From school drama group to multi-award winning director, the story of Falalu Dorayi

Falalu Abubakar Dorayi known in the Hausa filmmaking industry as Falalu Dorayi, is a multiple award winning director who has earned himself respect and adoration from all angles in the industry. He is a movie director, an actor, a movie marketer and has been in the industry for over two decades. In this interview, Falalu […]

Falalu Abubakar Dorayi known in the Hausa filmmaking industry as Falalu Dorayi, is a multiple award winning director who has earned himself respect and adoration from all angles in the industry. He is a movie director, an actor, a movie marketer and has been in the industry for over two decades. In this interview, Falalu talked about his journey to stardom.

Who is Falalu Dorayi?

Falalu is an actor, a producer, director and a marketer in the Hausa filmmaking industry. I can boldly state that I have been involved in almost all aspects of film production to be where I am today. I had my first contact with the film industry when I was still in secondary school.

I started with the school drama society. I later moved to join a local drama group in our area. However, while doing that, I was also doing some menial jobs to keep body and soul together. I never subscribed to being idle. I believe in self-reliance, and that was why I never took acting or the industry as a joke.

I gradually became so popular as a stage drama comedian and that was when people advised me to join the then growing Hausa film industry. I heeded their advice and began visiting the Hausa filmmaking hub known as Sabon Titi. I got involved with the industry through Bala Ahmad.

Every day, I would either walk on foot or ride my bicycle to Sabon Titi. It wasn’t easy at all, but with interest, I saw it as nothing and worth the sacrifice. However, along the line, my new found master, Bala Ahmad, asked me to drop my comedian character and he introduced me to the rudiment of story writing. Going further, I introduced myself to script playwright which I did and excelled in. I remained in the company in the capacity of a script writer for seven years, and it is also in the same company that I was taught the art of directing a movie. That was how my journey into what I have become today started.

Seeing that I have established myself in the industry as a film director, my acting spirit was put aside, but not forsaken. I also tried to equip myself with directing skills acquisition. I have attended several courses on directing from different recognised training institutions nationwide.

 

What is the name of the first movie you directed?

Let me state here that, it was so unfortunate that the first two films that were directed by me were taken up and claimed by the producer of the films, who gave himself the credit of directing the films simply because I wasn’t that popular then.

The first movie I directed, which carried my name is called “Kwagiri”, then the film, Uwargida. Majalisa followed, and that was how my name became what it is today.

 

Which film gave you your breakthrough?

The movie, ‘Mela’.  I can say Mela was the one that gave me my breakthrough. It was a film that tried to introduce a lot of things different from the normal way of doing things in the industry. I tried to introduce a pure sense of professionalism and the storylines were good.

 

Tell us some of the films you have directed so far?

I do not have the exact number of the films I have directed, but, I can recall some of the films like, Ga Zara ga Wata, Zarar Bunu, Sayyada, Tarkon Kauna, Ahalul Kitabi, Babban Mutum and Babban Yaro. I have also directed some comedy films such as,  Ibro Danfulani, Hotiho and Namamajo among many others like the TV series, Gidan Badamasi.

 

Your face seems to appear more in films nowadays. Does it mean you have abandoned directing?  

People keep telling me that I have a strong place as an actor, but the actual fact remains that I do more of directing than acting. Nevertheless, acting is in me and the response I have been getting from fans has been  very encouraging. But I believe that directing needs me more than acting. As a director, I have introduced into the industry the art of versatility among the artists. This is because I believe it is very good for the industry.  If you observe, my roles are usually small in films except in some rare cases.  However, these roles usually take more attention than a lot of the scenes in the films. Perhaps, it is these small roles that made people think that I have fully reverted to acting.

 

What is the greatest challenge the industry has faced?

The greatest challenge as far as I am concerned was the drop in the film marketing system. As you are aware, Kannywood, to be precise has been forced out of the market with the demise of the use of CD or DVD. We also had a very bitter experience fighting piracy during the hay days of the industry. It was clear that the greatest challenge faced by the industry was the issue of piracy. Piracy fought back and indicators have shown that it won.

To God be the glory, when we thought the industry had been defeated completely, then came YouTube. It was YouTube that resuscitated the industry to what we are having today. YouTube and some internet streaming platforms are sustaining the industry.

 

Do you have any regrets?

I don’t have any regrets. To me, the filmmaking industry has done a lot for me. I have attained a social status that probably I wouldn’t have attained outside the industry. I have a house, a job and a family to return to every day, and all thanks to Kannywood.