Long time, no see
Old lovers, separated siblings and childhood friends reunite on reality family show Mehlomadala.
Mehlomadala Season 1 Saturdays SABC2 (*192) 18:00
In an era where communication is made easier with social media sites, reuniting with a former friend is only a mouse click away. While these sites allow for networking with people all over the world, they lack physical contact that is essential in building a bond. “At the end of the day, we’re human. We want to see and feel that raw emotion in our relationships,” says Takalani Mulaudzi, producer of reality show Mehlomadala (2018- current). “The reality show follows people who want to make contact with their loved ones, be it separated siblings or old colleagues. In isiZulu, Mehlomadala means ‘long time no see’ and we want people to reminisce about the good old days with people who have made an impact in their lives. It doesn’t matter if they have been in touch on social media, however, they should not have physically seen each other in the past five years,” she adds.
GETTING IN TOUCH
While participants arrive on Mehlomadala to reconnect with their loved ones, their loved one has no idea who they are meeting. This twist in suspense triggers emotions from both parties. “We all have a special person who left a mark in our lives that we would like to see again. Imagine not knowing who the person is?” blurts Takalani. In the first segment of the show, the “seeker” introduces themselves to the audience and describes what the former relationship was like with the person that they want to see. “This tells the audience why it is important for them to reunite with the person. The participants have a lot to say to their loved ones and they want to get it off their chests in person and while they are describing their bond, they get into their emotions,” explains Takalani. The loved one on the other hand is confused. They want an explanation to why they are on the show but the producers don’t tell them. “The loved one is always taken aback when they meet the seeker. It’s moving for us to witness this as the production team and it makes the show a pleasure to be a part of.”
BREAKING NEW GROUND
Unlike sensationalist reality shows where participants harass each other or argue, Mehlomadala is all about bringing back nostalgic memories between the people. “The show isn’t about confronting or embarrassing someone. We wanted to revive their old relationship and also take viewers on a journey back to the good old days,” reveals Takalani. As much as the show promotes positivity in rebuilding relationships, the producer explains that filming wasn’t an easy process.
“As a TV producer, I can admit that creating a new show is challenging because you want the audience to like it and you also want to be respectful to the participants’ emotions,” she says. “The show borders on a reality documentary as there aren’t any scripts. We have to pay attention to everyone’s feelings when filming, and we also had to put the participants at ease as some were conscious in front of the camera. Nevertheless, it was fulfilling to see people from across the board come together and open up about the past”.
TRAIL THROUGH
After the camera wraps up, the production crew check on the participants to see whether they’re still in contact with each other. “We have a follow-up two weeks after the meeting,” says Takalani. “We have a lot of success stories. Some participants have phone diaries and others have met up again”.