Josephine Dias

Josefina Francisca "Josephine" Dias (née Costa; born 19 July 1948) is an Indian Eucharistic minister, former actress, and singer and who worked on the Konkani stage.

Early life The Costa family has a background in tiatr, a form of traditional Goan theater, with several family members actively involved as writers and actors. contributing significantly to its growth. She had the opportunity to witness her father's work as he wrote, directed, and performed in tiatrs. Acknowledging her skills and enthusiasm, Recognizing Dias's talent, her father played a pivotal role in promoting her career, providing opportunities for her to collaborate with various directors of that era. This led to her active participation in several productions, showcasing her acting skills and versatility. In order to further refine her abilities in both singing and acting, Dias's father cast her in his subsequent tiatr production, Birankul (Terrifying). This experience served as a catalyst for Dias, propelling her into the commercial tiatr scene. She secured a role in the acclaimed tiatr Maim Tum Asli Zalear (Mother, if you were there), directed by Antonio Sinforiano. While Dias portrayed a diverse range of characters throughout her career, she excelled particularly in comedic and semi-comedic roles, finding comfort and success in these performances. Her contributions to the tiatr industry are extensive, encompassing collaborations with Konkani directors such as Minguel Rod, C. Alvares, Jacinto Vaz, Prem Kumar, John Claro, Aristides Dias, Mike Mehta, Christopher, F. Cardozo, and Nelson Afonso.

Dias has made significant contributions to the Konkani theatrical scene. She has garnered acclaim for her performances in various productions by popular writer-directors. Dias showcased her talent in Miguel Rod's tiatrs, namely Lembddo Santan (Santan, the Stooge) and Pobre Fidalgo. Her portrayals also captivated audiences in C. Alvares' productions of Rinn (Debt) and Durig (Wall). Dias's versatility and stage presence were further demonstrated in her collaborations with figures in the Konkani theater. The Konkani showman Prem Kumar cast Dias in the plays Mortikar (Criminal) and Ordhi Bakri (Half Bhakri), while the Padma Shri awardee M. Boyer featured her in Ekuch Kazar (One Marriage) and Mog Kazar Divorce (Love, Marriage, Divorce). Her performances in these productions received acclaim. Dias demonstrated her acting prowess in multiple tiatrs, including productions like Kuniad ani Mana and Bombay Dekho (See Bombay) by the then-leading Konkani comedian Jacinto Vaz, as well as Divorce and Doya by Aristides Dias.

Dias gained acclaim for her vocal abilities and stage presence. She frequently collaborated with Jr. Rod, forming a highly regarded duo that garnered praise from tiatr enthusiasts. Their performances were often met with applause and requests for encores, testament to the quality of their musical partnership. Dias's influence extended beyond live performances, as she made contributions to the realm of audio recordings, achieving success in the marketplace.

On 19 July 2018, a book titled Mogan Morn was revealed to honor Dias's 70th birthday. Authored by her late husband, F. X. Dias, the book is a romantic novel written in Romi Konkani. The unveiling ceremony took place at the Santa Cruz Church Hall in Santa Cruz, Goa, and was graced by the presence of Dias's son, Arvind, and daughter-in-law, Tania. As of 2018, Dias has taken a sabbatical from her involvement in tiatrs, a form of Goan theatrical performances, and has redirected her focus towards active participation in church-related endeavors. In her religious capacity, she is responsible for administering the Eucharist and holds a position on the church parish council. Moreover, Dias leads the Charismatic Renewal group at the Santa Cruz parish. Her tenure as a leader in the Charismatic Renewal group spans nearly a decade, while her service as a Eucharistic minister at the Santa Cruz Church has persisted for 19 years. She actively participates in the Catholic community and has been engaged in various activities organized by her local parish church since the early 2000s. While her appearances on the tiatr stage have been relatively infrequent in the early 2010s, she continues to demonstrate her involvement in tiatrs performed during the annual church feasts in her locality, as reported by the media.