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IOL News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Meren Reddy nets big laughs as the lead in the rib-tickling comedy ‘Lucky Fish'
Mayuri Naidu, Meren Reddy and Mekaila Mathys in a scene from the feel-good comedy, 'Lucky Fish'. Image: Supplied I knew of Meren Reddy from his 'City Ses'la' work as an executive producer and actor long before I met him at the launch of SABC3's 'High Rollers'. While unpacking the latter show, he revealed his innovative thinking as a creative and his ardent passion for storytelling. Fast forward several years, post the disruptive Covid-19 pandemic, it was awesome to reach out to Reddy again, this time to chat about 'Lucky Fish', a comedy feature where he wears the hats of co-writer with Craig Gardner, executive producer, as well as the film's lead, Sanjay Pillay. Reddy's admirable candour during our conversation was humbling, and I appreciated the trust he placed in me. Our several off-the-record deviations will, of course, remain confidential. Video Player is loading. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The film's title is a tribute to the canned fish, which is deeply ingrained in both Indian and coloured culinary traditions. The feel-good comedy centres on a small-town sardine-canning company owner, facing financial troubles, who sponsors a beauty pageant as a publicity stunt. He is joined by his twin sister, Samantha (Mayuri Naidu) and a motley group of beauty queen hopefuls. On how 'Lucky Fish' came to fruition, Reddy took me back to where it all began. He said: This is gonna be a long rambling, but I think, a very significant thing to say, Craig Gardner, who is a writer-director who created 'Suburban Bliss', and the creator of 'City Ses'la', coming together to write a movie. I'm just giving you a context of the two brains behind it.' 'So around 2006, I didn't know who Craig was (at the time), he did a pilot called 'Miss Pilchards' with Stephen Francis, who is the cartoonist for 'Madam & Eve', for M-Net that is completely different to what the movie is now. It was sort of a mockumentary at that point, and it was going to be a television show.' After getting to work with Gardner, who directed 'Scandal' circa 2009 - 2010, where Reddy had a few acting stints, they got to get to know each other better and appreciated each other's sense of humour. Fast forward to 2017, Gardner reached out to Reddy, asking him to take a look at the pilot as they were offered to buy the rights back. Reddy shared: 'And this thing was like two white people who were trying to put on a pageant, and, at one point, Leon Schuster was involved in the pilot, and it was a mess. No offence to Craig, but the core of it was not necessarily available to me. 'But the one thing that I did say to him was, you have no idea how significant tinfish is to an Indian community. So we are going to take this thing now if we go into a deal together and write this thing, and I'm going to drive this thing forward. We're going to adjust the entire thing, and the guy who owns a tinfish company is going to be the focus of the thing. 'He was like, great. And so it was from that that this whole thing was born. So we've written the thing between 2017 and 2024. It took seven years to get there. It's not because we're incapable writers. It was because nobody wanted to give us the money. Like, you know, you get to 2019, 2020, Covid hits.' Meren Reddy wears the hat of co-writer, actor and executive producer on 'Lucky Fish'. Image: Supplied Despite making a strong case around there being a market for this film, using the encouraging numbers of 'The Kandasamys', 'Material', 'Kings of Mulberry Street and 'Three Days to Go' as examples, it was difficult to get someone to back the project. Reddy admitted it was like 'yelling into thunder'. Fortunately, a woman higher up on the ladder at a prominent local streaming platform saw the potential of the film. However, she was overruled by her peers. When she moved to an international streaming platform, she revisited their earlier conversation and managed to get a license agreement before the company pulled out of SA. Reddy expressed his gratitude to the individual, whom he felt best not to name, acknowledging her crucial role in bringing the film to fruition. During his five-week residency at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles last year, he also held online meetings to help finalise the cast in the movie, which is directed by Joshua Rous. Interestingly, he never planned on playing the lead. Reddy recalled: 'I wrote the movie for another actor. But they (the streaming platform) got a hold of my IMDB profile and were pushing for me to play the lead, and I kept trying to convince them that I had written it for somebody else. 'The last time I acted was in 'Trackers' in 2019.' To avoid jeopardising the project, he agreed and rewrote the script as he couldn't pull off a 'really authentic thick Indian accent'. While he always had Naidu in mind to play his sister, he sang the praises of casting director Susan Rossouw, who helped find an amazing ensemble cast. 'It wasn't just the casting brief that she sent out. She started finding people in the community, people who aren't represented, specifically from the Durban cast members. And we found some gems that are kind of on the fringes of our industry, but not like front and centre,' he added. Of course, bagging industry heavyweights Jailoshini Naidoo (Arusha Budhoo) and Jack Devnarain (Melvin Moodley) were a coup. That this film was shot in Phoenix was a bit deal for them, too, as it is unprecedented for homegrown offerings. Overall, Reddy says the film will be enjoyed by a crossover audience. At the moment, he has a few projects on the go, some of which are partnerships with his production house, Ghost Sheep Productions. He has also been approached to write 'Disaster Holiday 2' for Burnt Onion Productions. A sharp mind and disruptive creative, Reddy is gung-ho about leaving indelible footprints with an upcoming international venture. ∎ 'Lucky Fish' is showing at cinemas nationwide.
