A life-long stage career that is far from over

BEING in the performing arts for more than five decades has been an unrelenting show of perseverance, dedication and sacrifice, with some reward for actress Savy Ramsamy.

But there is no planned curtain call for the 69-year-old actress in the near future. The show goes on for this Overport performer, who continues to exude the same vitality as when she debuted on stage as a teenager.

On that occasion, Ramsamy had to stand on a chair to play the lead role in a Muthal Naidoo production because she was not tall enough.

But over the years she has measured up as a giant and become a familiar face on the local performing arts scene.

The grand old dame of theatre has featured in more than 60 plays throughout her career, which translates into thousands of on-stage performances and even more hours of rehearsing.

In between her acts on stage, Ramsamy has also had a role in a TV series, a movie and educational documentary.

Her most recent act was at Durban’s Playhouse Theatre, in Jayshree Parsuramen’s play called Lenny, a production that remembers anti-apartheid struggle hero Lenny Naidu.

Ramsamy played Naidu’s mother, who had to give up a son for the freedom of others.

In reality, Ramsamy had to sacrifice time with her only child and husband to chase her theatre dreams.

In 1975, it seemed she had pushed the bounds too far. In a late stage of pregnancy she had the leading role in the Kessie Govender production Stable Expense, playing in Pietermaritzburg. She collapsed during the show.

After a rebuke from activist Dr Kesaveloo Gonam, who rushed backstage to help revive her, Ramsamy went back on stage.

She took up the challenge of trying to forge a career in the arts when women were not prominent on stage.

Living in a conservative community of Overport, Ramsamy’s venture into the arts in the 1960s was not well received and on occasion she was even insulted by residents in her neighbourhood.

And she still remembers the stinging clout she received from her uncle, after returning home from a rehearsal one evening.

While she can smile production company, Ekma Productions.

And through her endeavours, Ramsamy has become a respected actress.

Her most notable accolades came in 2002, when the Daily News recognised her long standing contribution to the arts with an award, and she also received a FNB Vita Award nomination in 2005.

A life on stage seemed almost inevitable for Ramsamy, given that her parents were both performers.

The money her father Kisten earned as a waiter was the main source of income for his family who lived in a wood-and-iron home in Brickfield Road. Kisten was artistic and he was able to earn from his craft.

He was able to paint designs beautifully on saris, for popular clothing and accessories stores, Popatlal Kara and Chunilals.

He was also an accomplished accordion player for Columbia Entertainers, and usually got gigs at weddings and other private functions, most often at Clairwood’s Rani Theatre.

Ramsamy’s mother Palliam was a singer in the same band, which specialised in playing Eastern music, and that’s how Kisten met his wife.

When Ramsamy was still in primary school she attended her dad’s performances along with her brother Paul. “That’s when I got a feel for entertaining,” Ramsamy said.

From her childhood days, she loved the bus and road trips she took with her granny Kathay.

“Travelling on the old green buses to relatives homes and movies was fun. I was her favourite and she often bought me treats.”

Ramsamy said she was an average pupil at school, but the time she spent on the Kenfield playground with other friends, before and after school, are fond memories for her.

Her parents were strict and there was no letting up at school, especially at St Anthony’s, a Catholic school, where the nuns were disciplinarians.

“We were not allowed to interact with boys after school. The nuns would get monitors to watch us as we made our way home.

“If we were caught fraternising with boys, we would be embarrassed at assembly, the next day.”

But she appreciated her time at St Anthony’s especially the elocution classes, which fed her love for the English language.

“I would participate in skits and plays at school in those days and my teachers noticed my ability to perform.

“I was passionate about performing and it gave me an opportunity to express myself.”

She failed matric at her first attempt because of her Afrikaans marks.

Ramsamy repeated matric the following year at the ML Sultan Technikon, which proved to be more than a worthwhile effort in the end. Muthal Naidoo was her English teacher and it ultimately paved the way into the performing arts.

Ramsamy mustered the courage to audition for a play that Dr Naidoo was producing, but became despondent when she got no response from those in charge of the audition, after her reading.

“I didn’t want to go back but a friend forced me to return to rehearsals and that is when I learnt I landed the lead role.”

After completing her schooling, Ramsamy, who had studied commerce, landed an admin position with an accounting firm (AI Kajee), operating on Ingcuce Road (Albert Street) .

After work she would attend drama classes run by Dr Naidoo, which helped refine her acting ability.

Ronnie Govender, who was one of her tutors, formed the Shah Theatre Academy around this time.

In those days, productions from Shah’s stable and the likes of Kessie Govender’s productions were commonly referred to as “protest theatre”, because of the sometimes not-so-subtle antiapartheid messages it carried.

She continued to work by day and act by night, which posed many challenges.

While some family and community members expressed their disapproval, Ramsamy’s parents gave her their blessings.

But they were not so gracious when she told them she wanted to marry Ray Amichand Rai, who was Hindi speaking. Ramsamy’s family were Tamil speakers and in the 1970s it was taboo for their cultures to mix.

She was forced to leave home, and with the help of an aunt, Ramsamy and Ray got their wish.

Ray’s parents were also disapproving of their union but after the birth of the couple’s only child Keshni in 1975, the families were reunited.

The arrival of her child meant, Ramsamy had to part with stage life for a few years.

She made a comeback in 1980 with Ekma’s Jamal Syndrome, which became hugely popular and ran countrywide for two years.

For Ramsamy, juggling her job, rehearsals, housekeeping and a grumpy husband was all in a day’s work.

“Essop’s (Khan) move to get Ray involved as our transport manager was a master-stroke.”

Ramsamy said on stage all looked well for the audience “but they never know our behind the scenes hardships and struggles.

“I’ve seen many young and aspiring actors break on to the scene then get carried away by the glitz and the glamour. But when they get to grips with what is required, they drop out.”

She said she had no regrets about her career, but she wished she’d had the multitude of opportunities available today, in the earlier years of her career.

Ramsamy said she was grateful to God for all she’d achieved.