Carmen Rose

Carmen Rose Lobo (née D'Souza; fl. 1963–1978), known professionally as Carmen Rose, is an Indian former singer, and theatre actress known for her work in tiatr productions from 1963 to 1978.

Career
Lobo's introduction to the Konkani stage came during the golden phase of tiatr, courtesy of C. Alvares. This period also witnessed the emergence of female artists, including Mohana Cabral, Shalini Mardolkar, Philomena Braz, Cecilia Machado, Antonette Mendes, Ophelia, Jessie Dias, and Betty Ferns. Lobo embarked on her theatrical journey in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1963, debuting in a significant role in one of C. Alvares' tiatr productions. Her striking appearance and melodic voice left an impression on the audience. Subsequently, she caught the attention of Alfred Rose, who invited her to join his tiatr ensemble, adopting the stage name Carmen Rose.

Lobo's talents found expression in various tiatrs by playwrights such as J. P. Souzalin, Jacint Vaz, M. Boyer, Prem Kumar, Remmie Colaco, and Robin Vaz. She portrayed the character of Mafaldina in Kid Boxer's tiatr Somzonnent Chuk Zali, a role later reprised by Selza Lopes in the 2017 production of the same name, recreated by Tomazinho Cardozo. In addition to her acting prowess, Lobo showcased her musical abilities by collaborating with different singers for duets, both on stage and through recordings on HMV Records. Her duet "Dotor Dotor Gunvoll leta" with Alfred Rose remains a beloved piece among radio listeners on All India Radio. Lobo also contributed her own compositions to All India Radio's programs. Underscoring her versatility, Lobo ventured into writing and producing her own tiatr, titled Maum vo Kumpar? However, after 15 years of dedicated service to the Konkani stage, she made the difficult decision to retire. Family commitments and professional obligations compelled her to bid farewell to her stage career.

Personal life
Lobo, originally named Carmen Rose D'Souza, hails from Aldona, Bardez in Goa which was part of Portuguese India during the Portuguese Empire (now in India). As mentioned in the 100 Years of Konkani Tiatro book from 2000, she is reported to live in Parel, Mumbai, along with her family. She entered into matrimony with a member of the Lobo family and subsequently adopted the Lobo surname, relinquishing her previous surname of D'Souza. Her brother Joe Rose, is also a Konkani actor and singer.

Awards
In December 2013, Lobo received the "Lifetime Contribution to Tiatr Award" for her dedication to the promotion and growth of tiatr (Goan musical theatre), including its songs and music. This award was presented by the Tiatr Academy of Goa (TAG) in partnership with Ravindra Bhavan, Margao.

Select discography

 * Dotor Dotor Gunvoll leta (feat. Alfred Rose)