Garlands for cineaste, Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin, at 66

Foremost motion picture practitioner, Tunde Alabi-Hundeyin, who is popular among friends and contemporaries as Dudu, turned 66 during the week.

The notable filmmaker, one of the very few in the professional class, took to his social media handle to thank his maker for turning 66.

A veteran and a leading light in the Nigerian motion picture scene, ‘Uncle T,’ as some younger colleagues call him, had his timeline flooded with congratulatory messages after he posted this terse message: “Today, 6th day of the 6th month, I am 66. Cycle of time, cycle of life, cycle of reflections. Why do you love me so much, My Maker?”

One of the early callers to his timeline was Public Relations expert, Yeye Bolanle Olatunde, who wrote: “Happy birthday, Dudu. As your days are, so shall your strength be in Jesus Mighty Name. Ojo yin a dale oo. Amin.”

A former staff of the Ogun State Television (OGTV), Dudu earned his first major film credit as the director of the 1983 feature film, Ireke Onibudo.

However, when home video production became popular, Tunde, who is also best known for leading in the production of musical videos (he handled the musical videos of most of the artiste under Polygram music label in the 1090s), joined in and led his outfit, Dudu Productions, to produce critically-acclaimed works, including the blockbuster movie, Iyawo Alhaji, which is officially on record as the first commercial (direct to exhibition hall) video film to be censored and classified by the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB) in 1994. The movie was later screened in the Cinema Hall of the National Theatre in Iganmu, Lagos.

A one-time chairman of the Badagry Central Council, the tall and dark skinned filmmaker also helmed Amin Orun, which was also a huge success at the box office.