Exclusive: Malayan favorite ‘Nigerian Sudani’ Samuel Robinson makes his Bollywood debut
His performance as a refugee-turned-footballer trapped in Kerala in the 2018 film Sudani from Nigeria was widely praised by actor Samuel Abiola Robinson. But the road ahead was not easy for the Nigerian-born young man. He inadvertently caused controversy as he struggled to find his way in his new country and industry. Several years ago, Samuel also revealed that his predicament had caused him to consider self-harm and made it difficult for him to find quality work.
The actor, who eventually settled in Delhi, will be watching Dibakar Das Roy’s debut Hindi film ‘Dilli Daak’ premiere at the Jio Mami Mumbai Film Festival (October 27 – November 5) As planned, he is now a happy artist. There is also another notable movie that will be released in Tamil. In a conversation with Onmanorama, Samuel talks about his new film, upcoming projects, facing both racism and warmth in India, and more.
What exactly is “Dilli Dark”?
The film shows what it’s like to be considered an outsider in India and how having dark skin can be an obstacle to getting good opportunities in life. My character, Mike, is a young African immigrant who leaves home and moves to Delhi to pursue his dreams. The film is a comedy-drama and shows how the experience challenges Mike. Director Dibakar Das Roy, who had seen my previous films, wrote the script with me in mind and contacted me to produce the film. Dilli Dark will also be screened at the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival in Estonia.
The film is about the racism that Africans face in India. What is your experience as a Nigerian living in Delhi?
Living in India has its ups and downs…I met some wonderful and kind people, but I also faced discrimination because of the color of my skin. I think education plays an important role in shaping one’s attitudes, but racism is often caused by racism and lack of education in some parts of the country. I have met many decent people in southern India, but I have also encountered a fair amount of hatred and racism in certain parts of northern India.
I think most people know that racism exists in India, and it’s not just against black people. I have heard that even when Malayalis and Tamils travel to Delhi or Uttar Pradesh, they sometimes feel unwelcome.
The film is in Hindi, did you have to learn the language? Was it difficult?
I love learning new languages and exploring new cultures. So I didn’t think it was difficult at all. Additionally, my character in the film speaks mostly English and sometimes Hindi. The film will also be dubbed in Malayalam and Tamil, but most of the film will be spoken in English.
Sudani came out in 2018, and you made it clear on social media that you weren’t happy with the job that was coming your way. This movie will be released for the first time in 6 years, what has kept you busy during that time?
I was not satisfied with my second Malayalam film, Oru Caribbean Udayipu, and wanted to make sure that I made quality films after that. I did receive offers, but they were often of a villainous or predictable nature. So I decided to wait. By the end of 2020, I was offered Dilli Dark, but the production of the film was delayed due to the pandemic. Later, I was offered a Tamil film starring RJ Balaji, Selvaraghavan and Sharafudeen, with music by Anirudh. I was busy shooting for these films, traveling to different places and living with my girlfriend in Delhi.
You often speak bravely about difficult situations in life, how do you stay strong?
I am always grateful to God for being my support and source of strength. I also believe that I have become a completely different person than I was in 2018, and that I have grown into a man that I can be proud of. I’ve also been lucky to work on some great projects with great social messages. I am proud of my growth and development so far and look forward to seeing me grow as a person and as an actor.
So, when are you going Malayalam next?
I am always open to working in the Malayalam film industry. Some of India’s most beautiful films have come from there and I will always love Kerala as my second home.
