Kochi: As the latest release, Sudani From Nigeria is running into packed halls garnering positive responses from all corners, its director implored public to refrain from making pirated copies of the film.
       It is reported that the pirated version of the movie is already available on many piracy websites. Director Zakariya, in a presser, said that several significant scenes of the film that were copied directly from the theatres are doing the rounds on the social media.
He added that people may be circulating these copied scenes on the internet because they like the movie, but he also reminded that such acts, in fact, shattered the dreams of people whose efforts went into the making of the film.
" Sudani From Nigeria is not a sports movie even though the story unfolds against the backdrop of football. Beyond the celebration of the game, it revolves around the lives of the people. You may have heard many stories about Malappuram. But this movie portrays the simple lives of the natives of Malappuram. Every youngster hailing from Malappuram, who dreams of cinema, wishes to take a movie with the sevens football as its theme. The best among them are yet to come," said the young filmmaker.
         Nigerian actor Samuel Abiola Robinson, who plays one of the protagonists in the film, said he really enjoyed his stay in Kerala. Pointing towards Zakariya, Robinson said the director was always been there as an interpreter and close friend which made him feel comfortable while acting in an unknown language.
The actor, who is quite popular in his home country, was clearly bowled over by the mouth-watering delicacies of Malabar like the porotta and beef curry combo, pathiri and biriyani.
       During the press meet, the filmmakers revealed it was extremely difficult for the crew to cast a suitable actor to play the role of Sudani in the movie. They extended their search to young actors in Africa with the help of Google, and finally they managed to contact Robinson, a popular young television and film actor in Africa. The makers said that they wanted to have newcomers in all the roles, except for the character called Majeed played by actor Soubin Shahir. They added that they were happy that Savithri Sasidharan and Sarasa Balusserry who essayed the roles of the endearing 'umma' in the film are being praised for their brilliant performances.
Cinematographer Shaiju Khalid, who also produced the movie and co-writer Muhsin Parari, too took part in the press meet.