Holywood-based Chirisa in Zim for "Rise" world pre...

Holywood-based Chirisa in Zim for "Rise" world premiere

Gilbert Munetsi

AWARD-winning Holywood-based film star Tongayi Arnold Chirisa flew into the country on Monday for the world premiere screening of his local movie, Rise, which will be shown in Harare tomorrow.

The red carpet ceremony takes place at Ster Kinekor at Joina City, to be succeeded by an after-party at a local club where invited guests will benefit from an up-close interaction with the prominent actor.

The film, in which protagonist Chirisa stars alongside Sikhanyiso Ngwenya, is insipred by the life of Victoria Falls based boxing trainer Tobias Mupfuti who, in the opening act, tells his audience he has known nothing else but fighting.

"This is my story. All I ever wanted was to be a fighter because that (fighting) is all I know. When you come into this world with noone to fight for you, you learn to fight for yourself. First for survival, then for opportunity and for freedom. The few among us that keep fighting even after we have found freedom, we're the ones that fight for greatness. True greatness doesnt come from beating others. It comes from fighting for others."

Mupfuti, who now runs a boxing gym and orphanage in Victoria Falls that is home to 50 abandoned souls, was himself left on his own by his parents and lived the challenging life of the streets. How "Rocky Balbao" (as he is affectionately known) managed to defy the odds to become a rescuer of abandoned children is what makes the core theme of the film Rise.

And what makes this Zimbabwe-to-the-world motion picture qualify as world-rated material is the fact that it is the works of great technical minds put together with Jessica Rowlands directing while award-winning Joe Njagu is the producer.

At the inception of the project a year ago, lead actor Chirisa disclosed the two aims Rise would accomplish: telling the story of a poor-boy-makes-good and putting the majestic Victoria Falls in the limelight.

"We are trying to tell the story of Mupfuti which we are optimisitc will bring joy to the world. Hopefully, the Vic Falls gets world attention in the process. We are trying to champion local film and bring Zimbabweans to the forefront. We have been in the backyard for too long and its time for the world to hear our stories through a collaborative effort with internationals to come in nd help locals."

Chirisa needs little introduction, if any. From the humble beginnings at Rooftop Promotions to the silver screen in Zimbabwe where he took on minor roles in such productions as Studio 263 as detective Trevor Daies, he had greater things beckoning when he landed a role in the 2008 blockbuster movie Mr Bones 2 in which he starred as Hekule.

He was to also land defining roles in the Crusoe TV series on NBC; act as Father Nicholas in the Jim Gaffigan Show as well as other productions of the likes of Back from the Past, Transformers and Rise of the Beasts.

Arguably the best film star to emerge from Zimbabwe, Chirisa is a recipient of awards that include WeScreenplay, UCLA, Social World Film, Page Turner Awards, Atlanta Film Fest and the London Independent Film Awards. His transition from theatre to the global stage makes him a symbol of excellence in the intertainment industry with a story good enough to inspire generations that wish to pursue acting as a career.