MY 30-MILLION-NAIRA MOVIE WAS PIRATED IN 48 HOURS - SAYS TUNDE KELANI!

Tunde Kelani is a moviemaker famous for his compelling Yoruba movies. The celebrated auteur recently released a movie, only for him to be shocked at how fast pirates descended on it. 

You recently took to Facebook in outrage over the piracy of your latest film, ‘Maami’. What’s your take on the problem?

Tunde Kelani: For the past 10 years, the problem of piracy has been a threat to all the investments I have made. My plan was to continue to raise the stakes, in the sense that I would attempt within available resources, to make films that are meaningful and relevant and seek to restore our lost heritage. But at this rate, it is no longer feasible because apart from lack of infrastructure, piracy has been left unchecked. Filmmaking as a business is no longer viable. At my age, 66, I should be looking ahead to retirement and I have already paid my dues. I’ve invested only to learn at this time that I have lost that investment. 

You said on Facebook that ‘Maami’ was pirated 48 hours after it was released…

Kelani: Yes. I was blissfully unaware, until someone called to say the film has already flooded the market. I was informed they were being moved around in wheel-barrows, not only in Oshodi but in Iyana Ipaja. Of course, I was terribly upset and it made me decide to move out of this country, which can’t protect my hard work and my career of over 40 years.We’re just making noise that we are the second largest filmmakers in the world if we don’t have necessary enforcement of the law that can protect filmmakers. 

Have you been a victim of piracy before?

Kelani: The bootlegging of ‘Maami’ is worse than attacks on my previous films like ‘Arugba’. Even today, I can tell you that about 30,000 CDs of that film are in my store unsold and the implication is great, to the extent that for four years I could not release any film, until we made ‘Maami’. 

How much did ‘Maami’ cost to make? 

Kelani:  About N30 million. Now, we’ve lost everything. We should be able to make our money back from cinema in a perfect world, but Nigeria isn’t and does not build movie theatres. It’s a disgrace to have one cinema to 3 million people, like we have in Nigeria. India, for instance, have 13,000 cinemas while Nigeria does not have up to 50. That is why we have to rely on production of DVDs, which has unfortunately has been hijacked by the pirates. Filmmakers are in danger because piracy is getting worse. The country is challenged and I don’t think government can do anything. 

At a point, you even said you’re leaving Nigeria…

Kelani: Yes. I thought that if any African country could need my services or me as a person I thought I could be of help, but I have since thought about it and concluded that I will not allow anyone to drive me out of my country. I still have great films to make, but with what has happened, all that is being threatened. What is happening to me is not a new thing. We have gone over this before. Piracy has been here for years. America makes $12 Billion annually because they have 13,000 cinemas and as I said Nigeria has less than 50. 

I might look into other media if this business is no longer viable. I don’t want to continue suffering unnecessarily. I have to look at media in another way, possible solutions to the challenges and that is why am trying to develop other systems like creating other platforms online. I will be announcing this very soon. I have gone far with it, developing technology solutions to the problem.  But again, we have to be careful because Nigeria lacks internet capacity. Even urban access is a shameful 2 per cent. The vital infrastructures to support businesses aren’t there. I don’t see a country that cannot produce electricity can say she is a leading film nation. 

Have you received any money from the government’s ‘Nollywood fund’?

Kelani: The Federal Government wants to throw money into the industry but I’m afraid the problem will persist because the funds will not be used to provide the infrastructure. If you make the film, where will you sell it? The infrastructure that is needed is not there. I think Lagos State government understands that and the governor of the state, Raji Fashola is trying to build neighborhood cinemas. On the access to the loan, it has a long process online which I’ve I followed last year. I still haven’t heard anything. 

You have been a filmmaker for over 40 years. How do you source for funds to produce movies?

Kelani: People lend me money. Soft loans from friends and at times a little from banks. I refused to concentrate on the banks for funding because the interest would kill me. I equally have a lot of supporters, too, who help me.

Estimates being bandied about estimate that revenue from Nollywood will grow to $560 million. 
Do you agree?

Kelani: I don’t know where people get their data. 

There’s some concern about flooding the market with movies of varying quality. What do you think about this?

Kelani: Honestly, these are the people that have been keeping the industry going because they are really dynamic, in spite of it all. They manage to keep the business going. They continuously invest in the industry and these are the heroes of Nollywood. 

Your work takes heavily from your [Yoruba] culture. Any reason for that?

Kelani: I’m inspired by my cultural experience. I’m a Yoruba man. A whole community invests in me. I started primary school living with my grandmother and in about three years I could read and write, reading books written by authors like D.O Fagunwa and others. I grew up with Yoruba literature and philosophy.

Since 1991, you have produced 15 films. Which one among them gave you a good run for your money?

Kelani: Every single one. Film production is difficult, very challenging. There is no small film. Various indices of economy are always the same. There is no difference.

Are there any of your children following your footsteps?

Kelani: None. That is part of the problem. My children are smarter; they can see the problems and have decided not to jump in. But I’m not ruling it out that at a later time in their lives, after satisfying their yearnings, they won’t dabble in film. 

I have invested so much in the business and it is my life. It’s rewarding, but not in the sense of material gain. At this moment, I don’t own a house, but those films I’ve made are more significant than a house. The films are useful to people, and are even being studied outside the country. So you can say I have not wasted my time. I’m 66 now, so its fine, to me, that I’d have left a legacy behind after all is said and done.

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About Unknown

Deji Sadiq, a.k.a DEJI OF LAGOS is a LASU trained Economist turned freelance journalist, a Blogger, an information strategist, a public affairs analyst and a committed activist with a passion for equal opportunities.