Artist Kim Tan and the honor of performing for Uncle Ho

Artist Kim Tan was born into a poor family, originally from Ha Nam, who migrated to Nghia Dan (now Thai Hoa) in the 40s of the last century to make a living. No one in the family pursued a singing career, the little girl was still following her mother to carry goods to the district market, never once taught singing but "was chosen to join the propaganda team of Nghia Dan district first because of her tall figure", and immediately knew the lyrics of songs she heard others sing.

Artist Kim Tan recalls his vibrant youth. Photo: Hai Vuong

Those days are still fresh in the heart of artist Kim Tan, as if it were just yesterday, the skinny 10-year-old girl was still crawling over monkey bridges to perform in the deep areas, yet when standing on stage, her singing voice still sounded strangely clear. At the age of 13, Kim Tan lost her mother. Not yet over the pain, little Tan had to join the troupe to stage a play to compete in the province. This was also the first time Kim Tan "went to the city".

At that festival, Kim Tan was awarded the first prize for best actress by the jury. And also after the festival, a turning point came to her... One time, musician Thanh Tung went to Nghia Dan for work, he asked the little girl of the propaganda team: "Does Kim Tan like to go to the art troupe?" Kim Tan's decisive nod helped her become an actress of the Nghe An People's Art Troupe the very next day.

Artist Kim Tan keeps a photo of Uncle Ho visiting his hometown for the first time. Photo: Hai Vuong

Kim Tan went down to the troupe, still with the rattan basket and two sets of clothes as his assets. At the age of 13, Kim Tan was assigned the first role in his professional acting career, which was the role of the mischievous and witty Mai in the play “By the Well”. At that very first “performance”, Kim Tan and the troupe had the honor of performing for Uncle Ho when he returned to his hometown for the first time after many years away.

Later, Kim Tan had two more chances to meet Uncle Ho, perform for him, sit close to him and take pictures, and listen to him talk. “That is the happiness and great honor that not everyone can have. That honor is what my acting career has brought me,” shared artist Kim Tan.

With the play “Lam River Girl” (Gold Medal of the first National Theatre Festival), artist Kim Tan reached the glory of acting when she was just a young girl, without any formal training. “We performed with all our sincerity, innocence, acting with instinct, guided by emotions. I could not have imagined that with only 2 short performances on stage, but with the role of a crier - the first and rare comedic role of my acting career - I would win the Silver Medal at the National Theatre Festival that year.”

The photo of Nghe An Art Troupe performing at the Presidential Palace and taking a photo with Uncle Ho is being kept by artist Kim Tan. Photo: NVCC

Performing for Uncle Ho was the most profound memory in the life of artist Kim Tan. “Before the performance, Uncle told us to pay attention to the costumes so that they resembled those of 1930-1931, then told us to try our best to perform “for his guests to see”. When the performance was over, Uncle went on stage. We rushed to Uncle Ho, and he shared candy with us.

After this success, Kim Tan also skillfully and passionately "transformed" into the roles of Cam, the prince (play "Tam Cam"), Thi Mau going to the pagoda, the district magistrate's wife (play "Phong trao 30-31"), Mrs. Uong (play "Orange Garden")... And that artist was so happy that she cried when on her tours, work, and meetings with soldiers and people, people happily called out: "Hey, it's Mo's mother".

Artist Kim Tan shares with the author of the article. Photo: Hai Vuong

During the fierce war years, the Nghe An Art Troupe was divided into many small groups to serve the battlefield. Kim Tan was also in a shock force. In 1965, Kim Tan had just gotten married. Pregnant with her first child, her clear voice still sang on fierce artillery positions at Cam Bridge, Do Luong Bara, Nguyen Viet Xuan Battalion on the banks of Lam River...

Later, after studying more about screenwriting and directing, artist Kim Tan became the deputy head of the Nghe An Folk Song - Cheo troupe, then the head of the Nghe An Folk Song - Cheo troupe. At this time, she also held the position of Head of the Theater Department, Provincial School of Culture and Arts. Dozens of Gold Medals in her artistic career for roles and plays, whether as an actor, director or screenwriter, it is impossible to remember all the names of the plays in her life, but the thing that artist Kim Tan cherishes the most is folk songs.

That is why, since retiring, artist Kim Tan has spent most of his time… composing. The plays written, directed and performed by Kim Tan with Meritorious Artist Song Thao, artists Van Nhan, Ngoc Lan, Minh Chau… have left behind so much love in the hearts of people in remote, isolated and flood-affected areas.