TimesLIVE
11-07-2025
- Business
- TimesLIVE
'I'm inspired': Radio jock Pabi Moloi bags SABC TV gig
The new reality series The Insurance Apprentice is set to shake up Thursday nights. Insurance has never looked this exciting. Viewers are in for a powerful blend of brains, ambition and drama with the launch of The Insurance Apprentice, airing every Thursday at 7pm on SABC3, starting on July 17. The high-stakes reality-style competition is headlined by Sasria and aims to spotlight the next generation of insurance industry leaders. Hosted by charismatic Pabi Moloi, the show promises eight gripping episodes packed with real-world insurance challenges, boardroom tension and career-defining moments. 'Hosting season 11 of The Insurance Apprentice is an exciting and rewarding experience,' said Pabi. 'Each episode gives me the chance to engage dynamic young professionals shaping the future of insurance. I'm inspired by their resilience and drive.' The Insurance Apprentice is no ordinary competition. Over the course of a week, 10 ambitious contestants will face a rigorous gauntlet of challenges designed to test their knowledge, leadership and innovation. Each task is rooted in real industry scenarios — with eliminations along the way as contestants vie for the title. 'This show breaks the mould,' said Muzi Dladla, executive manager: stakeholder management at Sasria. 'Sasria is proud to sponsor The Insurance Apprentice as it drives awareness, inspires the next generation and highlights the essential role insurance plays in building resilient economies.'
The Citizen
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
New GBV series sheds light on SA femicide
Looking into Darkness, a powerful new true crime series hosted by forensic investigator David Klatzow, premieres on SABC 3 at 20:30 on July 9. Klatzow turns his gaze towards femicide, telling stories bound by one chilling fact – the victim in each case was a woman. Ahead of its national release, an intimate community screening was held at the KOL Cafe in Meadowlands, Soweto, on June 28. ALSO READ: Entities collaborate for GBV awareness campaign in Protea Glen The series focuses on GBVF, with stories told through the voices of survivors' families. Some victims featured, including the late Tshegofatso Pule, are from Meadowlands. Each hour-long episode delves into the brutal realities behind SA's high femicide rate – over 10 women are killed daily, according to the SAPS. The UN Women (2024) identifies Africa as having the highest femicide rate in the world, making this series timely and deeply relevant. Family, friends and residents of Meadowlands came together for the screening of the late Tshegofatso Pule, assassinated by the father of her child when pregnant. Co-producer Enver Samuels said the production team often worked on international true crime content but felt it crucial to bring this story home. 'GBV is prominent not just globally, but in our communities. We work and produce a lot of crime series that happen overseas, and as painful as it is, we wanted to raise awareness by telling these stories here,' he said. The series not only investigates the crimes but also explores their emotional aftermath. Dramatic re-enactments, survivor testimonies and probing analysis offer raw insight into the trauma endured by those left behind. Tumisang Katane, Pule's uncle, shared the family's continued struggle, 'Even after five years, the pain hasn't eased. ALSO READ: Entities unite to bring GBV awareness in Naledi 'We hope this story encourages others to leave when they see the first red flag; it could save their life,' he said. Botlhale Modisane, the spokesperson for the Tshegofatso Pule Foundation, noted the significance of the screening location. 'This is where Tshego used to spend time. The episode, titled Strange Fruit, will be emotional. It's detailed, with re-enactments that portray what really happened,' he said. 'A lot of research went into this, and we hope the community walks away with lessons that can protect others.' Looking into Darkness explores the heart of darkness but also calls for empathy, courage and change. Be moved, held and haunted by stories looking deep into the heart of darkness. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading!
