MARCH • socials
31 2013
masala of sexy, sassy and talented created a spectacularly spicy appetiser at the launch of the South Africa India Film and Television Awards (Saifta) at Durban’s ICC on Friday night.
A precursor to the inaugural awards on September 6 to laud Indian and South African film and theatre personalities, the event organised by acclaimed Indian outfit Celebrity Locker Entertainment boasted a teaser of what to expect with celebrities, including actresses Dia Mirza, Jacqueline Fernandez, Anusha Dandekar and director Farah Khan. In true Bollywood style, they provided a three-hour-long song, dance and fashion extravaganza. It seamlessly articulated and fused the vibrancy of the colour of SA flavours such as Shosoloza and the electric slide with the high-energy rhythmic moves of Radha on the dance floor. Local jazz singer Debbie Marie’s rendition of Kuch Kuch was an absolute treat.
Eastern Mosaic’s Jailoshini Naidoo, her hilarious alter-ego Aunty Rumba and Top Billing’s Simba Mhere were the evening’s programme directors — overshadowed at times by the glamorously über confident Celebrity Locker director Rakshanda Khan. Aunty Rumba was an absolute hoot with her impromptu questions to Durban’s social hobnobbers. Among them was benevolent birthday boy Vivian Reddy, Saifta judge Farah Khan — who offered to cast Rumba as Shahrukh Khan’s mother in her next film — a prettyin-pink SA Saifta judge Leleti Khumalo, who is six months pregnant, and Isidingo’s Calvin (Maurice Paige).
Celebrity Locker co-director Kedhar Gawde — who choreographed and directed the haute couture fashion show from the house of India’s Apa Reena — proved that their outfit have entertainment in their DNA. From the red carpet entrance to the champagne and live model installation featuring SA legends of fashion David Tlale and Haroun Hansrot and the technically superior show (from pyrotechnics to electronic lighting display par excellence), the evening showcased the unlimited power of partnerships. It is for this reason that Sadha Naidoo, Tourism KwaZulu-Natal’s chairman, has supported the awards.
The awards