Afonso Bond Braganza is a familiar name in the social,cultural and tiatr field in Goa.
He is better known simply as ‘Bond Braganza’. The nameinstantly connects one to the town of Mapusa and his famous confectionery‘Luisinhia Stores’. “My father, the late Jose Braganza was a well-known tiatrcontractor in Bardez, and by virtue of this many big time Konkani stage artistwould share their hospitality at our residence during the late night shows.
These were the occasions when I would have close brusheswith tiatr legends such as M. Boyer, J.P. Souzalin, Alfred Rose and others. Andthis was how I was inspired to come closer to the Konkani stage,” says Bondwith a sense of satisfaction.
Graduating from the amateur Konkani stage in villages to theprofessional Konkani stage in major towns was not a cumbersome journey for BondBraganza though. On seeing his immense talent, he was soon picked up for themajor role of a hero by the late Fr. Freddy J. da Costa in his hit tiatr ‘NizMog’ in the mid-seventies. He played the role of a young and handsome romantichero to perfection.
His ability to sing helped him to garner brownie points.Bond soon thereafter got a bigger break with Rosario Rodrigues in ‘Mhaka JieunkDiat’, where he performed alongside big names like Bab Peter, Ophelia, andJacinto Vaz. Bond has also made a special guest appearance in John Claro’sall-time hit tiatr ‘Portuguez Kolvont’ though at all the shows staged at Mapusaonly. Bond possesses a natural flair for penning lyrics, and is blessed withtwo talented daughters, Veeam and Raisa who have also sung in a few of theKonkani music albums that he has produced.
Despite the busy schedule he is restricted to by hisprofession, Bond still devotes time to Konkani music and is currently working ontwo music albums simultaneously, both of which will be ready for release soon.
