Welcome to Maula Prison is a Malawian drama film that premiered in May 2025, directed by Bester Kauwa.[1] The film tells the story of Jaliwa, played by Amos Msekandiana, who becomes wrongly accused and imprisoned in Maula Prison after being betrayed his friend in a corrupt foreign exchange deal.[2] The film is in two former Malawian major official languages, Chichewa and Chitumbuka, with embedded English subtitles. It also features some scenes of Swahili and English.
The film follows Jaliwa's journey as he goes through the harsh realities of life inside Maula Prison. The prison is depicted as a place of confinement and a symbol of wider societal issues such as injustice and overcrowding, as well as human neglect. With bad living conditions and limited access to medical care, as well as a strict inmate hierarchy, Jaliwa must confront the brutal truths of prison life while fighting to maintain his dignity and hope.
The film premiered in Malawian major cities such as Lilongwe, Blantyre, and Mzuzu, on May 2-4, 2025. The movie broke box office records as the first locally produced film to sell out venues in the country.
Reception
The film received widespread acclaim and sparked discussions on social media, with audiences and critics praising its bold portrayal of Malawian realities.
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