Post production has been completed on the new feature film Kings of Mulberry Street, written and directed by acclaimed director and producer Judy Naidoo.

Set in the fictional town of Sugarhill District in the early 80s, the film was shot on location in Verulam and Tongaat in KwaZulu Natal, during the latter half of 2017. The film tells the story of two young Indian boys who must find a way to overcome their differences and unite in order to defeat the bullying local crime lord, who’s threatening their families.

It’s a charming and hilarious adventure, with universal themes that will appeal to the whole family. The film also pays tribute to classic 80’s Bollywood movies and their heroes.

In the lead roles are young newcomers Aaqil Hoosen, as Ticky Chetty and Shaan Nathoo, as Baboo Harold Singh. They were discovered by Durban-based casting director Kajal Bagwandeen, of Imagine Worx.

Naidoo describes it as a story of true greatness and an epic tale of Baboo and his best friend, Ticky. Feisty Ticky is like a tjara artful dodger – cheeky and daring, with a streetwise swagger and little respect for rules.

Ticky escapes the realities of his 80’s Sugarhill District’s existence by living in a Bollywood dream world where he’s an unbeatable action hero. Rooftops are his kingdom. When chubby, timid Baboo moves into the neighbourhood with his snooty, academic dad, Ticky thinks he’s the biggest loser he’s ever seen, but soon the two boys are drawn together by the shared threat of local bully and crime boss, Raja.

Naidoo says the film is not only a homage to Indian cinema from the 80’s, but also pays tribute to where she comes from. She adds that she wanted to showcase a world that has not been featured in South African cinema before, and communities that have not been represented on the big screen. Locations in Verulam and Tongaat make up the fictional town of Sugarhill District. She used the best and most cinematic locations from both little towns, to create the vibrant world of the story.

Naidoo is a multi-award-winning filmmaker who had great success on the local and international film festival circuit when her 2016 debut feature, Hatchet Hour scooped several prestigious awards, including Best Director and Best Picture at the New Hope Film Festival in Pennsylvania, as well as the Best Foreign Film Award at the LA Femme International Film Festival. The film was also nominated for a Golden Horn Award for Best Achievement in Cinematography.

Kings of Mulberry Street will open at cinemas in June 2019 and is distributed in South Africa by Indigenous film Distribution.

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Bollywood actress, Lillete Dubey, best known for her roles in captivating movies like Best Marigold Hotel, The Second-Best Marigold Hotel, Karl Ho Naa Ho and Monsoon Wedding will arrived in South Africa earlier this week to attend the official Durban premiere of the much anticipated dramedy, 3 Days To Go…

Dubey mentions that she thinks 3 Days To Go is a film that will appeal to a very wide demographic and people of all generations.  Moreover, the movie is a wonderful mix of humour, drama, emotions, all closely packed over a span of three days.  She adds it is a tight script, with lots happening and enough variety to keep an audience completely engaged.

This film, which is the directorial debut of award-winning producer, Bianca Isaac, serves a slice of life with a storyline applicable to any culture and race, with funny moments and deeply touching ones and will open in cinemas nationwide on 25 January 2019.

Lakshmi, portrayed by Lillete Dubey and Gabriel Isaac, played by Rueben Naidoo, have been happily married for almost 45 years.  While out cake tasting, in preparations for their 45th anniversary part, Gabriel has a heart attack and dies, forcing all the children to come home earlier than planned.  Three of their four children haven’t been home in 5 years.  The only child they see is Janet Isaac, played by Leeanda Reddy, their 2nd born who lives with them.

After losing her husband in a tragic accident, she moved back home and has been the only child taking care of her parents together with her teenage daughter Kiara, played by Kiara Govender, who has decided that now would be the perfect time to start acting out. Janet finally found love again with Oliver, played by Jonathan Boynton-Lee, but somehow is struggling to move forward and now she must juggle her unpredictable siblings coming home for the funeral with an assortment of partners, children and issues in tow.

Melissa Isaac, portrayed by Jailoshini Naidoo, the 1st born, married someone who she thought was the man of her dreams, played by Pranesh Maharaj, until it became miserable.  Her only daughter, Candice, portrayed by Zakeeya Patel, grew up in this madness becoming a young single mother of 2 children and is now looking for love in all the wrong places. Riki Isaac, played by Rahul Brijnath, is the 3rd child and only son and like most sons, he is the apple of his mother’s eye.  His financial success lead to excessive drinking, a divorce, gambling and debt.  His ongoing hustling makes him cross paths with a colourful gangster, Babes, portrayed by Tumi Morake.

Actress Kajal Bagwandeen, in the role of Amy, the last born, ran off at a young age and married a man 10 years older than her.  Faced with losing everything in the divorce and potentially having to move back home, Amy has concocted a plan to have a baby, to secure her future.

Together, this crazy family has 3 days to go, in order to survive each other – under one roof, before they spread their father’s ashes and part ways again. As the siblings re-examine their shared history and their tattered relationships, they learn how to handle life, when everything seems to go wrong.

It is about family, the choices we make and finding redemption. You may recognize someone you know in the story… or you may even recognize yourself…

3 Days To Go was produced by FigJam Entertainment in association with the KZN Film Commission, the IDC the DTI and the KZN Department of Economic Development. It is scheduled for release in cinemas nationwide, on 25 January 2019, by Filmfinity (Pty) Ltd.

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No matter how long it has been since you last saw your relatives, meeting up at family gatherings, especially funerals, can lead to drama and then some. This typical, and often very emotional scenario, is also the inspiration behind award-winning producer Bianca Isaac’s directorial debut, 3 Days to Go, which puts family relationships in the spotlight!

The movie marks a milestone for this talented writer and producer, who has crafted a career in storytelling with acclaimed drama series Umilio, Swartwater, Kruispad and Getroud Met Rugby. Isaac, who owns FigJam Entertainment, a production company specialising in feature films, is looking forward to being in the director’s seat: “I am a producer at heart, but being able to direct this sensational new project is very exciting”. Isaac is supported by producer Gregory Mthanji and director of photography Jonathan De La Querra, both of whom she has collaborated with on past projects.

3 Days to Go tells the story of adult siblings who, after the sudden death of their father, are forced to return to their childhood home – with an assortment of partners, children and issues in tow. They need to survive three days in each other’s company, under one roof, before they spread their father’s ashes and part ways.

This film serves a slice of life and the story is applicable to any culture and race, with hilariously funny moments and deeply touching ones. It is about family, the choices we make and finding redemption. You may recognise someone you know in the story… or you may even recognise yourself.

This humoristic tale boasts an impressive cast, which includes, Leeanda Reddy, Bollywood’s Lillette Dubey, Jailoshini Naidoo, Kajal Bagwandeen, Rahul Brijnath, Pranesh Maharaj, Ruben Naidoo and Zakeeya Patel, as the dysfunctional Isaac family. They are joined on screen by Jonathan Boynton-Lee, Tumi Morake and Ashish Gangarpersad. Highlighting Isaac’s affinity towards nurturing young talent, 3 Days to Go also features newcomer Kiara Govender.

Keep an eye on our social media platforms, as Stage and Screen will post the trailer as soon as it is released.

3 Days to Go is a universal story about family and forgiveness and will appeal to audiences of all ages. The film was produced in association with the KZN Film Commission (KZNFC), the IDC and the DTI. It will be released in cinemas nationwide on 25 January 2019, by Filmfinity (Pty) Ltd.

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