Crossing the T’s: Talking Relationships

No matter how hard celebrities try to keep their romance low key, they would always be under public scrutiny. While we don’t have the paparazzi to follow their every move in Kannywood and Nigeria in general, there are gossip columns that bring these stories to the media. Why celebs shy away from  questions concerning their love lives even in an interview isn't a mystery, understandable even. But I do believe that everything comes with a price and that of being famous is sacrificing one’s own privacy.

It isn't any different in Kannywood. Some actresses are trying to keep their relationships under the wraps, others don’t really care. 

Actress Halima Atete, once in an interview with Kannywoodscene, revealed that she is not one of those actors that hide their relationships. She even went further and mentioned his name. It’s no news that Maryam Booth dated Adam for quite sometime a long time ago. However, few people know that Rahma Sadau had a fling with Kannywood Heartthrob, Sadiq Sani Sadiq, and another one before joining the industry with Director Kamal S Alkali, one could have said that she’s one of those that manage to mask their romance.

Nafisa’s love life has always been the one the media’s focused on. Lots of people would be surprised to learn that Fati Washa also had a fling with Adam A Zango or that Ibrahim Shehu dated Hadiza Gabon and Jamila Nagudu before Nafi Abdullahi. Apparently, the age difference doesn’t mean anything to him as each of the three of them is at least, three years his senior.

Like any other relationship, these relationships may or may not work out. Although some of them  materialize into marriages, like that of TY Shaba and Samira Ahmad (albeit not for long) among others. Others just fizzle out with time- Adams Zango and Nafi Abdullahi’s long-term relationship is a prime example.

After the break ups or the divorce, the actors as well as the actresses have to deal with bizarre questions from the public and interviewers. Being constantly asked about your relationship status can be frustrating, but it’s simply part of the package of being a celebrity. 

Mansoor Review

“Something different? Not a love story” was the director’s response when he was asked what surprise would audience expect from his latest movie Mansoor. 

His statement could stand a trial because Mansoor, for the most part, is an adventure of an enthusiastic young man in search of his identity. It is an adventure that is triggered by love, fueled by uncertainties and driven by desperation. This adventure leads to another emotional story so expertly told and presented one can’t but appreciate the director’s story telling.

No movie is without flaws, or at least few areas that could use improvements. The good thing with Mansoor is that every single facet is at worst, average. There are few story arcs that are recycled and though I can’t tell whether it is from the movie or the projector, the movie struggled to fit perfectly on the screen. As a result, the subtitle was hardly visible; the colour grading could have been better, the nights and days appeared almost identical.

However, Mansoor has so many strengths to counteract those weaknesses. The excellent production value is at display throughout the movie. Every detail has been attended to. From the sets, to the costumes, to the make up, to the locations.

The director has gotten most out of the actors. The dialogue is refreshing and the delivery, perfect. The scores could have been more frequent. The songs are exciting. The dance sequences are colorful and impeccably acted.

One thing that deserves special mention is the stylish direction. The shots are neat, elegant and stylish. The attention to detail is superb. The way he puts up the story is remarkable. It is said that the act of telling a story is better than the story itself. This statement has never been truer. From the way he mixes voice-over with footage, to the way he motions the camera, to the way he changes the mood and expressions of the actors; it is truly a remarkable piece of directing. 

Spending such a huge amounts on actors that are barely known by audience is a risky business few producers could take. Such boldness could be the reason why FKD has stood the test of time. Can others follow? Only time can tell. 

Mansoor is wonderfully observed, stunningly shot and thanks to so many breakout performances, a must watch in Cinemas. 

Cast: Umar M Shareef, Maryam Yahaya, Ali Nuhu, Sadiq Ahmad, Abba El-Mustapha, Baballe Hayatu, and others. 

Screenplay: Jamil Nafseen. 

Producer: Naziru Dan Hajiya. 

Director: Ali Nuhu

MANSOOR Premiers

”Mun Kwashe Mun Kwashe, Mun Kwashe Mun Kwashe…” That’s what FKDians were shouting at the end of Mansoor show at the film House Cinema. They were not only shouting because the film was very good but also because the event Premiere of the film was a huge success. 

It was an extraordinary evening that everyone present will forever remember. It’s the first proper event premiere for a Kannywood movie since the inception of Kannywood Box Office. Mansoor Premiere didn’t disappoint. 

