Valente Mascarenhas

Carmo Valeriano "Valente" Mascarenhas (16 November 1925 – 23 August 1999) was an Indian actor, singer, composer, playwright, theatre director, and former make-up artist known for his work in Hindi, Konkani films, television, tiatr productions, and folk plays.

Early life Carmo Valeriano Mascarenhas was born on 16 November 1925 in Guirim, Goa, which was part of Portuguese India during the Portuguese Empire, into a Goan Catholic family. He was the youngest of four children. He had three brothers: Rofino (born 1921), Leonardo (born 1917), and Jermeno (born 1915). They were born to Lourenco Caetano Mascarenhas, a landlord from Sangolda, Goa, and Maria Aninha Pascoala Mascarenhas, a homemaker.

During his childhood, Mascarenhas made the transition to Bombay (present-day Mumbai) at the age of 12. His educational journey led him to Barretto High School in Cavel, followed by enrollment at Propriety High School. Throughout his time in school, Mascarenhas exhibited a flair for painting, producing several portraits. This insider access allowed Mascarenhas to immerse himself in the Konkani theatrical milieu.

Mascarenhas proved to be a versatile actor on the tiatr stage, capable of delivering portrayals across a range of roles. In 1938, he was granted the chance to sing five songs in a tiatr production of Kombekar, staged by Miss Ida at the Indra Bhavan in Dhobitalao. A. M. B. Rose and Alfred Rose also contributed their vocal talents to the cast of the same tiatr performance. However, although possessing strong vocal skills, Mascarenhas failed to leave a significant impact on the audience during his debut performance. Through his acclaimed work in these various tiatr productions, Mascarenhas gained acclaim within the Goan theater scene of the era. and two daughters Maria and Dorothy "Dolla" (born 1971) . At the time of his marriage, Mascarenhas was employed as a clerk in Bombay. After returning to Goa, he took a position at the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) in Vasco da Gama, Goa. Mascarenhas's wife Rita also had a role in the 1963 Konkani film Amchem Noxib, in which she appeared alongside her husband.

Mascarenhas's three children Dola, Xavier, and Micky are involved on the Konkani stage as theatre actors. Mascarenhas not only engaged in performing but also made contributions to the tiatr tradition through his artistry by designing stage panels for directors in the genre.