How I transformed Ibro’s movie career — Falalu Dorayi

The Hausa movie industry recently lost an icon. How would you describe the exit of late Ibro?Indeed Kannywood will never be the same without late Rabilu. I can vividly, recall that I was the first person that initiated the idea of effectively utilizing the versatility of late Ibro and shaping him into the direction his […]

The Hausa movie industry recently lost an icon. How would you describe the exit of late Ibro?
Indeed Kannywood will never be the same without late Rabilu. I can vividly, recall that I was the first person that initiated the idea of effectively utilizing the versatility of late Ibro and shaping him into the direction his most recent works had taken.
The idea was conceived after the Kano censorship saga with the Hausa movie industry in Kano State. Many artistes were forced to leave the state to Kaduna and some relocated to Jos; it was indeed a trying moment for practitioners in the industry. That was when I sat down and figured out ways that we could restore the lost vigour to the industry. Initially, if you can recall, the industry was operating in two parts; there was what was known as ‘Camama’ dealing with comedy and there was what was known as ‘Sentimental’ dealing with other socio-cultural aspects of the human endeavour. Both segments were operating differently with different casts and the story lines were parallel.
I came up with a plot to mix the two segments into one in terms of the artists and the story line. That was how I picked Rabilu Musa Danlasan as one of the characters to be featured alongside other artistes from the other segment. I also came up with the idea of changing the costumes used by Ibro and manipulating his looks with either artificial mustache or beard.
That was how I started producing my new movies and within a short period I was able to redirect the whole industry into what is obtainable now. With my new concept, I was able to produce more than 20 movies with late Rabilu Ibro.

How would you describe late Ibro?
We were more than colleagues, we were just like brothers. Ibro was a man that believed in giving every producer the best of himself. My last encounter with him was during the shoot of the last movie we did before his death titled ‘Bori’. Late Ibro really put his best in that movie and it was fun all through; but as God would have it he did not complete the movie when he died.
Ibro is a special kind of actor, I don’t think Kannywood would have his kind again; he was such an individual that gave regards to almost everyone irrespective of one’s age or social class. As a producer and a director I always looked forward to working with him. His death has really created a gap that only time can fill, we love him but the creator of heaven and earth loves him more. Many of us who had worked with him will miss his hilarious and comical acting skills that no other actor at the moment can portray.

You were among the team that recently visited India under the federal government intervention. Can you share with us your experience there?
It is no longer a story that I had my first contact with the movie industry when I was a kid and in secondary school over 20 years ago. I started with stage drama in one of the local drama groups in my locality. During my acting days, Tukuro and Dan Utai were my mentors then ; these are some of the  pioneer artistes that gave the industry the push that made it what it is today. These are the people that gave me the first role I played in a movie, and I could remember the role was that of a passerby.
Looking at these experiences that I have gathered along the line, one would have thought that Falalu has it all. But when we took that trip to India, I saw opportunities, I saw hope for Kannywood and I became more determined than I was when I left the shores of Nigeria.
Some people who were not with us thought that we just went for a jamboree, but to us we travelled to India and the outcome of our trip will soon start to manifest in our movies and in marketing of the movies. Similarly, when you compare the business of movie production entirely in the last five years you will find out that in terms of quality, casts and the marketing of movies. It is very clear to notice that the industry has attained a great level of positive development.
Our Indian trip has opened our eyes to the fact that we need to do more if really we want to remain relevant in the business. We have learned the necessary measures to be taken in tackling the menace of piracy that has been eating deep into our business like a virus.
Let me not preempt the whole plan, I am sure the outcome of our visit will surely begin to manifest very soon.

You were at the forefront in the fight against piracy. Do you think you can deaden its sharp bite on the movie-making business?
It is vividly clear that the greatest challenge facing the movie industry now is the issue of piracy which has been threatening the existence of the industry in its totality. I have to state here that, Government and its agencies at all levels are not helping matters in regard to this issue.  It is clear that we contribute immensely to the revenue generation aspect, because we pay all taxes when due and yet the government doesn’t care to protect us against the powerful fangs of piracy.
We have succeeded in establishing anti-piracy committees in many states and these committees have been working with the security agencies in ensuring that piracy is reduced.
However, our Indian trip has given us another new dimension on tackling the lingering issue of piracy. We have come to terms with the fact that the only way to reduce the pain inflicted on us by piracy is via reintroduction of the use of cinemas. Presently we have mapped out about 4, 000 viewing centers and twelve cinemas to work with. We hope to start the newly adopted strategy this coming New Year.

You were reported to have gone to court over an unauthorized airing of your movie. How far has the case gone?
I wouldn’t want to comment on the issue as the case is still before the court. It was a case as you have rightly mentioned about an unauthorized airing of one of my movies by a local TV station in Kaduna. And I have officially written to the station demanding a simple apology which the station declined and I was forced to seek redress in the court of law.