The turn out for  the event was huge. Hafizu Bello, Aminu Saira, Falalu Dorayi, Usman Mu’azu, Yakubu Muhammad, Rahma Sadau, Fati Muhammad, Shehu Kano, Ibrahim Birniwa, Nura M Inuwa….. Long story short, your favourite actor or actress was there. Kannywood was there. 

Clearly the maker of Mansoor knows about the importance of creating an event that will reach audience, garner the attention for his film. At the Premiere, besides the still photography of the people and personalities at the event, Ali Nuhu make sure that the BBC, AIT, NTA, Channels Tv and Kannywoodscene were all there at the event. 

Responding to media questions on the red carpet, Ali Nuhu said that he has better script coming up and Mansoor is just the beginning. 

Ali Nuhu adds “The essence of making these movies is to entertain people, educate them and make them aware of things that are happening in our society. I hope people will cooperate and watch the movie in the cinema. 

He also said that he decided to bring out something different in Mansoor because people say that most Kannywood stories are base on love, marriage and divorce. 

At the end people were talking about Ali Nuhu’s impressive directing of Mansoor. “We’ve had so many course about movie making in abroad. Most recently in the United States. People should be able to see what we’ve learned through our works.” He says. 

In the end, Ali Nuhu’s brand sponsors made sure that everyone who’s seated in the cinema went home with Cherio noodles and Blue Boat Champion milk. 

Ali Nuhu bust his guts in making Mansoor and after watching the movie, you can’t help but feel he deserves to celebrate the achievement he has completed in style. 

Crossing the T’s – On Rahama Meeting Priyanka Chopra

Hero worship is something almost everyone does especially in this era of social media,  where we can directly connect and interact with our idols on platforms such as Twitter and Facebook. 

We all have that one person we aspire to be like or hope to meet someday. That person could be a footballer, an actor, a musician, a professional athlete or a space scientist. Naturally, we will be so much interested in their lives that we avidly follow and read every news about them because we believe they have made it in a worldview and we are enthralled by it. For instance, one could rightly say that Sadau has taken Priyanka as a huge inspiration which makes her tirelessly chase her dreams and by extension, a standout amongst  her fellow actresses.

Anyone who knows Rahama Sadau knows that she’s a diehard supporter of Bollywood’s Priyanka Chopra. Anyone who ever followed her on any of her media pages knows that too and the similarities in their screen characters are unmistakable. Sadau is popularly known as as Priya among her friends and colleagues while some of her fans call her Kannywood’s Priyanka Chopra. In fact we could all recall that at a point in time, Rahama Sadau wrote ‘PC Maniac’ on her Twitter bio.

It’s no longer news that Sadau recently got a superb response from her role model after mentioning her on Twitter. The response has gotten a lot of media attention especially because it’s a common knowledge that Sadau has been a Priyanka Chopra fanatic for as long as we know her. This reminded me of something that Sadau said on the set of Mati da Lado and that’s what prompted writing this piece.

Somewhere in May 2014 on the set of Mati da Lado, we were sitting down inside Sadau’s car when a lot of her fans came and surrounded the car hoping to get a glimpse of the famous actress. The door of the car was slightly ajar because we needed some fresh air but they were blocking it. Rahama was jokingly complaining about not liking the way people are looking at her, others asking her to pose for them and all. Producer Tahir I Tahir was there so he told her that it’s all because of her fame, that someone who isn’t famous won’t get that kind of attention.

She smiled and shook her head knowing his statement can’t be truer. She replied him saying “I also have an idol whom I admire very much. Whenever I’m opportune to see her, no matter the security, I will find my way and go close to her so I can touch her.” Tahir I Tahir seemed surprised and asked her who is that her idol and she told him it’s Priyanka Chopra.

I have always known that meeting Priyanka Chopra is one of Rahama Sadau’s ultimate life goals. She has bonded with friends from different countries over the love of their favorite celebrity. I could vividly recall one that called her from Indonesia in my presence and they talked as though they’ve been friends for ages. When I saw the Chopra’s response to her, I was extremely happy for her though I can’t imagine her happiness at the moment. 

I’m sure she will be overwhelmed by different kinds of emotions from disbelief to ecstasy to obsession. Now that it has began from Twitter, who knows whether Sadau will soon be called for an auditioning this time in New Delhi.

Hafsah Lalo is a writer hailed from Jos, Plateau State. She is Currently a student of Information Technology at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi. You can follow her on twitter: @Grtsunnist