Film set on sugar cane farm
A Locally-produced film will delve into the lives of two young boys on a sugar cane farm, the co-existence between Indian and African people, the influence of apartheid and the prejudices within the community.
The shooting of Sugar Cane Boy the Movie is set to begin later this month in locations on the Kwazulu-natal North Coast, a farm, and in Durban and surrounds.
The movie is based on Rubendra Govender’s short novel, Sugar Cane Boy, which was released in 2008 and has become a school set book.
The book tells the story of Soya Sivaraman and his best friend, Boniwe Mkhize, two boys growing up on a sugar cane farm in Inanda on the KZN North Coast. Set in the early 1970s through to the 1990s, the story follows the paths of the boys, who rise above their humble rural beginnings to become men of importance.
As they grow up, Soya and Boniwe learn to appreciate and respect each other’s culture while simultaneously being forced to confront prejudices within their own communities.
Govender is the executive producer and director of the movie, while Arona Khemraj is the producer and lead actress.
Govender said: “It’s a historical drama with comedy, is informative and has aspects of various genres. It’s a passion project. In the novel, I expertly wrote about apartheid and the effects.
I also wrote about the influence of white people in a positive way and didn't show all of them as bad people. In the screenplay, which is a mastering of the novel, I expanded on each of the different characters.
“The film explores the co-existence between Indian and African people, the influence of apartheid and the prejudices within the community. Prejudice between the have and have nots, and the rich and poor,” said Govender.
He said while growing up in the 1970s in Inanda, on his family’s sugar cane farm, he always knew that he would write a book about his life, and that he would make a film about it.
“I used my creativity to write a fictional story, based on more than 95 percent of true-life,” he said.
Govender said the film would have an award-winning international director of photography and would include a multicultural cast of novice and experienced actors. Among the actors are Keval Maharaj who will play the role of the adult Soya. Ruhaan Singh, Rushil Juglall and Malibongwe Gasa will also act in the movie.
The movie is set to be released mid next year.