Kalushi star cries sabotage

Struggle biopic fails to attract large numbers

Thabo Rametsi, the star of the biopic of struggle icon Solomon Mahlangu , is seething at what he called “lack of support” from local cinemas.

The film has been dropped from a reported 36 cinemas following its release last month, and it is now shown in only 18 cinemas nationwide.

Rametsi, who stars alongside South African actress Pearl Thusi, told Sowetan that the movie has been “sabotaged” by local cinema companies.

He said they were given 17 cinemas nationwide and after they complained to Nathi Mthethwa, the Minister of Arts and Culture and the number was increased to 33.

“Even then, the cinemas they allocated for Kalushi are mostly [Cine] Prestige, which means tickets are more expensive than your normal cinemas, which means our targeted market cannot, on average, afford a ticket.

“Even I don’t watch movies at Prestige.”

Rametsi said the cinemas allocated for the movie are also not close enough to the townships, which is where a majority of people more likely to watch the movie are located.

Rametsi pointed out that Kalushi was still not available at cinemas in the North West and Limpopo.

The movie is believed to have grossed just under R5-million in its two months at cinemas, despite the popular hashtag #GoSeeKalushi.

It bagged the best film award at the Luxor African Film Festival in Egypt recently.

The movie also premiered at the British Film Institute last week on the day which marked 38 years since Mahlangu was hanged.

NuMetro said in a statement the movie was removed because there were bigger films such as Keeping with the Kadasamays which has raked in R1.6 million at the box office on opening weekend, while Kalushi managed only R763 877 in the opening week.

Ster-Kinekor’s spokesperson could not be reached for comment yesterday.

madibogoj@sowetan.co.za

Even I don’t watch movies at Prestige Thabo Rametsi STAR OF KALUSHI