City, State/Country – Some wahala don burst for Nollywood as married actors dey receive serious backlash from fans wen dem act romantic scenes. E be like say some viewers no like am, dem sabi call am disrespectful to the husband or wife wey dey at home. But hear dis: dem same people no dey complain when dem dey watch foreign films wey get romantic scenes. Na wetin be the matter with we Nigerians sef? (Chai! The hypocrisy be like say e no get end!)
For example, actor Daniel don recently find hinself for this debate when e ku join Bolaji Ogunmola for one romantic part inside ‘Summer Rain’. Fans wey dey follow the actors sharp sharp don use am take highlight the matter. Sabi supporters dey throwindore say, “Abeg, dem just dey act! On-screen love no be real life.” And na true because dem don dey talk say romantic scenes na part of the story to make e believable. In fact, if dem remove am, how we go know say love dey? E go just be like watching empty basket.
Social media don turn the matter into global trend with hashtags wey dey trend anytime wey Nollywood drop new romantic films. Na so many people go start dey shout say dem no gree kiss for local films, but clear their throat for Hollywood and Bollywood films wey dem dey share without looking back. This one just dey show say Nigeria wey dey hold local actors to high standards, but dem dey treat foreign actors like dem be some kind demigods. (Me I dey wonder, wetin happen to our sense of balance?)
Some critics go still stress say cultural norms dey play serious role for this double standard wey dey happen. Naija people dey expect married actors to look serious, while dem dey forget say Hollywood na far place wey no suppose concern us. Na wetin e go take balance creativity as we dey fit express our culture without holding back. Some filmmakers dey warn say if this pressure continue, e go fit limit wetin dem fit create, which go make the films feel plain and boring.
But make we no lie, Nollywood still dey rule both for Naija and outside. Romantic dramas dey pull crowd, even as people dey come online dey shout different things. Wetin we go fit learn from this? Na say plenty Nigerians dey gree watch wetin dem dey condemn on top social media! (Wonders shall never end, I swear!)
As Nollywood dey grow, observers don talk say e go make sense if dem fit balance culture and art. Not be small matter o! People go need dey sharp for their talk while dem support local actors wey dey do their work. If no be so, wetin go happen to our storytelling as local filmmakers? E go fall flat, we go dey run around in circle. Abeg, make we show our actors love and know say dem just dey do wetin dem sabi. Na ‘acting’ wey dem dey do, no be say dem wan sing to the public mind, na movie! Omo Naija, we go soon learn this one, I dey sure.
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