(Ramesh Hassen)
Star
muso Ramesh Hassen returns to the stage this week in ‘Funniest Moments – The
Best of Ronnie Govender’, appearing alongside TV celebrity Jailoshini Naidoo
and leading actor Henry Ramkissoon in tribute to the legendary South African
playwright.
Ramesh
Hassen, local super star and staunch proponent of original South African music,
is set to make his stage-comeback in Jailoshini Naidoo’s Funniest Moments – the
Best of Ronnie Govender at the iZulu Theatre, Sibaya Casino near Durban, from
16 to 20 April.
Ramesh
is best known for his smash hit single, “My Wife Saw Me Talking to Another
Girl” which changed the face of the local music scene. Once dominated by
Bollywood songs, South African music lovers gave this original piece of music a
resounding thumbs up and the video broke all records. Ramesh said, “There’s
been some great music from India by the likes of Lata Mangeshkar, Yesudas, MS
Subbaluxmi Mohamed Rafi, and Thiagaraja Bagvathar let alone from Bollywood.
However this has led to the overlooking of the music produced by many of our
great musicians many of whom have died virtually unknown. I’ve always had a
burning desire to do something to change local habits. We had to get out of our
feelings of inferiority and assert ourselves. It’s been a tough battle but
absolutely worth it. “
Ramesh
who gave up a lucrative business career for his music got his first stage break
in the very popular anti-tricameral spoof, Off-Side! which poked fun at the
likes of Rajbansee and Pat Poovalingum. He said, “When Ronnie Govender
approached me, I baulked. I had appeared on stage as a singer but never as an
actor. Ronnie was confident that I would make it and I must say I enjoyed it so
much that the acting bug bit me. I have since been looking for another
opportunity and when Jailoshini approached me for this one I agreed
immediately. The script is a wow, a great mix of comedy and bathos. I am sure
it’s going to be a knock-out.”
Ramesh
will not only be acting but will also be singing songs relevant to the script.
Early booking is essential and with the inclusion of the brilliant comedienne
Jailoshini Naidoo and the hilarious comic, Henry Ramkissoon, this pastiche of
the best extracts from Ronnie Govender’s hits, promises to be a sell-out.
Performances
of Funniest Moments – The Best of Ronnie Govender are at: 8pm on Thursday 16
April and Friday 17 April; at 8.30pm on Saturday 18 April; and at 3pm and 6pm
on Sunday 19 April. Tickets are R120. Booking is at Computicket and Checkers
Stores. Telephonic bookings on 0861 915 8000 or book online at www.commputicket.com