Veteran filmmaker, Tunde Kelani‘s 2021 film, ‘Ayinla’, has grossed ₦70.49 million in the Nigerian box office more than four weeks after its release.
According to data released by the Cinema Exhibitors Association of Nigeria (CEAN), the figure put the movie in the sixth spot on the chart.
‘Black Widow’, ‘Fast and Furious’ as well as ‘Dwindle!’ sat at the top three spots while ‘Devil in Agbada’ and ‘Space Jam: A New Legacy’ occupied the fourth and fifth positions respectively.
Directed by Kelani and co-produced by Jade Osiberu’s Greoh Studios, the movie examined some aspect of tbe life and times of Waidi Ayinla Yusuf, the late Apala music star fondly referred to as Ayinla Omowura.
The ‘biopic’ released on June 18 sees Ayinla (played by Lateef Adedimeji) at the centre of attention and heated controversies in his community due to his popularity.
It featured several other prominent celebrities including Kunle Afolayan, Mr Macaroni, Omawunmi Dada, Bimbo Manuel, Bimbo Ademoye, and Ade Laoye.
A sensation in the 1970s who dazzled many fans with his craft, Ayinla was killed in a bar-room brawl on May 6, 1980 aged 47.
He died from a cerebral haemorrhage after being struck on the head with a beer mug by Bayewu, his manager at the time.
Bayewu was taken to court and sentenced to death a few years later.
On the day he died, EMI Records disclosed that at least 50,000 copies sale was recorded on each of his albums.
