Saturday was a serene night-spell in the commercial city of Blantyre and it turned out to be a perfect time for watching a movie. As such, families patronised the Meet and Greet session of the trending film School Days at an event that included its screening at Amaryllis Hotel.
It was an evening that saw people coming out in large numbers for School Days, which garnered one million views on YouTube in three days.
Patrons filled up Orchid room, with the biggest numbers being of those who paid ordinary tickets.
This was the second outing for the School Days crew at a Meet and Greet session, having successfully debuted in Lilongwe, where they also pulled a huge audience.
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Hosted by Super DT, the Meet and Greet session warmed up with a short music act from an artist who contributed sound to School Days, before musician-cum filmmaker Kendall Kamwendo, who is the brains behind the film alongside Lawrence Nyale, who were helped by director Bester Kauwa, told people that they would be bringing movie lovers another film later this year.
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“The support that you have given us tonight is huge. We did not anticipate such an audience. This has motivated us and, so, watch the space for another equally good film,” Kendall, who stars as one of the naughty form four students known as Chaksy, said.
He then spoke about Tumpe Mtaya, who starred as another form four problematic student known as Phwedo, who has won the hearts of many people with his acting skills, reminding them that his exploits started in his previous romantic film titled Where My Heart Belongs.
And, so, the audience had to sample Where My Heart Belongs but did not finish it all before they finally watched School Days, a film that rekindles memories of teasing and hounding that people experience in secondary school.
“I watched this film on YouTube but I decided to come and watch it again. This film resonates well with what many of us experienced in secondary school,” former Blantyre City Mayor Noel Chalamanda, said.
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After watching the film, the room went into a delirium of cheers when Kendall introduced some of the members of the cast that included Amos Filisa (Mphatso Machira), Rudo Mkukupa Chakwera (mother to Leticia) and Yvonne Chanache (Leticia).
But it was Phwedo who dominated the proceedings before he joined the audience, where he was embraced, with some giving him money.
There was even a moment when DT introduced to the audience a boy, who he indicated came with his family and longed to meet Phwedo on the night and give him money.
“It feels great to be here and interact with people. Their support has been overwhelming and we promise to continue giving them the best,” he said.
The cast that came all the way from Lilongwe was driven to Blantyre by Bentley Car Hire.
“This film is exposing the bad side of teasing and bullying and, so, we are also going in schools to sensitise students not to indulge in such but work hard in their studies,” Filisa said.
Legislator Mike Bango called for support from well-wishers, saying the film, with its powerful story, needs to go to all the corners including the Northern Region, which, he indicated, is mostly sidelined when it comes to events.
Some of the notable creatives that graced the event included veteran filmmaker Shemu Joyah, producer Tapps Bandawe and gospel musician Khama Khwiliro.
