Lovers of Yoruba classic, Omo Orukan, will soon re-experience it.
The reason is that the producer of the human-angle and patiently plotted movie, Adebayo Salami, has said he will remake it.
It may thus be the first major Yoruba movie to be re-issued in recent times, in the mould of other Nollywood majors like Living in Bondage and Rattle Snake, which have been successfully represented.
Some observers had noted that there were definitely some Yoruba classics that should be brought back – with the likes of Tunde Kelani’s Saworoide, Yemi Ayebo’s Yemi My Lover, Ebun Oloyede’s Ololade Mr Money and Muyiwa Ademola’s Ori being among such.
Salami embraced the challenge in Ibadan last Tuesday, during a conference organised by the Theatre Arts and Motion Pictures Practitioners Association of Nigeria 9TAMPAN).
Interestingly, it was film critic and journalist, Shaibu Husseini, who ‘pleaded’ that the 1990 movie be reissued, saying he was particularly addicted to the song that grippingly drives the experience of the orphan protagonist.
According to Oga Bello, the work will soon start on the project.
He could hardly curtail his joy as he went down memory lane concerning the genesis of TAMPAN, which many would describe as a child of necessity, having been conceived when the crisis in the Association of Theatre Practitioners became protracted.
He said, “Today is my day. We started this association right in my house. We never knew it would come out like this. At the beginning, I remember, Jide Kosoko would ask me: Égbon, nibo ni kinni yii n lo o?’ This means, ‘Brother, what direction is this dream of ours taking?’ Together with Yinka Quadri. We had a picture in mind, and I’m happy today that we are getting there.”
He thanked the executive led by popular actor and producer, Bolaji Amusan (Baba Latin), and the organisers including Yemi Amodu and Abbey Lanre. Thanking all the resource persons and all film-makers in attendance, the veteran actor added, “We have learnt a lot here today. By the time we are coming back next year, it will be bigger and better.”
While veteran scholar and dramatist, Prof. Bode Sowande, soke on the need to protect one’s intellectual property and wise way to handle metaphysical roles and materials, a lecturer from the Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Dr Fadekemi Adagbada, spoke on subtitling and professionalism.
Film critic and journalist, Shaibu Hussein, also addressed the imperative of upholding standards for professionalism and prosperity, just as FilmOne Managing Director, Moses Babatope, shared ideas on films that do well in cinemas.
At the event were many leading and up-and-comng filmmakers and the National Film and Video Censors Board Executive Director, Alhaji Adedayo Thomas.
