A new Nollywood drama titled “EVI” is scheduled to arrive in Nigerian cinemas later this year, and early details suggest it will lean more into emotional storytelling than glossy celebrity fantasy. Written and directed by Uyoyou Adia, the film takes a closer look at what happens when success disappears and rebuilding becomes the only option.

At the centre of the story is Evi-Oghene Donalds, a gifted musician whose career is rising fast until everything falls apart. Her record label collapses unexpectedly, and the life she has carefully built around fame begins to crumble. Instead of sold-out stages, she is left performing in small lounges and taking on work as a waitress just to stay afloat.

Rather than focusing only on the glamour of the music industry, “EVI” appears to explore the uncomfortable shift that comes with losing status, comfort, and control. Evi’s journey becomes less about celebrity and more about humility, identity, and what it really means to begin again when pride has nowhere to hide.

Her life intersects with Kola Adeloye, a former talent manager whose own struggles run deep. Kola is battling alcohol dependency and gambling addiction, and his personal decline mirrors Evi’s career setback. What starts as a survival connection gradually turns into a complicated partnership, one that forces both characters to confront their flaws and question the price of loyalty.

The film features Osas Okonyon in the lead role, marking her debut in a feature-length Nollywood production. She is joined by a notable cast that includes Uzor Arukwe, Omowunmi Dada, Ibrahim Suleiman, and singer-actress Waje Iruobe. Other supporting names include Tomiwa Tegbe and veteran actor Femi Branch, adding further weight to the ensemble.

Produced by Judith Audu Productions alongside Switch Visuals Productions, Signet Rings Productions, and NOI Productions, “EVI” is also backed through partnerships with organisations such as CCHUB, Africa No Filter, and support from the Gates Foundation, a combination that hints at the film’s interest in socially reflective themes.

From its premise, “EVI” seems positioned as a story about redemption that isn’t wrapped in perfection, but in messy choices, fragile trust, and the slow work of self-discovery.

The film is scheduled to open in cinemas across Nigeria on 27 March, offering audiences a character-driven look at fame, failure, and the quiet strength it takes to rise again.

Source and Credit: BellaNaija