The premiere of Tunde Kelani’s film, Maami
One day, someone took Femi Osofisan’s book titled Cordelia to Tunde Kelani. Unknown to the fellow, what he had done was like taking a rat to a cat. After reading it, the seasoned film maker immediately fell in love with it and decided he must turn it into a film. So, he headed for the home of the celebrated playwright only to discover that there were other beautiful scripts eagerly waiting for a screen freak.
“If you like Cordelia, what will you say of Maami?” the Theatre professor asked Kelani, in his usually witty voice. He then produced the novel, the story of which also invoked in Kelani nothing less than love at first sight.
“But if you like Cordelia and Maami, what about ...” again, noted Osofisan, who was ready to complicate his visitor’s joy as he (the host) made to move for his shelf again. But, no. Kelani would rather first run away with Maami, the proverbial bird at hand. So swayed was TK, being the trade name of the film maker, who is the chairman of Mainframe Productions that the novel has become his latest film, which was premiered in Lagos last Saturday. It was screened at the MUSON Centre, as part of the inauguration programme of Governor Babatunde Fashola (SAN).
Featuring Funke Akindele (Maami), Wole Ojo (Kashimaawo - Kashi - her son) and Olumide Bakare (diabolic father), among other popular and emerging actors, Maami is the story of a boy born into adversity, but whose highly determined but wretched mother is prepared to nurture to reckoning. Although like the biblical Moses, the mother does not live to see the Promised Land, her hustling eventually pays off, as Kashi grows up to became a celebrated Aresnal player being terribly wooed to play a crucial match for his fatherland. Kashi’s attempts to reconcile his past with the present are the source of intrigues and anxieties the viewer must be prepared to share in Maami.
In its ‘original’ and embellished form, Maami is not just the story of Kashi. It is the story of millions of people outside there. On the one hand, football connects more than millions of people. More importantly, poverty and adversity are schools that many people attended or attend one way or the other. Even Governor Fashola could not hide the fact that he easily locates himself in Maami. So, his mind could not but journey from excitement to sobriety in the course of the screening.
After congratulating Kelani for a job well done, Fashola said at the premier, “For me, the story of Kashi is a wake-up call for all of us. It is a reminder that there are many Kashis out there needing our help. This is not just about drama. It represents life outside there, and I can connect with it. I did not have a silver spoon, too. It is good that Kashi survives in the face of adversity. That is part of the reason we are committed to giving opportunity to many Kashis outside there.”
He recalls that Mainframe Productions and Lagos State have enjoyed a cordial relationship, with its films such as Agogo Eewo and Arugba having being premiered as part of the 2003 and 2007 inauguration.
“It is a baton I inherited. And as long as I remain the governor, I shall retain it and pass on the torch,” Fashola noted.
Kelani has a knack for turning people who would never have thought they could act into actors. Several ‘characters’ so emerge in Maami. Among them are Godwin Enakhena, sports producer/presenter, who plays the same role in the film; and E 24 Publisher, Biodun Kupoluyi, also a reporter in the film.
Another dramatic appearance in Maami is Kayode Balogun, a younger brother of the late Fuji music icon, Sikiru Ayinde Barrister. Before Barrister’s death last year, TK had secured his consent to sing in the film, alongside songbird Yinka Davies, in a track in which Barrister and Davies had collaborated. But the Fuji exponent’s death changed the story. What TK now did was to prompt Balogun to fill the gap, which he plays so well that he himself must have been pleasantly surprised that he could do so well.
Another revelation is Tunde Kuboye’s daughter, Tamilore, who plays the role of Dolapo, Kashi’s personal assistant that manages not just his schedules, but also his galloping psychology. Of course, the boy that plays young Kashi also shows a lot of promise as a film star. That is the same way in which TK first introduced the likes of Kabirat Kafidipe (Arapa), Kunle Afolayan (both in Arese and Saworo Ide) and Bukola Awoyemi in Arugba.
Language use in Maami is largely inspiring - stirring emotion and humour in some parts — especially where Maami herself is at the centre of action; and sounding philosophical in others. Arsenal’s fans must, for instance, hear this said about their darling club: “They play good football but have not won a cup in recent times.” Kashi too is never tired of repeating a statement he inherited from his mother: “Kindness is like a baton in a relay race. Once you get it, you pass it on.”
Although Maami is produced in English, it is yet subtitled in English to standardise the language, especially in terms of elocution — a honest consideration for foreign audience. Those who did the translation demonstrate a good knowledge of the art, although a few errors and omissions have to be corrected. For instance, a sentence reads, “There has been a few changes ...” instead of “There have been a few changes...” Also, the coma is missing in some of the sentences where the listener is called and directly addressed (sentences in evocative voices). These include “Dolapo thank you” (instead of” Dolapo, thank you”); and “Please forgive me my darling” instead of “Please, forgive me, my darling.”
On the whole, Maami is a significant step in Kelani’s journey as a film maker. Predictably, he would normally produce films that promote cultural values while also firming up the cinematographic end of the works. This film does not betray this notion. But he also seems to be set for experimentation beyond what he has been doing. Indeed, he professes to our correspondent that he is still trying to discover and rediscover himself as a film maker.
His romance with Osofisan is a new phase. Also instructive is how he dares the playwright in the way the script has been executed, with Tunde Babalola having handled the screenplay. But it is the same way he has confronted a Funke Akindele, who many would regard as a comedian based on her role in Jenifa; and Wole Ajo, who, some people suspect, look largely clumsy in the Ambo film, The Child, where he plays the lead role. Kelani says he found the true grown up Kashi in Ojo because he was basically looking for someone who looks athletic and as clean as the typical Arsenal player.
“I have always had Funke in mind. She was around in Narrow Path and Abeni. But she just played minor roles there. I had always wanted something challenging for her. In Maami, I needed a woman not flamboyant and has to be everybody opposite the Funke everyone knows. She has to be mad with love for her child, and she has to be a hustler, ready to see Kashi through to success despite all adversity.”
As part of his plan to take the film round cinemas, it is expected to be shown in Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State on Monday, in celebration of the June 12 anniversary.
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