Hubert stars in ‘Jaahaji’

SOUTH-BASED actor Hubert Ramlal is on stage once again in Walid Baksh’s “Jaahaji.”  The veteran actor has spent more than 25 years performing in productions coming out of South and Central Trinidad. His passion for drama has seen him in over 200 productions. “I have led a fulfilling life. I have been able to master so many roles through the years. When I look back at what I have done I feel happy. It gives me a sense of satisfaction,” he mused. Hubert is making waves in “Jahaaji” in the role of Hamid, a Muslim indentured labourer faced with new challenges, including the conversion of his friend Samad to Christianity. The play was staged at the Divali Nagar site,  Chaguanas, the Cunjal Community Centre,  Barrackpore and in several other communities. Hubert  said there was a void in drama in South due to the disappearance of Ralph Maraj from the scene. A former teacher at Naparima Boys’ High School, Maraj was responsible for many drama productions before entering politics. Hubert was one of the key figures in Maraj’s productions.

He played leading roles in the The Missing Files, Under The Sapodilla Tree, Broken Bridge, Oh Prime Minister!, The Archbishop and the Prime Minister, Heart Of Laura, There Comes a Freedom and Jeremiah Cross.   He won The Cacique award for Best Actor in The Missing Files and Best Supporting Actor in The Broken Bridge. He was first exposed to theatre in 1973, while a student at St John’s College where he played the lead role in Macbeth and it was  no turning back. He grew to love the stage and took part in many school productions. He was asked to do a small role with Maraj in 1975 to provide voicing for the lead character and won the role soon after. He said this was one of his greatest accomplishments as an actor. “It really gave me the boost I needed. I felt important. And I worked hard to master the role,” he related. He distinctly remembers an encounter in 1975, when he was doing one of the late Davindra Dookie’s productions in San Fernando.

“The lights man made an error in taking off the lights and Dookie went on stage and insulted the guy. The whole production fell flat and I thought I was ruined as an actor. I felt that no one was going to support me in the future, but Maraj came back stage and told me he would make me into a star. I felt that I had something to hold on to,” Hubert said. Maraj did not disappoint him. He was given the script that brought him the Best Actor award. Another role he enjoyed was that of calypsonian Ricky Jai’s mother at the Chutney Soca Monarch finals. Jai has been contracting him for many of his drama stints over the years. Hubert laments the fact that people don’t readily take to drama as they would comedy or sex stories. “If it is not sex-related, it is hardly likely to sell. In this country people will pay for comedy or sex stories.

If there is a production called Jahaaji, they are not prepared to pay to see this production,” he said, voicing his disappointment. He noted that while there were many talented actors and actresses in South Trinidad, there were no avenues for them to become professionals. “We see lots of good talent through the Prime Minister’s Best Village and through Divali productions and Ramleela, but these are not enough to promote those who would like to do drama on a professional basis,” he said. “There is a need to bring out “the killer instinct” in these individuals and with the right push in the right direction, pretty soon we will be able to see them as stars.” Apart from drama and work, Hubert is fond of dogs. He has won many trophies at dog shows.