in Bombay and Goa. This was the last time the talented actress was seen by her fans before she passed away in France in September 1990 leaving behind some wonderful memories.
(With inputs from Tatum D’Souza, Felix Correia, and Wilson Mazarello)