Bandex Abandons Music

It takes some conviction for a successful music producer like Ahmed Banda, better known as Bandex, to decide to direct his attention to another enterprise other than what he’s been known to do so well. The man behind the breakthrough of stars-to-be like Isaac, Cee and Erico, all of Mentor fame, says he is diverting his attention to film production because “I have all it takes, in terms of equipment, personnel and the conviction to go into the field of movie production.” Banda says his adventure into the world of movies is also because of the relatively low cost involved in producing movies. “I’ve been encouraged to go into the movie business because it is less demanding in terms of take-off capital, the production itself and the promotion.” The father of three, who is married to a Thai said, “working with musicians is far more expensive than working with actors. “I could, for instance, use about Gh¢40,000 to clinch a deal with a musician but I will need about Gh¢15,000 more to promote the music which includes paying payola to radio and TV stations. The music could, in the end, be a total flop but that is not to say movies can’t flop. With movies, however, I could spend the same amount and still come up with more five-digit dividends.” Brimming with confidence, Banda said that everything is on course for his new movie, Kokonsa, a comedy in Twi, to be released by the end of this month. It features well-known actors such as Agya Koo, Auntie Mercy, Katawere and Clement (also known as APC). It is written and directed by Kofi Yeboah. Asked if he has any plans to include some of the musicians he has worked with in subsequent movies, he said “just like India movies which makes use of a lot of musical scenes, I believe we can do the same depending on the story we use.” He conceded that the public may probably question the rationale behind musicians combining music with acting as the two are equally demanding, but he maintains that the move may unearth some more budding artistes while earning them some extra money.