The author and Meritorious Artist Cao Minh at the premiere of the film Tunnels: Sun in the Dark, March 31, 2025. |
From the talented singer
Cao Minh's birth name is Nguyen Cao Minh, born in 1961 in Long An , grew up in Tay Ninh, had a talent for music since childhood, learned the basics of music from artisan Hai Lun in Trang Bang, overcame all the difficulties of his family, came to music with a monochord made from a pig trough and a tractor battery.
Cao Minh had difficulties in his high school studies but flourished in his singing career. At the age of 17, he won first prize in the Tay Ninh Province Television Singing Contest, at the age of 18, he joined the Tay Ninh Performing Arts Troupe, and was then recruited into the Vocal Music Department of the Ho Chi Minh City Conservatory of Music. In 1988, singer Cao Minh won first prize in the first National Concour, especially the prize for the best singer about Ho Chi Minh with the song Ho Chi Minh, the most beautiful name of the person, and also won the prize for the best folk singer.
Since then, Cao Minh has been considered a "red music singer", a golden voice about Ho Chi Minh, the voice of folk music and pre-war music. Cao Minh's strong, standard, lyrical, and creative voice has breathed life into people's hearts with famous songs: Ben Xuan, Doi Mat Nguoi Son Tay, Hon Vong Phu, Dau Chan Tien Tien, Battalion 307; especially songs about Uncle Ho. With his love for art and gratitude to his colleagues, in 2023, singer Cao Minh released the MV Cach Xa (composed by musician Thanh Hai) as a gift to thank his fans. With a passion for creativity, Cao Minh always seeks new things in his performance style as well as creating new works. He once spent his own money to stage the musical The Hunchback of Notre Dame Cathedral (2014) which captivated the audience.
Reaching for the new, Cao Minh always integrates and protects the traditional quintessence, so the singer has devoted much effort and time to teaching and inspiring young people to come to true music . With this purpose, Cao Minh is also known as a singer without a salary.
… to the peasant artist
Strangely, singer Cao Minh shines with the stage lights, but he is passionate about the wind and rain of the countryside. Because he comes from a farmer's background, he has a farmer's soul rich in poetry and music. Since 2000, Cao Minh has returned to Vinh Tan commune, Vinh Cuu district, investing in building 20 hectares of "flint" land into Cao Minh Eco-tourism Area. Here, he directly performs all the operations of a farmer's labor: hoeing, plowing, leveling, building, decorating... creating many unique "products". Looking at him working hard digging, driving a tractor, it is impossible to recognize singer Cao Minh. But when he sings: it is indeed Cao Minh. Dong Nai people cannot forget the first mass poetry night in Dong Nai held at Cao Minh Eco-tourism Area in 2001: in conditions lacking everything, Cao Minh was the one who designed the stage, staged the program, performed, conducted, and dived into the lake to pull the mobile floating stage by hand.
Since 2015, Cao Minh has invested in building an additional property, "Cao Minh Island" in the Tri An Lake area. There were many difficulties and obstacles, but he persevered to overcome them, building the island into a charming space for poetry and music. There is a self-made mini theater here, visitors from far and wide are excited to listen to Cao Minh's professional singing in this professional theater. This place attracts many rare cultural and artistic exchange activities, the singing echoes in harmony with the waves, the clouds and the sky. Many talented artists and tourists from near and far come here to share with Cao Minh, people understand Cao Minh better, understand true music more.
The author and Meritorious Artist Cao Minh on Cao Minh Island, Tri An Lake, Vinh Cuu District, February 25, 2025. |
And it is from here that Cao Minh's artistic soul finds its way back to itself, the sweat of labor flows with the youthful voice. Cao Minh's favorite songs are expressed with the soul of the mountains and rivers. Like the new composition of Ma Da oi!, echoing the heart of the sacred forest of Chien Khu D.
There is a rare thing that comforts Cao Minh. On the cadastral map of Tri An Lake area, there is an island named after a living person: “Cao Minh Island”.
…and the role of “Uncle Sau”
Acting is not Cao Minh's "natural profession", but his agricultural artistry has a connection with cinema. Cao Minh has successfully collaborated with many programs and shows related to cinema. Cao Minh's first impressive role was probably the painter Phi in the film Orphan Monkey produced by TFS Film Studio in 2004. With this role, Cao Minh excellently portrayed a soldier painter with skillful shooting skills and a compassionate heart towards the forest and animals. Cao Minh contributed to the great success, bringing a high award at the National Television Festival in 2004, creating sympathy in international exchanges.
In the TV series Ngon ngon hoang cung directed by Nguyen Quoc Hung, broadcast by Ho Chi Minh City Television in 2004, Meritorious Artist Cao Minh played the role of Nguyen Tuong, a thoughtful intellectual, struggling with the fate of the country in the context of chaotic times and the complicated relationships between many multi-personality personalities. Meritorious Artist Cao Minh and the role of Nguyen Tuong entered people's hearts and will be remembered forever.
Perhaps, Cao Minh's acting success has brought confidence to director Bui Thac Chuyen. After considering, director Bui Thac Chuyen approached Cao Minh with faith and sincerity to invite him to play the role of "Uncle Sau". At first, Cao Minh was hesitant because of his age, time, and the heavy workload... so he intended to refuse. But the subject, the script content that he had nurtured for 10 years, and the director's passion convinced him. Cao Minh arranged his work on the island and participated in the long stages of the meaningful film. Reading the script, Cao Minh absorbed it and transformed into the character with the image of a loyal and brave revolutionary cadre that he had admired since childhood. Working with a professional, highly determined, and highly skilled crew, Meritorious Artist Cao Minh not only demonstrated his full potential but also learned many things about artistic work to create works that satisfied the public.
In the film, Uncle Sau does not appear much, with the image of a simple, optimistic, cheerful, humane peasant cadre, the spiritual support of the tunnel guerrillas. The life and death of Uncle Sau evokes the revolutionary historical value of the Cu Chi tunnels, opening up a new perspective on history, culture and cinematic works of art; also affirming the path of contribution of artists and actors with love, passion and perseverance.
Huynh Van Toi
Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/dong-nai-cuoi-tuan/202504/chu-sau-cao-minh-dia-dao-mat-troi-trong-bong-toi-9b35491/
Comment (0)