Meritorious Artist Van Tan learns from Uncle Ho through each role

50 years of attachment to the role of Uncle Ho

The image of leader Ho Chi Minh has been recreated by many artists on stage and on screen, but perhaps Meritorious Artist Van Tan is the one who has played the role of Uncle Ho the most times. Up to now, it has been exactly 50 years since the first day he played the role of Uncle Ho, he has portrayed the image of Uncle Ho on stage 2019 times.

Meritorious Artist Van Tan said that the opportunity that brought him to the role of Uncle Ho was in 1970, when he was the captain of the drama team of the Ha Bac Song and Dance Troupe. That day, screenwriter Hoang Tich Chi visited the troupe and talked about how comrade To Huu (Head of the Central Propaganda Department at that time) suggested that 5-7 years later, the artists try to bring the image of Uncle Ho to the stage and cinema, so that after the country is unified, our people will understand more deeply about Uncle Ho's merits...

After that conversation, Van Tan quietly carried out his idea. The young man walked 30 kilometers to Thuan Thanh district in Bac Ninh to get jute to soak in white silk to make his beard and hair look like Uncle Ho. To have a place to perform, artist Van Tan wrote a short scene called "Noble Memories", about a time when Uncle Ho visited the anti-aircraft artillery site in the capital, encouraging our army and people to shoot down American planes. After 4 years of quiet practice, he boldly proposed and was approved by the troupe's leadership... On January 17, 1974, the scene was brought to the stage by the Ha Bac Song and Dance Troupe, and Van Tan played the role of Uncle Ho for the first time.

Meritorious Artist Van Tan at his home.

“ When I appeared on stage, many people were surprised because my appearance was quite similar to Uncle Ho. The scene was not long, but the more people watched, the more convincing they found it. At the end of the role, many delegates came to hug the actor and shed tears; they both encouraged and congratulated him and were moved to say that they felt like they had met Uncle Ho in real life,” Meritorious Artist Van Tan recounted.

From that initial success, artist Van Tan performed in many places, in many programs, serving many audiences, and wherever he went, he was warmly cheered by the audience. In 1984, performing in Cao Bang , when the actors just stepped onto the stage, many people burst into tears and jostled to get closer to see Uncle Ho. There were veterans who had served Uncle Ho in Pac Bo cave, now seeing his image on stage, they were moved and said: "Uncle, it's been decades since I've seen you again". Such memories moved him, made him very happy and joyful.

Another time in 1992, when he performed in Military Zone 9, meeting heroes from the war against the US and the French, many elderly people, hard of hearing and poor of eyesight, kept holding the artist's hand and said: "Uncle, I wish you good health". Then, when he performed in Cu Chi, many mothers went on stage crying and said very touchingly: " Because of the fierce war, Uncle has now passed away so we do not have the opportunity to meet him. Now we are very grateful to the artist who played the role of Uncle".

Meritorious Artist Van Tan smiled and said that even though it was more than 30 years ago, he still clearly remembered that on May 18, 1992, the Ministry of Culture and Information organized for artists to portray Uncle Ho through different periods to perform and report to the Party and State leaders. The Minister at that time, musician Tran Hoan, chose 5 people: artists Van Tan, Tien Hoi, Duc Trung, Tien Tho, and Si Hung. Later, someone commented that Van Tan was one of the few artists who "nailed" the audience's hearts with the role of Uncle Ho and the time he "defined" his name was that memorable May 18, 1992.

Everything is about Uncle Ho

Although he has played the role of Uncle Ho on stage thousands of times, for Meritorious Artist Van Tan, every time he plays the role of Uncle Ho, he feels like he is playing the role for the first time and always has to learn. According to him, to successfully portray the image of Uncle Ho, the audience must feel that it is Uncle Ho from his appearance, voice, and gestures. Luckily, in his life, artist Van Tan had the chance to meet Uncle Ho twice in 1961 and 1963. He was able to stand close to Uncle Ho, listen to him talk, and sing the song "Unity" with him. In his image, Uncle Ho is gentle, kind, simple, and always cheerful... The two times he met Uncle Ho directly helped artist Van Tan a lot in portraying the image of Uncle Ho later on.

Meritorious Artist Van Tan portrays Uncle Ho on stage with Quang Ninh miners, 2023.

Then, thanks to his successful portrayal of Uncle Ho, from 1978 to 1981, artist Van Tan was invited to Hanoi many times, staying to work with Uncle Ho's personal secretary, comrade Vu Ky, at the Ho Chi Minh Museum. He was told many stories about Uncle Ho's life, character, demeanor, and manner when receiving guests from home and abroad by comrades Vu Ky, Ha Huy Giap, and Dang Xuan Ky. At the end of the working period, he was given a tape recording of 13 of Uncle Ho's speeches, talks, and poetry readings. Comrade Vu Ky also chose for him a khaki outfit and a pair of rubber sandals made exactly like Uncle Ho's outfit.

Having obtained valuable documents, artist Van Tan brought them back to listen, read diligently, and pondered over Uncle Ho's writing style, words, and language. Imitating his voice was quite difficult because Uncle Ho had a very warm Central-Northern accent, while his voice was high-pitched. So he went to Uncle Ho's hometown, Nghe An, for a whole month to practice his voice, practicing how to make his words expressive, combining his eyes, appearance, and gestures in Uncle Ho's daily activities. Meritorious Artist Van Tan said that Uncle Ho's style was quick but not hasty, concise but refined, outstanding but flexible...

“I am the first artist to play the role of Uncle Ho, so there is no one to learn from. But my strength is my love and desire to learn, and with the help of my teachers and colleagues, I am not worried. From 1970 until now, no matter what I do, I always turn to Uncle Ho, all the knowledge about his revolutionary life has seeped into my blood, so when I act, it is very natural, there is no difficulty at all,” said Meritorious Artist Van Tan.

But the most difficult thing when portraying Uncle Ho is not his appearance on stage. According to Meritorious Artist Van Tan, his appearance can be disguised, his clothes and shoes can be imitated, his lines can be memorized, his demeanor and voice can be practiced... The most important thing that the elderly artist is concerned about is how to make Uncle Ho's thoughts and morality truly permeate into himself, become a part of his way of life and work, and convey that to everyone.

He also said that playing the role of Uncle Ho cannot be done carelessly, roughly, or just for the sake of it, but must be meticulous, realistic to every detail, and requires lifelong practice and learning. Therefore, each performance is prepared and taken care of by him with the utmost care. When leaving the stage and returning to ordinary life, he is always conscious of maintaining a beautiful image of himself, in order to protect the image of Uncle Ho. His daily joy is to tell stories about Uncle Ho to those around him with the desire to spread his good qualities.

At 81 years old, Meritorious Artist Van Tan has never stopped. He is willing to leave his small house in Bac Giang city to go to remote areas to serve the people; his roles still retain their own charm when portraying the image of the Father of the nation...

The Vu

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/nsut-van-tan-hoc-bac-qua-tung-vai-dien-post309795.html