Chirisa stars in highest grossing SA film of all time

RISING Zimbabwean film star Tongayi Arnold Chirisa plays a leading role, that of King Hekule, in Mr Bones 2, which in just two weeks has become the highest grossing South African Film of all time, raking in R12.5 million.

Mr Bones 2 reportedly grossed an all-time South African record of almost R9 million in the opening week of release for a local film and also shattered non-holiday opening weekend records for SA films, grossing R6.2 million.

The movie opened in South Africa on Thursday, November 27, 2008.

Leon Schuster, a leading South African actor said: “It is extremely gratifying for me to have the continued support of the public. It is also really humbling for me to have this kind of recognition as the audience is foremost in my mind when I make movies.”

Mr Bones 2 also outgrossed the first week’s earnings of the US$200 million-budgeted Bond movie, Quantum of Solace, which earned less than R7.9 million in its first week of release in SA.

The follow-up to the most successful South African film of all-time, MR. BONES 2: BACK FROM THE PAST, is the story of Hekule, the King of Kuvukiland who is given a gemstone by the dying Kunji Balanadin. The stone is cursed and causes Hekule to become possessed by the spirit of the mischievous Kunji. It is up Mr. Bones, the royal witch doctor, to cure his King and get rid of this cursed stone by returning the gem to its home in an Indian fishing village.

Mr Bones 2 has continued its Box Office success by retaining its Number One position for the second consecutive weekend and as the top grossing film in South Africa - beating the new release, Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa by almost R500 000.

Tongayi Chirisa is a talented actor and full range singer. He became street-recognisable in Zimbabwe when he took part in the most popular soap opera in the country at the time- Studio 263.

He has a diploma in International Hotel Management and is currently a student at AFDA studying Live Performance.

His feature film career began in 2003 and has seen him star in Darrell Roodt’s Zimbabwe, Leon Schuster’s Mr. Bones 2, Sean Robert Daniels’ Ordinary Lives, Anopa Makaka’s Evil In Our Midst and Tawanda Gunda’s Tanyaradzwa.  He has also starred in a range of short films, among which are Zvinhu Zvacho Izvi, Cousin Brother, Ace of Hearts and Skin.

Tongayi has appeared in the SABC 1 TV show, Redemption (Usindiso), and as mentioned above on Studio 263. More recently he acted the part of Man Friday in the new NBC international television series, Crusoe.

Tongayi has worked with renowned stage director, Walter Muparutsa, as the lead star in the following theatre productions:  Wedding Night, Harry: The Brother from the Other Mother, Sizwe Bansi Is Dead and The Island.  His other stage appearances include roles in Pillow Cases, Upside Down and Crossroads.

• Story, ZimboJam
• More Pictures of Tongayi in Mr Bones 2