Ace filmmaker, Tunde
Kelani is stirring a revolution. The award winning filmmaker is charting a new
path in film production in Nigeria with his 'filmed play' Yeepa, a fusion
of stage and
film technique adapted from Femi Osofisan's classic literature, Yeepa
Solarin Nbo. Poised to preserve some Yoruba literature, he initiated a
project," Retrieval of Yoruba Classics" - drama, poetry, literature,
etc, which, he said, are huge and have
always been the bedrock of his past works.
In recent time, he unearthed some of these huge literary
resources and took them to stage.
"These are materials that resonate with me dating back
to when I was very young.
I was able to re-produce “The Palmwine Drinkard” originally
written by Amos Tutuola, but the production was based on the opera by Kola
Ogunmola, and I’m really happy that we were able to achieve it. Incidentally,
the Lagos State government has supported us in the overall project of the
retrieval of the Yoruba classics. In 2010, I had produced, “Yeepa Solarin Nbo”
which the Lagos State government used to celebrate Nigeria’s 50th independence
anniversary."
For the third time, the film maker, who has just wrapped his new feature film, Dazzling Mirage, due for premiere
November 7, has revisited the classic, now as a 'filmed play', deploying a
hybrid of traditional theatre artistes, trained
actors and a handful of Nollywood stars. The 'filmed drama' depicts Isola (Bayo
Bankole) a rascally and unreliable man who is mistaken for the formidable Public
Complaints Commissioner, Solarin, by the
corrupt officials of the Local Government Council. His presence causes anxiety
and panic among the officials, and they make desperate efforts to out-do each
other so as to pacify the visitor.
The flurry of activities to cover their
misdeeds expose the high level of corruption and rot prevalent in the local council. Isola is
therefore generously bribed and accorded the reception that befits the status
of a man of importance. The discovery of the mistaken identity coincides with
the arrival of the real Public Complaints Commissioner.
The new direction, Kelani
said, would elicit interests and
excitement in Nigerian film industry, which critics believe, it's not churning
out new offerings and as a result fails
to arouse response or interest of the audience.
"The industry needs more exciting stories. Productions that are not
only stimulating but good enough to elicit huge response from the audience and
commercial success at the box office. We really need to swing away from that
stale or repetitive stories' era and
explore the richness of our literary resources. That's why I always emphasize
and remind young people that you can't, for instance, be a good filmmaker if
you don't read, because having acquired the skill to make films, your bank of
imagination and fantasy has to come from somewhere. You cannot create something
from nothing, it's not possible."
In Yeepa, adapted from Femi Osofisan's Yeepa Solarin Mbo,
in memory of Dr. Tai Solarin,
(1922-1994), a former proprietor and Principal, Mayflower School in Ikenne and one time
Public Complaints Commissioner, Oyo, Ogun and Ondo States, in 1976, feared for
his relentless battle against corruption, the 'filmed drama' could not have
been more apt especially now that corruption has taken a frightening dimension
in Nigeria.
In Yeepa,
Kelani, preserves the stage form and
infuses film technique, deploying four cameras shooting in Dream Studio, Ikeja,
Lagos and on locations in Abeokuta. With award winning film director, Niji Akanni
as the Artistic Director, Kelani recalled the intervention of Nobel Laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, when he
was tinkering with the idea of filming Amos
Tutuola's Palmwine Drinkard.
"Prof. Wole Soyinka reminded me that it would take a
long time to achieve, that why don't I film it on stage? I think Yeepa is the guinea pig, an
experiment preceeding greater things because I've already started to think of
other great plays that influenced me and clearly impressed me. I'm already
moving beyond Yeepa and thinking of something else."
The robust cast is a fusion of the traditional theatre
artists, trained thespians and Nollywood- Ropo Ewenla, Bayo Bankole, Ayo Binta
Mogaji, Ebun Oloyede (Olaiya), Toyin Osinaike, Joke Muyiwa, Kayode Olaiya,
Monsuru Olajide, Samson Alli, Ibikunle Oladipo, Gboyega Olomodosi, Toyin James,
Toyin Omotubora, Yemi Ogunyemi.
To ensure the theme
of the 'filmed drama' sinks, Yeepa, will be
screened in select cinemas
and communities' halls ,schools and
not foreclosing private and corporate screenings from October.
In the 'filmed play'
are injections of songs that
appeal to conscience and social
causes- Fela Anikulapo Kuti's Je n wi
temi,(Don't Gag Me) and Ololufe, Ayinla
Omowura's Omi Tuntun, which opened the film.
Already, the film's poster designed by Timok Abiodun is going viral online, eliciting comments. With
supports from Wiring Africa Ltd, Jide Bello, Yinka Oduniyi, Sola Fijabi and
Sulaiman Olaniyan, Yeepa, Kelani enunciated that his motive is not only reflective but a sum total of who
we are as a people in a nation.
"As far as I’m concerned, the theme is like an
extension of what I’ve always done, that is looking for socially relevant
content, and “Yeepa” certainly fits that description as we prepare for the 2015
elections. Already, you can see the drama playing out and it’s just like
comedy. When you look at all the tension
in the country now: Boko Haram in the North, political violence, dwindling oil
resources and all that, “Yeepa” is just a comic relief. Let’s laugh at
ourselves because we’re all corrupt."
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