(Aaqil
Hoosen, Judy Naidoo (Director) & Shaan Nathoo)
Once in a lifetime comes a story of true
greatness such as the epic tale of Baboo and his best friend Ticky. That story
is Kings of Mulberry Street, the new
feature film written and directed by acclaimed director and producer Judy
Naidoo.
Feisty Ticky (Aaqil Hoosen) is the
archetypal Indian artful dodger – cheeky and daring with a streetwise swagger
and little respect for rules. He escapes the realities of his 80s Sugarhill
District existence by living in a Bollywood dream world where he’s an
unbeatable action hero. Rooftops are his kingdom.
When chubby, timid Baboo (Shaan Nathoo)
moves into the neighbourhood with his snooty, academic dad, Ticky thinks he’s
the biggest loser he’s ever seen – but soon the two boys are drawn together by
the shared threat of local bully and crime boss, Raja.
These two nine-year-old misfits decide to
rid their community of the evil Raja. Their plan –emulate the antics and
mannerisms of Ticky’s Bollywood heroes. The battle between escapism and harsh
reality is not even remotely matched, yet these heroes share a loyalty so
special that they can conquer all. In the sugar cane fields of KZN, and the
poor but vibrant and bustling streets (and rooftops) of Sugarhill District, the
two unlikely comrades learn about life and overcoming obstacles, prejudices and
their own deepest fears in this charming and hilarious adventure.
“We had an extensive casting search for
both the child actors as well as the adults,” says Naidoo. “I was hands-on
throughout the process. We found the Baboo character quite early in the casting
process. However, we couldn't find Ticky. We had to go to public schools in KZN
and we found him after a really long process and many call-backs. I’m delighted
that Aaqil happens to be from my home town, Verulam.”
Delving deeper into the characters of the
delightful boys, Naidoo explains that Ticky Chetty’s petty criminal, father
expects his son will follow his lead. Ticky’s mother’s incessant panic and his
bizarre granny all give the young boy good reason to do what he does best –
ignore reality and escape into fantasy.
“Ticky has a knack for switching roles in
the blink of the eye and without a hint of irony. He looks upon Baboo as a
‘case’, a rescue mission. His motive: he needs a partner to bring down the man
who has enslaved his dad. Of course, Ticky believes he himself is a true
Bollywood-style hero.”
In real life, Aaqil loves watching his
favourite series Naruto, playing
fetch with his dog and mastering chess with his little sister Naajiya. He is
drawn to the ocean and is fascinated by sea creatures. He hopes to become a
marine biologist one day. He also has a keen interest in archaeology, and likes
to study things from the past. He hopes this will take him to different
continents when he’s a little older.
“Harold Singh, nicknamed Baboo, is a plump,
nerdy nine-year-old,” Naidoo says. “He wishes he could go through most social
situations being invisible. Incredibly smart, he can spell almost any word in
the English dictionary but is clueless about survival on the streets. He has no
stomach for anything physical and panics at the first sign of risk. After
experiencing a life-altering setback, his father moves them to his late
grandmother’s house on Mulberry Street. Moving into his late grandmother’s
place on Mulberry Street is both a curse and blessing for young Baboo. The
former because, as Ticky points out, Baboo hasn’t got a clue about how to be an
Indian. “
Shaan Nathoo, who plays this charming young
fellow, is 9 years old. He loves drawing comics, animals, playing with Lego,
cycling and having imaginary nerf gun wars with his friends.
Catch Kings
of Mulberry Street in cinemas on June 28, 2019.
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