Alhaji Aliyu Salisu: Why I spent over 2 years making movie on religious tolerance

Weekend Magazine: What informed your decision to produce the movie, ‘Mutum Da Addininsa?’ Alhaji Aliyu Salisu: As a true Nigerian, I believe I have a duty to contribute towards making this nation a better place. We all know how this country has been deliberately thrown into chaos due to the public’s inability to understand themselves. […]

Weekend Magazine: What informed your decision to produce the movie, ‘Mutum Da Addininsa?’

Alhaji Aliyu Salisu: As a true Nigerian, I believe I have a duty to contribute towards making this nation a better place. We all know how this country has been deliberately thrown into chaos due to the public’s inability to understand themselves. It has been a thing of concern to me particularly, observing daily that innocent lives are being wasted. This is why I decided to produce a movie that would in a way address this issue with a view to promoting religious tolerance among the different ethnic groups in the country.

WM: How is this movie different from the others you have produced?

Salisu: You see this business of moviemaking isn’t all about making money. Of course making money is one of the main reasons many are into it. However, there are other more rewarding reasons. This is a movie we have tried to involve stakeholders in, especially those at the helm of policymaking and execution.

It is the first movie that a state government has supported fully in the history of Kannywood. We want to ensure that those who matter in making change are involved. To God be the glory, we have succeeded in contacting them and they have assured us of their commitment.

Similarly, we have tried to use true representations of all the ethnic groups as our cast. People auditioned for the roles, and we selected from the best irrespective of their popularity. Maybe when it is finally released, you will get to understand what we have tried to achieve.

We spent over two and a half years producing this movie and that has made it different from all the other movies we have produced. This is to give the movie the needed outlook and an expert touch.

WM: No doubt this entails a lot of financial commitment. How much have you expended so far?

Salisu: This is a movie that we have spent a lot of money to produce. The Kano State governor, Abdullahi Ganduje has given the movie the necessary input needed to host a grand launch.

So far, we have spent about N36 million and counting, for production as preparation for the grand launching is still in progress.

WM: Do you intend to show the movie in cinemas after the launch?

Salisu: To us, this movie goes beyond the issue of making money or name. Our target is for the authorities concerned to use it as a peace-preaching tool among the Nigerians.  However, making the movie available to the public would also assist in propagating the message we intend to project. Therefore, for now we are waiting to see how things turn out before we finally decide on what to do. But we are hoping that this movie will make the needed difference and influence people to change their perception and become agents of peace. 

WM: How do you rate the support you have so far received?

Salisu: You see, the launch of the new movie is regarded as a positive development as this time around government and Kannywood collaborated, without friction, as against what was happening  some years back. We have support from the state censors  board under the leadership of Isma’illa Afakallah, who is also a practitioner in the moviemaking industry. The board has been very supportive in terms of guidance and counselling on what ought to be done.

WM: Who are the cast members of the movie?

Salisu: The movie ‘Mutum Da Addininsa’ stars big names in Kannywood such as Ali Nuhu, Nafisa Abdullahi, Tijjani Faraga, Maryam Habila, among others.