Cinematic tribute to city's Indian heritage

WHILE the movie The Cane Cutter is awash with the well-known trauma, tragedies and triumphs since the arrival of Indian indentured labourers in South Africa, the film is also a celebration of the city of Durban and its umbilical attachment to this tribe

- MERVYN NAIDOO

It was fitting that the movie's "World Premiere" happened at the city's Suncoast CineCentre last Monday, around the 165th anniversary of the indentured labourers arrival.

The movie's official release in theatres was on Friday.

Apart from a scene shot in Cape Town and another in New York City, where the mother of Dev, the male lead played by Razeen Dada, engages in a long-distance telephone call with her son; Durban, its sites, slangs, sounds and its accomplished sons and daughters takes centre-stage.

Given Durban's association with the Indian community ever since the SS Truro docked there on November 16, 1860, it came down to the creativity of the movie's producer (Shan Pillay) and director (Eubulus Timothy) to infuse the city's flavours into the storyline.

Against his parents' best wishes, Dev is pursuing his dream of producing a documentary that tells the story of his grandfather's journey as an indentured labourer.

He falls in love with the leading lady, Amisha (Dr Kajal Lutchminarain), a medical doctor who has to deal with the trappings of her life, particularly her mother's unrelenting judgement that weighs heavily on her.

In one instance, Amisha's mother, of Gujarati descent, had a choice word to describe her love interest, Dev, who is of Telugu origin.

“Sies!"