From Kelani, dazzling message to people with sickle-cell anaemia

Tunde Kelani

Tunde Kelani’s much-awaited film, ‘Dazzling Mirage’, finally hit the screen a few days ago in Lagos. It was opened to the public for viewing in an event attended by celebrities and some of the stakeholders of the Nigerian entertainment industry at the Agip Recital Hall of the prestigious MUSON Centre, Onikan.

Adapted from a book of the same title written by Olayinka Egbokhare, ‘Dazzling Mirage’ examines the plight of people afflicted with sickle-cell anaemia in Nigeria. At the same time, it attempts to explode the myth surrounding this health condition.

The film tells the moving story of a young, talented and upwardly mobile woman suffering from the health disorder, who suddenly finds herself in a grim struggle to overcome a stinging social stigma and other prejudices, as well as to preserve her self-esteem from crumbling.

In spite of her obvious handicap, the heroine (Kemi ‘Lala’ Akindoju) strives even harder to succeed in her chosen career, as well as to get married and relish the joys of motherhood.

An excited Kelani, whose reputation for producing didactic films of high aesthetic quality is well known, could not help but describe ‘Dazzling Mirage’ as “a film for the people and by the people” before the audience at the MUSON Centre.

The celebrated filmmaker wants movie fans to see the film as his contribution to the campaign to enlighten the general public about issues revolving around the sickle cell anaemia.

“Some people say we make films for money and fame. But the truth is that I have always used my films to educate the public on social and health-related issues. In the case of ‘Dazzling Mirage’, my concern is the societal attitude towards sickle-cell anaemia and those that are afflicted with the health disorder,” he says, in an interview with our correspondent.

Kelani is treading a familiar path, having done the same thing with ‘Ayo ni Mofe’ some years ago. In that film, he dealt with the problems associated with the management of mentally challenged people, just as he focused on the challenges of single parentage in ‘Maami’.

To achieve the kind of results that he had always visualised with the new movie, Kelani found himself doing a balancing act of a sort. He had to ensure that the film was entertaining and educative enough to gain the attention of movie fans across the country.

One other thing he did was make sure the love story, which defines the character of the film, was able to stand alone and on its merit.

“We had a fantastic cast comprising tested actors and actresses who were already stars in their own rights,” he says.

The film parades some of the best in the industry. Apart from Akindoju, the others include Taiwo Ajai-Lycett, Kunle Afolayan, Seun Akindele, Bimbo Manuel, Khabirat Kafidipe and Yomi Fash-Lanso.

Kelani also notes that though the strength of ‘Dazzling Mirage’ lies in the successful treatment of its main theme, the film is all about providing good entertainment to movie fans.

But the production of the film seemed to be riddled all the way with challenges. Before shooting began, the director and producer had to undertake a study of the Psychiatrist Hospital in the Yaba area of Lagos.

Inadequate funding also posed a serious challenge to the filmmaker. Production was stalled on three different occasions for want of money to meet certain basic needs. What kept the film going afterwards, Kelani notes, was the kind gestures of the enthusiastic members of the cast who offered to help.

“I called them up three times, when we ran into financial difficulty, and suggested we should suspend production. But they kicked against it and said we should continue,” he says.

Courtesy: Punch Newspaper