‘Kalushi’ puts SA on map
KALUSHI , an upcoming biopic about struggle icon Solomon Mahlangu, has been hailed as one of the top films from the South African film industry.
After a 10-year wait the film, based on the life and execution of the anti-apartheid activist, will finally be on our screens in March. It stars Jafta Mamabolo‚ Thabo Rametsi and Pearl Thusi.
After a successful international film festival run and world premiere‚ screening the movie on home soil will be a dream come true for director Mandla Dube, who came up with the idea of Kalushi as a Wits University lecturer 10 years ago.
“I realised that my class did not fully understand who some of our struggle heroes were and what they stood for.
“So‚ I was introduced to Solomon’s family and I saw the empathy among the students towards the story‚” Mandla said.
He first tested the waters with a theatre play before moving the idea onto the big screen.
It was during this process that the producers fell in love with a young actor who was determined to play Solomon.
Thabo Rametsi said: “It was a four-month audition and they had already given the role to [someone else].
“I literally came in and insisted on reading for the role.
“After my audition the entire casting team were in tears. It felt like the role chose me.”
Rametsi was awarded Best Actor at the inaugural Brics Film Festival in India last year.
It was a proud moment for him and he believes all South Africans should be proud of the film. “It is not just a good film. It is great. It is 100% South African. It shows that we‚ as a nation‚ have the talent to produce a film as good as any on the international stage.”