A star-studded music-inspired film ‘Killer Music,’ that navigates the unsafe waters of fame, power and a deadly murder plot that threatens to topple their empire, is set to premiere on September 14, at Century Cinema.
The film was written by Jacques Murigande, also known as Mighty Popo, a Rwandan music pioneer who turned himself into a script writer and let his inspirations drive him until he brought to life the film.
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The two-hour-and-eight-minute film was produced and directed by Anirban Mitra, an Indian filmmaker based in Rwanda, while Mighty Popo stands out as the executive producer of the whole project.
"Probably the best Rwandan movie of this kind that we are going to premiere,” Might Popo told The New Times who revealed that the post-production of the movie was carried out at Rwanda School of Creative Arts and Music which he leads.
The movie premier is set to attract a host of players in the film industry in Rwanda and beyond, with officials from Uganda Communications Council also invited to grace the premiere event.
"We invited as many people in the film industry here in Rwanda to the movie premier. We shall also plan to have them on the red carpet to add colour to the event,” he added.
The story and inspiration
‘Killer Music’ features an ensemble cast from Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya entangled in the high-stakes drama of a music label mired in betrayal and secrets.
The story unfolds within the turbulent world of Killer Music, a label managed by Sano along with partners Kimmy, Rumata, and Nina. Artists Sine and Mwiza find themselves entangled in label politics, facing pressures of new music creation and complex contract negotiations. Parallel to their story, detective Gisa engages in a rogue battle against crime, leading to unintended consequences that implicate many, including the daughter of the influential Kamali.
As crimes intertwine with the music business, Ira, newly freed from prison, is pulled into a murder investigation that reveals deep-rooted corruption within the label, implicating the powerful Kamali as the orchestrator. The climax sees dramatic confrontations and tragic downfalls, culminating in a powerful prison choir performance led by Shannon and Mwiza, symbolizing the redemptive power of art in chaos.
In a previous interview with The NewTimes, film director Mitra said the thriller navigates the gritty realities of the music industry and the criminal underworld, exploring themes of power, betrayal, and redemption, leaving audiences on edge and craving the next chapter in this gripping saga.
The film features more than 300 creatives. Starring in it are renowned actors like Kenya’s Serah Wanjiru, Simon Kalema from Uganda and Rwanda’s Patrick Mugisha, TV personality Luckman Nzeyimana, Vianney Kayumba commonly known as ‘Manzi’ in Rwandan cinema industry and Charles Nkurikiyinka alias Umukonyine among others.