Malaika 2023 Movie: Review, Plot, Cast & More

Table of Contents

Introduction

The Malaika 2023 movie entered cinemas with the promise of a heavenly experience. Named after the Swahili word for “angel,” it aimed to blend mysticism, family drama, and humor into an uplifting tale. Directed by Steve Sodiya, Toyin Abraham, and Kolawole Ajeyemi, and written by Samuel Olasehinde, the film positioned itself as a soulful journey through child loss, spiritual awakening, and personal redemption.

Now streaming on Circuits TV, the film continues to attract attention. But while Malaika 2023 movie boasts strong performances and some ambitious themes, it ultimately suffers from poor focus, underdeveloped ideas, and a clash of genres that make it hard to take seriously.

Release Date, Language, and Streaming

Release Date (Streaming): February 21, 2025
Original Cinema Release: December 2023
Streaming Platform: Circuits TV
Languages: English and Yoruba

The Malaika 2023 movie originally hit Nigerian cinemas in December 2023 with high hopes. It later made its way to Circuits TV in early 2025, giving a broader audience a chance to experience its blend of traditional and modern Nollywood storytelling.

Cast & Crew

Directed by:

Steve Sodiya
Toyin Abraham
Kolawole Ajeyemi

Written by: Samuel Olasehinde

Main Cast:

Toyin Abraham as Adetutu
Emeka Ike as Dr Ebuka
Oluwapelumi Olawumi as Chichi
Ibrahim Chatta
Odunlade Adekola
Anne Kansiime

Each actor brings their own flair to the screen, but the film’s inconsistent tone and writing often limit the effectiveness of their performances.

Review

Plot Summary

The Malaika 2023 movie centers on Adetutu, a strong-willed and short-tempered woman who experiences repeated miscarriages. Married to Dr Ebuka, a fertility specialist, Adetutu faces societal and personal pressure to become a mother. Yet, the couple never explores medical treatment seriously. Instead, Adetutu seeks help from a spiritual diviner, who blames her miscarriages on her anger.

At the same time, her stepdaughter Chichi grows closer to a humble family that changes her outlook on life. As the film progresses, we see supernatural encounters, family conflicts, and even a surprise action sequence—none of which feel fully developed or emotionally grounded.

Themes and Storytelling

On paper, Malaika 2023 movie presents an engaging story of emotional healing, family tension, and spiritual realization. It attempts to tackle:

The societal stigma around women without children
The emotional trauma of miscarriage
Step-parenting and teenage rebellion
Spiritual versus medical solutions to personal issues

However, these themes are not explored with the nuance they deserve. The most glaring flaw is the film’s central misunderstanding: it conflates miscarriage with infertility. Adetutu is shown to get pregnant multiple times, which means she is not infertile. Yet, the Malaika 2023 movie repeatedly calls her condition “infertility,” misrepresenting a complex issue and confusing viewers.

This mistake weakens the emotional weight of Adetutu’s journey and reduces a potentially deep exploration into a shallow emotional arc. Rather than focusing on the profound pain of losing a child, the story diverts attention to loud arguments, comedic bits, and overly simplistic resolutions.

Performances

Toyin Abraham delivers a passionate performance as Adetutu, embodying the emotional highs and lows of a woman in crisis. However, her acting often feels overly dramatic, detracting from the authenticity of her character.
Emeka Ike plays Dr Ebuka with subdued seriousness, but his character is grossly underused. As a fertility doctor, he offers no insight or medical support to his wife, which feels like a missed opportunity.
Oluwapelumi Olawumi as Chichi captures teenage rebellion effectively, though her character is not given enough depth to evolve meaningfully.
Ibrahim Chatta brings in spiritual mysticism but his role feels more decorative than impactful.
Odunlade Adekola appears as a comedic, shady driver—his character is amusing but unnecessary.
Anne Kansiime adds light-hearted humor, but her role, like many others, lacks meaningful development.

Overall, the performances are hit-or-miss. While the cast shows promise, the script’s lack of coherence holds them back.

Technical Elements

Technically, Malaika 2023 movie is visually polished. Cinematography is competent, and the production design is bright and appealing. Yet, the technical decisions undermine the story in crucial ways.

Sound Design: The film suffers from exaggerated background music that oversells emotion. Instead of letting scenes breathe, the music tries too hard to evoke reactions.
Action Scenes: A martial arts-style fight sequence feels out of place. While it might entertain some viewers, it clashes with the movie’s emotional tone and spiritual undercurrent.
Cinematography & Set Design: The Lagos Light Rail scene is visually appealing but feels shoehorned in for promotional purposes rather than narrative value.
Product Placement: The blatant use of brand placements interrupts the flow of the story, blurring the line between art and advertising.

Genre Confusion

Another major flaw is the film’s inability to decide what it wants to be. Is it:

A family drama?
A supernatural tale?
A comedy?
An action film?

By attempting to be all of these at once, Malaika 2023 movie loses its identity. The film meanders from one style to another, which keeps the viewer from emotionally investing in the characters or themes.

Missed Opportunities

Spirituality vs. Science: The film could have sparked meaningful conversations by exploring the intersection of spirituality and medicine in Nigerian culture. Instead, it offers a rushed spiritual “solution” without context or buildup.
Step-parenting Dynamics: The tension between Adetutu and Chichi is promising but is often used for loud confrontations rather than real emotional growth.
Miscarriage Representation: The film glosses over the psychological and emotional toll of miscarriage. By blaming Adetutu’s miscarriages on anger, the story inadvertently stigmatizes women dealing with loss.

FAQs

Q: Is Malaika based on a true story?
A: No, Malaika 2023 movie is a fictional story that draws from cultural and spiritual themes common in Nigerian society.

Q: Where can I watch Malaika 2023 movie?
A: You can stream Malaika 2023 movie on Circuits TV as of February 21, 2025.

Q: What language is the film in?
A: The film features a mix of English and Yoruba, reflecting the bilingual nature of modern Nollywood cinema.

Q: What genre is Malaika?
A: The film tries to be a mix of drama, spiritual fantasy, comedy, and action, but it struggles to balance these genres effectively.

Q: Why is the movie controversial?
A:The most controversial aspect is its misrepresentation of miscarriage as infertility. This oversight undermines the seriousness of the subject and weakens the film’s core message.

Conclusion

The Malaika 2023 movie set out to be a meaningful exploration of womanhood, loss, and healing through spirituality. Unfortunately, its execution falters due to genre confusion, underdeveloped characters, and a fundamental misunderstanding of its central conflict. While it offers some entertaining moments and decent visuals, its lack of focus makes it difficult to recommend wholeheartedly.

If you’re watching for light entertainment and don’t mind exaggerated performances or plot inconsistencies, you may find Malaika 2023 movie passable. However, those looking for a deep, emotionally resonant narrative about loss and redemption may walk away disappointed.

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