Eggie Naidu

political cartoonist and owner of the Centre for Fine Arts, Animation and Design, did the famous mural of the Indian leaders that stood at the entrance of Saagries in Durban. Naidu said he also assisted his students in creating a similar mural at his restaurant in Sandton, Johannesburg.

While growing up in the Casbah, Naidu along with his cousins spent their school holidays and weekends helping out in the family-owned shops. As the business expanded, the Delhi Restaurant was opened by Naidu’s father, Steve Naidu, and his uncles Jack, Jaipal, PR Moodley and Habai Naidoo. Other familyowned eating houses included Princess Restaurant in Dr Goonam (formerly Prince Edward) Street and Ingcunce

Road (Albert Street) and the upmarket, fine dining Paradise Ocean Terminal at Durban harbour.

“The Paradise Ocean Terminal was situated at the centre of the harbour with beautiful views. The Who’s Who of Durban would dine here. Local artists including Eddie Gratino, Essop Ganie, David Besman, Eddie Watts, Vivian Kingsley, Cresendos, Moon Glows and Vassie Naidoo of Dukes Combo performed here,” said Naidu.

“My grandfather struck up a friendship with business magnate,

Sol Kerzner. So after midnight the international cabaret artist, who performed at the Copacabana, the

Beverly Hills Hotel, performed at the Paradise Restaurant. This is when I got my first taste of entertainment. I would accompany my father to fetch the artists.”

His uncles Deva and Krish took over the ownership of Paradise Restaurant and his father opened the Gemini Theatre in the late 1960s. The theatre was named after a Tamil actor, Gemini Ganesan.

This is when Naidu, who was in his 20s at the time, got his first paid job earning R200 a month working at the theatre.

International and local artists including Thoguluva Meenatchi “TM” Iyengar Soundararajan, Pithukuli