Today, December 23, marks the 100th anniversary of the birth of the legendary theater and film actor Mykhailo Vodianyi, known for many films - such as “White Acacia”, “At Dawn” and “Wedding in Malynivka”.
The roles he played as Yashka Buksyr, Mishka Yaponchik and Popandopulo became so beloved by Odesites and all fans of theatrical and cinematic arts that the artist became the first operetta representative in the USSR to be awarded the highest title - People’s Artist of the USSR.
The love for Vodianyi's talent in Odesa is so intense that football fans decided to associate it in a unique way with their favorite team - “Chornomorets”. Of course, with their characteristic humor and wit. The failures of the “sailors” in the autumn part of the championship and the unfortunate news about the transfer ban imposed by FIFA on the Odesa club for debts to football players prompted one of the fans to create a friendly photocaricature of the head coach of “Chornomorets” Oleksandr Babich. The prototype became Mykhailo Vodianyi's character from “Wedding in Malynivka” Popandopulo.
As it turned out, this photocaricature did not offend the leader of the “sailors” at all. On the contrary - he reacted to it with humor and even copied it for his home collection.
— The fans' photo joke posted on Facebook really amused me, — Oleksandr Babich admits. – I will definitely print it, as it was made remarkably professionally and creatively. Moreover, it concerns Mykhailo Vodianyi, a unique actor who for decades has enchanted the most demanding admirers of his talent at the Odesa Theater of Musical Comedy. His role as Popandopulo in “Wedding in Malynivka” still leaves no one indifferent. By the way, Vodianyi loved football and cheered for “Chornomorets”, often visiting the Odesa stadium. So I am sincerely grateful to the author of the photo masterpiece for such a pre-Christmas surprise.
Vyacheslav Kulychynskyi