Nollywood And Kannywood: Brothers In Contrast

The recent ban of Kannywood actress who was alleged to have been partying with friends during one of her movie shoots has brought to the fore, the rules governing Kannywood practitioners.
While Nollywood is not too keen on dealing with promiscuity, Kannywood is working hard in bringing sanity to the industry. ANTHONY ADA ABRAHAM writes on some opinions and suggestions from some credible  actors and the rules governing them

Nollywood has been viewed by a lot of people as an industry that would continue to grow in leaps and bounds.

While accolades are accorded to Nollywood for going through all odds to becoming the fastest growing movie industry in the world, Kannywood is still basking in the euphoria of its conservative nature and traditional principle responsible for its growth.

Kannywood:

A recent report by Premium Times talks about the issue of principle rocking the industry which was criticised by fans and religious bigots who believe that such is not in terdem with the code of ethics of Kannywood when popular actress, Nafisa Abdullahi, was suspended by the Arewa Film Makers Association of Nigeria, AFMAN.

Though she has since been recalled, Nafisa was suspended for allegedly violating some of the association’s rules governing the conduct of artistes in the Hausa movie industry. She was, among others, accused of organising a party in Kaduna with some of her colleagues.

According to the report, “The actress has apologised for her actions and on her behalf, many people have spoken to the AFMAN to consider her and give her a second chance.”

It was also gathered that the association will not relent in making sure there is discipline in the industry.

While Nafisa would not speak on the recall. A close ally of the actress said, “Nafisa is a talent in Kannywood. We, her friends; colleagues and fans are so happy that she is back and I tell you, people should be ready to see more of Nafisa’s great talent.”

But people like Ali Nuhu, Sani Danja are now big stars in the industry.

Nollywood:

While Ali Nuhu has starred in many block busters, Sani Danja is getting his hands into the pot.

Criticism has also fallen on these actors on their delving into the mainstream industry, but critics believed this has been the best thing that has happened to them.

One of those is Audu Musa, an ardent Nollywood fan and critic.

“Everyone is entitled to what he or she feels. Kannywood is too conservative and is following the steps of Bollywood. But little did they know that even the Bollywood itself has evolved to a bigger picture.”

Audu also added that “Nollywood is world known and the people should make sure they have the enthusiasm before taking the decision. Kannywood has to wake up to the challenge and improve in lots of things. We are a developed world now.”

A lot of people believe that lack of scrutiny by industry watchers is responsible for the continued obscene scenes in the industry. The Nigerian movie industry (Home video Industry) has been typically accepted to have started immediately, following the success of Ken Nebue’s “Living in Bondage”. From then on, its expansion and attendant complications are known (by fascinated parties). However , events preceding 1992, are not popular though a few have tried to trace the history of Nollywood. The cost of creating films in that era was financially back-breaking, with Nigerians aggravating the efforts of the filmmakers by opting to measure out films of occidental and oriental origin at the Cinemas and Exhibition centres, rather versus the locally created ones.

But recently, not minding the efforts of these men who have made the industry what it is today, people have continued to speak on the degeneration in script writing and central messages.

According to former chairman of the Actors Guild of Nigeria (AGN) and Nollywood actor, Zack Orji, in a recent interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), he frowned at the level of indecent dressing among actresses in the country.

Orji, who was reported to have seen the light and is presently a pastor in Power Life Assembly Ministry, Owerri, made the condemnation at the Imo state capital.

He noted that movies which were originally meant to promote the people’s cultural heritage and discipline are being destroyed in the name of civilisation.

“Most movies shown in recent times are capable of destroying the moral background of children as they have become the most popular movie audience. Film production must be properly checkmated before circulation because it is wrong for an actor or actress to expose his or her body to the world in the disguise of acting,’’ he said.

Mr Orji further said some actresses were suspended during his regime as the chairman of the Actors Guild. He advised actors and actresses to lead lives worthy of emulation adding that in spite of ministerial work, he is still active in the industry but can only accept scripts that promote morality.

The Way Forward:

With Orji’s emphasis on issues of morals that have to do with the latter, there seem a big similarity in contrast.

Kannywood is still part of the movie industry in Nigeria. The more they look at themselves as different from Nollywood, the more issues of ethnicity crops in. There are other northern states and regions that shoot movies but still collaborate with Nollywood. The tilting to Kannywood by Ali Nuhu Sani Danja, Halima Abubakar and others is a wonderful idea. The problem would be when they decide to go contrary to the norms and tradition of Africa in the name of modernisation.