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Significance in the name

Braz is known as Braz de Parra right from a very young age. Braz says, "I wanted to be related to my birthplace. My father, popularly known as Comedian Jose Rod has been my role model. He encouraged me to sing in his drama 'Mogachem Kazar Atanchea Tempar' which was written during the Portuguese times but could be staged only after Goa's independence due to censorship.

When questioned about the 'miraculous' appointment by T-Bush to compose lyrics for BLACK, Braz says, "I never thought I would come this far. Looking back down the years I feel 'top-of-the-world' to have written the songs in what is going to be the first Konkani E-Cinema. My only recognition in an audio album is in A.M. Araujo's 'Kaido to Kaido'. My close friend in Kuwait, Ambrosio Fernandes from Guirim has always encouraged my talent. And my biggest support has been my wife Cynthia. She persistently gores me to bring out the best. Soon, I have plans to record my own album entitled 'Avy' in dedication to one of my closest buddies in life named Avelino who was unfortunate to die at a young age. I also have plans to stage a musical show in Kuwait named 'Comic Uncle' for which I will bring in my dad from Goa to sing."

But what happens when a song is worked into the soundtrack of a film?

According to Braz, "If anything, the process of remixing a song's original sonic balance within that of a film soundtrack tends to displace lyrical content even further. In analyzing the lyrics of BLACK it is all too easy to drift into an analysis which focuses on the characters as well as persona of the cast. To analyze the lyrics per se is rather like examining a film's script. There is nothing wrong so long as we don't confuse an artiste with the film and the song-as-performed. The relationship between lyrics, music and image is constantly shifting in a movie more or less overt or subtle ways. So it is for the audience to scrutinize and link the song to the story."

A singer himself, Braz says, "Typically, I compose songs combining my music tastes and influences, with rhythm as the predominant style. Not all of my songs can be classified as entertaining; I have quieter and other comedy songs too. I always try to have melodious songs; the melodies can then be combined with different style of singing or with any other style. 'Rau rau, kiteak voit go dhanvon' is a good example of an original and brilliant work combining melodies with drums and danceable beat riffs. T-Bush has tried to find the right harmony for the songs by fitting the melodies with the most appropriate music rhythm and style. All of my songs in the movie are thus highly experimental. The benchmark was probably set by T-Bush in acquiring a masterpiece of different techniques of musicianship. T-Bush himself has sung a song which will be one of the prime background soundtracks of BLACK. It is my own creativity to invent these inspiring lyrics. But I feel that it is best to let the movie speak. All the songs in the movie are quite unique and I am sure people will take home some of the lyrics from BLACK as they leave the theatre.

On Younger brigade of singers

Braz, who has crooned several of his own compositions in dramas, admits that many of the upcoming Goan singers are extremely talented. "Youngsters these days have marvelous voices and they pick up very fast. As they grow up listening to various singers from their very childhood, they are able to sing varied styles beautifully. Hopefully, we will see a new generation of Konkani singers soon."

The singer also believes the young brigade shouldn't shy away from learning classical music. He says, "However, much one sings with typical Goan tunes, it will all be in vain unless one has a distinct, incomparable deviation base. Without that, one cannot sing a spectrum of songs. It's important that singers should have knowledge about different rhythms within our own music. Although I have witnessed the change in techniques right from 'Nirmon's Claudia' to 'Uloilelim Utram' of 'Bhuierantlo Munis' there are not many variations of Konkani songs in recent years except for the music. I feel we have to change with time. I have high expectations from the songs in BLACK. I hope it will open a new door for further innovations. Let us see, it all depends on the public reception."

Speaking further on the soundtracks of BLACK which are sung by Gracy Morais, Comedian Philip, T-Bush and Maggie, Braz says, "The song sung by T-Bush is a song which I enjoyed while writing and I have to give full marks to the musician Norman Cardozo, who breathed life into it," he adds, "This track is high on emotions interspersed with Goan musical arrangements that gives it an exclusive feel. The greatest advantage for the song was the placement in the storyline. The other songs act as a point of linkage for moving the story forward."

The gentle lyricist further added, "As a songwriter I only had to write what the story demanded. In most circumstances, a song is used as a bridge in the story. There is a sense of humor in every song. When you have such fun songs, they are meant to break the tedium and keep the audience guessing about the next development."

On the sets of BLACK

Apart from the songs, Braz has also acted in the movie alongside his friend and favorite artiste Comedian Philip.

"Shooting was so much fun," he says, "You know, I had heard how difficult it was for any director to get artistes to act together. But we all had a ball at the sets! There was never any bitterness and jealousy among co-stars that I had heard about. T-Bush is so well planned and yet so spontaneous with his actors."

Before concluding the interview Braz ascertained, "Eccentric lyrics and exceptional singing style define the tracks of 'BLACK', which should take the movie to a different level of popularity."

"I devise the tune first," says Braz, "Setting the lyrics is not difficult after that. It's a God's gift that I can commit a tune to memory because I am not trained to write musical notes. I can proudly say that my lyrics, composing style and melody are quite unique and unconventional from the standard Goan songs. It's a great thing that T-Bush noticed my distinct way during my performance at one of the one-act play competitions held in Kuwait and later engaged me to write lyrics for his kept-on-hold film 'All the Best' which has 5 songs. Among the pick of the songs in BLACK, 'Rau, rau, rau, kiteak voit go dhanvon' set to a unique tune and rhythm is sure to enchant the audience."

Braz further revealed, "Two affective functions of the lyrics were consistently kept in mind whilst writing the lyrics of BLACK: expressing emotions (of characters) and moods (of scenes), and eliciting and arousing emotions in spectators."

Lyrical Limitations

"Lyrics in BLACK are evidently pretty significant," says Braz, "since they are clearly articulated and for the most part dominate the mix of new and old generation. In Konkani history, there is a line of folk and latest songwriters with obviously 'inimitable' ambitions, evident in the foregrounding of complex lyrics; here I'm thinking of legendary composers and singers like Kid Boxer, Young Menezes, Alfred Rose, Anthony Mendes, M. Boyer, C. Alvares, Wilfy Rebimbus, Jerome D' Souza, etc. Sometimes lyrics have 'theatrical' significance, but only sometimes; on other occasions, the vocals register a human presence and expressivity like in most M. Boyer's dramas. For example, the vocal track of 'Amchem Noxib' film allows us to grasp catchy lines like 'Mogan asonk borem, jivit sukhi khorem' that let your feelings slip – which resonate associatively and of course with the narrative of the film."