Why I produced a movie on drug abuse – Baballe Hayatu

Abubakar Hayatu, popularly known in the Hausa movie industry as Baballe Hayatu, is an actor and producer who’s won several awards in his over 20 years in the industry. In this interview, he talks about his new movie ‘Igiyar Zato’, why he appears in fewer Kannywood films, and more. Excerpts:       Weekend Magazine: […]

Abubakar Hayatu, popularly known in the Hausa movie industry as Baballe Hayatu, is an actor and producer who’s won several awards in his over 20 years in the industry. In this interview, he talks about his new movie ‘Igiyar Zato’, why he appears in fewer Kannywood films, and more. Excerpts:

 

 

 

Weekend Magazine: What’s the story behind the name, Baballe?

Baballe Hayatu: The name Baballe came about as a result of a family tradition that if you are named after a respected elder of the family not everyone calls you by your first name. I was named after my paternal grandfather, so I adopted Baballe.

 

 

 

WM : You seem to feature less in Hausa movies over the last few years. What’s the reason?

Hayatu: It’s important for one to be cautious about what he does as an actor, be selective on the role he accepts or else one would make a caricature of his identity and integrity without meaning to do so. However, aside being an actor, I engage in other businesses as well.

I always see myself as fortunate to have spent more than two decades in the movie industry and still remain relevant and this wouldn’t have been possible without the confidence of many producers and directors who find me capable of doing justice to their scripts.  I have worked with directors and producers like Bashir Maishadda, Nazir Auwal, Ahmad Biffa, Ibrahim Bala, Falalu Dorayi, Kumo, Kamal S. Alkali, Malam Aminu Saira, Sadiq Mafia and many others.

 

 

 

WM: You seem to be more engaged in movie production. Are you quitting acting?

Hayatu: No, I am not quitting acting. It has never crossed my mind to quit the screen business. As I have stated earlier, acting has been my number one passion. I belong to what the industry terms as second generation of Kannywood after the generation of Ibrahim Mandawari and co. To God be the glory I am still around and witnessing a great development and improvement in the industry. Similarly, I belong to the school of thought that believes in exploring all avenues to make impact and it is virtually every actor’s dream to produce a film at a point in time. To me moving from acting to producing or mixing the two is just like moving to another department in film making. I am a producer and i strongly believe that producing a film will give me satisfaction in another way, in addition to the satisfaction that acting gives.

 

 

 

WM : You are working on a blockbuster movie. What is it about?

Hayatu: Let me state here that it’s not for me or any other individual to brand my yet-to-be released movie as a blockbuster, rather it’s for the public to do that. Titled ‘Igiyar Zato,’ the movie is based on a true life experience. It’s a story of happenings in our societies and we have concluded all the scenes slated. It’s about youth engagement in drug addiction and abuse and how societal judgements on individuals has been affecting and threatening societal existence as a whole. The story is set to expose the repercussion of our actions and inactions as a community a contemporary story of pains and agony. It is a story of how our youth nowadays waste their lives by doing drugs and how the sociey choses to act on the social issue or neglect it.

 

 

 

WM: Why a movie on drug abuse?

Hayatu: Looking at our society and how youths engage in drug abuse, you will agree with me that it is definitely going to be every right thinking individual’s concern. The questions I kept asking myself were, what future does our country have with drug addicted leaders? It is apparent that these youths are tomorrow’s leaders and with all these going on in our society, the future of this nation seems bleak.

 

 

 

WM: How much has been committed into making this movie?

Hayatu: A lot has been committed into the production of this movie and as I have told you earlier, the movie is in the process of being released into the market. For now I can’t give exact figures, but I know we have spent millions. The movie is directed by Hassan Giggs.

 

 

 

WM: Can you give a rundown of the cast?

Hayatu: The movie has featured a lot of good talent in Kannywood, such as Ali Nuhu, Kabiru Nakwango, Shehu Hassan Kano, Abba El-Mustapha, Hafsat Idris  (Barauniya), Baballe Hayatu, Samira Saje, among many others.

 

 

 

WM: Where was the movie shot?

Hayatu: It was shot at different locations, all in Kano.

 When are you releasing the movie into the market?

 

 

 

WM: When is it due to be released?

Hayatu: God willing, this movie won’t take much time before it hits the market. The production company M. Production, has been working day and night to see that it gets the best finishing touches possible.