Keeping up with the Kandasamys, the popular local film that was made in association with M-Net, has raked in a remarkable R1.6 million at the box office on opening weekend (3 March 2017), with an attendance of nearly 30ย 000 people. The film openedย at number 3ย on theย Top 10, afterย Logan: The Wolverineย andย Fifty Shades Darker.
Keeping up with the Kandasamys was produced by the award-winning duo, Helena Spring and the late Junaid Ahmed (who sadly passed away in November 2016). โSeeing the feel-good impact of Keeping up with the Kandasamysย on audiences, as it celebrates family values with humour and laughter, has been a wonderful experience and Iโm both thrilled and thankful for the tremendous support cinema goers are giving the film. Even though the film celebrates Indian culture and identity, the characters remain relatable across all racial and cultural lines, connecting with the audiences own familial experiences,โ says Spring. ย
This rib-tickling, two-sided family comedy affair,ย was directedย by Durban filmmaker Jayan Moodley (White Gold) and co-written by Moodley and Rory Booth.
โThis film has something for everyone.ย The universal story of neighbourhood rivalry, our desperate need for acceptanceย andย the climb for perceived societal success, is something which touches everyone the world over. At the end of the day we can all recognize our quirksย and foiblesย andย the funny side of the weird, wonderfulย andย strangely competitive world we live in,โย adds Moodley.
Keeping up with the Kandasamysย promises audiences some truly funny laughs about families, relationshipsย andย neighbourhood-envy.ย The film was produced in association with The National Film and Video Foundation, The Kwazulu Natal Film Commission, M-Net and The DTI, with distribution by Ster-Kinekor Entertainment.
It features music byย Kyle Deutschย andย The Parlotones. The film is currently showing at selected theatres nationwide (see list below).
ABOUT KEEPING UP WITH THE KANDASAMYS
Set in Chatsworth,ย KEEPING UP WITH THE KANDASAMYSย opens a window into the lifestyleย andย subculture of modern-day Indian South Africans; their aspirations, dreamsย andย challenges.ย
โI loved shooting this film on location in Chatsworth. Itโs an iconic place, like District Six or Soweto. Itโs vibrant, livelyย andย spirited,ย andย I believe we have managed to not only capture its idiosyncrasies but also its heartย andย soul that will make global audiences fall in love with it too, over a barrel full of laughs,โย says director Jayan Moodley about her debut film.
The film stars Jailoshiniย Naidoo (Eastern Mosaic, Lotus FM)ย andย Maeshni Naicker (Broken Promises)ย asย the matriarchal rivals of neighbouring families, whose young adult children become romantically involved,ย andย despite their best efforts to keep them apart, they are forced to acknowledge that in the end love will always prevail.
Shanti Naidoo (Maeshni Naicker) is a typical Type-A personality. Always on the move, going out of her way to please people,ย and overcompensating for her perceived inadequacies by continually cooking up a storm in the kitchen. Her life would be just fine, except that her neighbour, Jenniferย Kandasamyย (Jailoshini Naidoo), always seemsย to hold the upper hand.
When Jennifer realises her beautiful tomboy daughter, Jodi (Mishqah Parthiephal), is in love with Shantiโs son Prinesh (Madhushan Singh) โ a sensitive medical student, she is determined to break them up. But in order to do that she will have to enlist her rivalโs help.ย ย
Other cast include names Rajesh Gopie, Koobeshan Naidoo, Mariam Bassa and Neil Govender.