Hermegildo Camilo (born Hermenegildo Camêlo; 16 October 1935 – 29 September 2009), known professionally as H. Britton, was an Indian singer, actor, lyricist, composer, playwright, director, and producer who worked on the Konkani stage.
[2] During the late 1960s, Britton participated in an annual tiatr performance, organized by the residents of Britona on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Penha de França.
Specifically traveling from Bombay to attend the village celebration, Britton's presence was announced, generating much anticipation among the audience, which consisted of over 600 tiatr enthusiasts.
In this performance, Britton portrayed a female character, captivating the audience with his distinctive style, including his attire, body language, gestures, and facial expressions.
[3] Among Britton's popular tiatrs that resonated with audiences were Custom Officer, Jivit Kuwaitchem (Life in Kuwait), Bebdo Put (Drunkard Son), and Bunhad Naslolem Ghor (House without Foundation).
[4] Among those who paid their last respects to Britton were prominent politicians such as Dayanand Narvekar, the MLA of Aldona, and Dr. Wilfred de Souza, the Vice Chairman of the Goa State Planning Board.
Individuals among them included Tomazinho Cardozo, the President of the Tiatr Academy of Goa, Prince Jacob, Cyriaco Dias, Sabina Alvares, Adv Mike Mehta, Anil Kumar, Bond Braganza, Jessy, Diana, Sabina Alvares, Mario Menezes, Osvi Viegas, Patrick Dourado, Xavier Paclo, Xavier Mascarenhas, C. D'Silva, Bab Andrew, Boneventur DPetro, Maestro Agnel, and Anceto Lawrenco.
Cardozo specifically highlighted Britton's portrayal of female roles and emphasized that his contributions to tiatr would be forever remembered by fellow tiatrists.
[4] In an interview, Cardozo further emphasized the profound impact of Britton's demise on the Konkani tiatr stage, describing him as one of the most gifted artistes in the field and a seasoned tiatrist.
He also lauded Britton's vocal abilities as a singer and his talents as a lyricist, with his songs characterized by wit and humor that captivated tiatr lovers in Goa and beyond.
[4] Advocate Mike Mehta regarded Britton as a stalwart of the tiatr industry, noting his ability to select subjects for his songs that resonated deeply with the public and gained widespread popularity.
Mehta mourned the loss of the stage artiste and emphasized the irreplaceable void left by Britton's departure, deeply affecting tiatr enthusiasts.