Mzansi meets Bollywood in a new locally produced film called, Bhai’s Café, in which comedian Siv Ngesi shows off his Indian dance moves and singing.
The film is set for release on Valentine’s Day and is the perfect ice-breaker for a first date.
Siv plays the lead role in the 99-minute long fliek, which is filled with drama, romance and good humour.
The film was shot on the Cape Flats and focuses on “family, urban gentrification and romance with a Bollywood touch”.
Bollywood comes to Wynberg in Bhai’s Cafe, as this cornerstone of the community comes under threat from a ruthless property developer.
SET: Mehboob Bawa, Rehane Abrahams
At the same time Bhai’s daughter is swept off her feet by the property magnate’s son in true Bollywood fashion, setting up a battle of epic comic proportions as Bhai rallies the community to save his babbie winkel, the neighbourhood and a blossoming love affair.
Siv plays Patrick, a huge fan of Bollywood, and participates in multiple dance sequences and even sings in Hindi.
“The language barrier was quite a challenge but I learnt the Hindi language gou-gou,” the comic says.
“I put my heart and soul into it, I’ve never had to record anything in my life before and then I had to record a Hindi song.
“The dancing is very different to any dancing I’ve done, it’s quite intriguing. I love musicals and I love film so I had to put it together in a heartbeat.”
Actress Suraya Rose Santos, a rising star on the international modelling and acting scene, plays the love-struck Rashmi, while stalwarts Mehboob Bawa and Rehane Abrahams play Rashmi’s parents.
The movie also stars Thabo Bopape, Khalil Kathrada, Rameez Nordien, Fahruq Valley-Omar, Carishma Basday, Elodie Venece and Stavros Cassapis.
It is produced by Bawa and his wife, Razia Rawoot, as well as Maynard Kraak
“It was an honour to accept Mehboob and Razia’s invitation to direct this film,” says Kraak, whose work includes fliek, The Last Victims.
“It was also a personal challenge to do a film with dance and singing, something I’d never done in my 20-year career.”