(The late Junaid Ahmed watches a scene in progress)
The
much-anticipated South African film Keeping
up with the Kandasamys directed by Jayan Moodley and produced by the late
Junaid Ahmed and Helena Spring premiered to an audience of almost 600 ten days
ago at Gateway SterKinekor in Durban. It opens nationwide in cinemas this
Friday (March3).
Keeping up with the Kandasamys was filmed on a variety of locations in
Durban including the Woodhurst Hall, the beachfront, BMW Supertech in Edwin
Swales Road, Chatsworth Hospice, various parks, Wilson’s Wharf and Bangladesh
Market, amongst others.
Set in Chatsworth,
in Durban, director Jayan Moodley said in an earlier interview that she
“believes that we have managed to not only capture its idiosyncrasies but also
its heart and soul, that will make global audiences fall in love with it too,
over a barrel full of laughs.” After seeing it with along with a local audience
at the premiere, Moodley said “It was nail-biting watching it with the people
that know the place, as I believed they would be the most critical, but as we
had all hoped, the punch-lines landed and the audience laughed and clapped with
enjoyment. I hope people all over the country come out to see it and enjoy the
laughter and warmth of humanity it provides.”
“The film is a
truly home-grown Durban product,” says Toni Monty, Head of the Durban Film
Office, the eThekwini Municipality’s film industry development unit. “It was
written by Durban’s Rory Booth and Jayan Moodley and stars Durban actors Jailoshini
Naidoo and Maeshni Naicker with Mishqah Parthiepha, Madhushan Sing, Rajesh
Gopie and Koobeshen Naidoo and a host of local actors and extras in the cast
totalling almost 500 from our city.
“And not only was
the talent from Durban but 48 of the 80-strong crew including the director,
writers and a producer were from Durban – that is something to make us all very
proud. Big acknowledgments and thanks must go to the producers for their input
in making this a proudly-Durban film.
“It is particularly
poignant for us in the local film industry, as Durban-based producer, Junaid
Ahmed, who, together with Helena Spring, was responsible for a number of other
highly acclaimed South African films such as Happiness is a Four Letter Word, More than Just a Game, and Hard to Get, passed away in November
last year during post-production of this film. It is a fitting “swan-song” for
one of our own, who contributed hugely to the growth of the local industry
through tireless efforts to nurture and encourage home-grown talent.
“We hope that the
film is a shining example of what can be achieved in Durban, by Durban-people,
and we look forward to welcoming many more film-makers to take advantage of the
great locations we have in the city.”
Due to open on
circuit in South Africa on Friday, (March 3), the film has been made possible
through support by the Durban Film Office, the KwaZulu-Natal Film Commission,
The National Film And Video Foundation And The Department Of Trade &
Industry.
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