The Citizen
04-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Muzi says being a fixer for David Blaine in South Africa was ‘wild'
Musician Muzi never imagined he would moonlight as a fixer for illusionist David Blane's new show. He said it was incredible. He's collaborated with some of music's biggest stars, played festivals around the world and Muzi's growing musical clout, artistry and popularity keeps nudging his career to superstardom. Never in his wildest dreams did he think that his career would take a quick segue as fixer and guide to David Blaine, illusionist and endurance artist extraordinaire. One minute Muzi was in the recording studio, the next he was hanging out with Blaine as he prepared to hang out with a pit of black mambas. 'I used to watch David Blaine on DSTV and on SABC3, back in the day,' Muzi said. 'To have been part of something like this? Wild.' Blaine's new National Geographic series, David Blaine: Do Not Attempt, is six episodes of daredevil-meets-documentary that's on National Geographic and Disney+. Shot in places as far-flung as Brazil, Japan, the Arctic and, of course, South Africa, the show takes viewers into extreme rituals, physical endurance feats and near-supernatural moments of human ability. And in the South African episode, it's Muzi's hand on the wheel. 'Being part of this was wild' 'The producers were fans of my music,' he said. 'So, when they were planning to shoot here, we started talking. I ended up suggesting places they could film, and next thing, I'm part of the team.' Muzi said his role was as a kind of cultural compass, helping guide the production team to locations and experiences that weren't just visually powerful, but spiritually resonant. Think local (car) spinners, wild game reserves, and ceremonies that aren't usually listed on TripAdvisor. 'They had their own fixers, but for a few of the locations, I got to be involved.' While being credited as both fixer and featured artist might be a first, Muzi is no stranger to global crossover. The Empangeni-born producer, songwriter and performer has played festival stages across continents, spent two years apprenticing Berlin's synth culture, and collaborated with Coldplay frontman Chris Martin three times. 'That was big for me,' he said. 'We've done songs together, I've remixed for them, and we even won three Loeries last year for the Allan Gray ad that used our track.' ALSO READ: Apple TV's The Studio satire satisfies Musically, Muzi shared his love of mashing up traditional Zulu spirituality with the high fidelity of electronic music. 'I hear visuals when I work,' he said. 'It's very much traditional ceremony, spiritual stuff but through a house and techno lens.' In short, dance music with depth. Not designed for trends, instead, it's setting them. 'I'm from here. This is the sound from here. But it travels,' he said. Sensory creative cues His creative cues are often sensory, too. Muzi said he is a visual thinker. 'Rain. A good film. A walk. I like being in the moment, paying attention to little things. I write it all down, even if it doesn't make sense yet. Eventually it does.' He records his music at home and then polishes it off at Flame Studios on Constitutional Hill. This is where he wrote the tracks that also made it to the soundtrack of Do Not Attempt. 'Once they were done filming, we asked about the soundtrack,' he said. 'We sent over my whole catalogue, and they chose three tracks. So, I'm on the soundtrack too.' As for Blaine, Muzi described him not as a magician, but as a master. 'He was so open to learning. No ego. Even when we were with black mambas and he had to lower his heart rate to avoid a bite, he did it. I got to see in real time what discipline looks like. I felt like I was in 50/50 or on Bear Grylls,' he said. 'Except this time, it was real life. And I was part of it.' Muzi's currently in studio Muzi is presently in the studio creating. 'I feel like the material I am working on may result in an album,' he said. He also has some dream collaborations he hopes to realise. 'Missy Elliott. Always Missy. I am a huge fan. I'd love to work with Culoe De Song. And there are amazing artists across the continent. I just did something with Blinky Bill in Kenya. There are these Zawose Queens from Tanzania, Super Jazz Club in Ghana. There's a lot happening in Africa and many artists I would like to work with.' NOW READ: U2's 'How to Reassemble an Atomic Bomb' is a satisfying throwback
News24
22-04-2025
- Business
- News24
Prominent businessman forfeits R3 million joint estate in bitter divorce battle
A seasoned property investor and businessman has chosen to forfeit his R3 million share of the joint estate and walk away from his 24-year marriage to his estranged wife and business partner. The couple, who cannot be named to protect the identity of their two children, have agreed on a settlement agreement that became an order of the Johannesburg High Court on 24 March, ending a two-year bitter divorce process. The prominent couple tied the knot in 2001 through a glamorous ceremony in Cape Town, which appeared on SABC3's lifestyle show Top Billing. According to the settlement agreement, the wife will keep their mansion in Sunninghill, north of Johannesburg, and two cars, while the husband is expected to pay R5 000 for each of their two children. The settlement agreement read: The marriage between them has irretrievably broken down and has reached such a stage of disintegration that there is no reasonable prospect of the restoration of a normal marriage relationship. The document also reveals that one of the reasons for their divorce is that they have lost all love and respect for each other. 'They are incompatible and are not able to agree with one another on various aspects pertaining to the marriage,' read the settlement agreement. The couple initiated divorce proceedings in 2011 but have been unable to reach and finalise an agreement on how to divide their joint estate. City Press contacted the couple, but they declined to comment on the matter, citing privacy concerns for themselves and their minor children.
