Glitz and glam for ‘Kandasamys’

THE Kardashians were shoved aside recently when much of Durban tried instead to keep up with the Kandasamys.

The worldwide premier of the locally produced comedy Keeping Up With the Kandasamys took place at a glittering red carpet launch at Gateway Ster-Kinekor last week.

Filmed in the iconic suburb of Chatsworth, south of Durban, the movie is a Romeo and Juliet- style romcom and window into the lifestyle and subculture of modernday Indians in South Africa.

The movie stars Jailoshini Naidoo and Maeshni Naicker as the matriarchal rivals of neighbouring families.

When their children become lovers, the mothers join forces to keep them apart.

The movie also stars actor, playwright and director Rajesh Gopie, who plays one of the hapless husbands together with comedian Koobeshen Naidoo.

The story is supported by an array of colourful characters that celebrate the rich and spicy way of life in Durban.

Keeping Up With the Kandasamys was produced by Helena Spring and Junaid Ahmed, who died suddenly while working on the project.

He had described the movie as his “love letter to Chatsworth”.

It is directed by Durban filmmaker Jayan Moodley, scriptwriter of the award-winning movie White Gold. While it touches on themes that are universal, Moodley said it is the first of its kind to reflect the space and identity that is Chatsworth.

“Parents interfering in their kids’ lives is something so familiar but this time we are doing it Chatsworth style.

“The universal story of neighbourhood rivalry, our desperate need for acceptance and the climb for perceived societal success, is something which touches everyone the world over,” Moodley said.

“At the end of the day, we can all recognise our quirks and foibles and the funny side of the weird, wonderful and strangely competitive world we live in,” Moodley said in a separate interview with online arts portal Artsvark.

Keeping Up With the Kandasamys will be released in cinemas nationwide on March 3.