Merendran Reddy: from 'City Ses'la' to 'Lucky Fish'

SINCE his big break in the sitcom City Ses'la at age 23, Merendran Reddy has emerged as a versatile figure, weaving his passion for acting, writing and producing into a successful career that spans over two decades.

- CANDICE SOOBRAMONEY

As he prepares for the release of his latest project, Lucky Fish, Reddy, now 43, reflects on his journey, which was inspired after he watched Jim Carey as a private detective in the movie, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective.

"Well, for some reason after watching Ace Ventura, I became pretty obsessed with Jim Carrey. At the time, my sister was at the National School of the Arts, specialising in visual art. My mother saw my constant reenacting of scenes from Ace Ventura and then The Mask. She decided I should audition to get into the school as well, to specialise in drama.

"I wanted to go to Parktown Boys or King Edward VII School with all my friends, but I dare not argue with my mother. I got in, but from grades 8 to 10. I wasn't that interested in the drama stuff. It was only in Grade 11 when I got into the main school play, Noises Off, that the acting thing bit me.

"In matric, I was selected as one of the top eight drama pupils to perform in front of the entire school and judges for a chance to get a full bursary to Afda. I didn't get it, but I decided it was still something I needed to do."

Without waiting on others, Reddy, who ended up studying at Afda Joburg, then created his own big break.

"Luke Rous, who is the other producer on Lucky Fish, and I have been friends since Afda. We met in 2000, and by 2003, when we were graduating, we had done a number of two-man shows for theatre.