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Kandasamys: The Wedding

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Madhushan Sing and Mishqah Parthiephal in a scene from 'Kandasamys: The Wedding.' (Photo supplied: Film Finity)
Madhushan Sing and Mishqah Parthiephal in a scene from 'Kandasamys: The Wedding.' (Photo supplied: Film Finity)

MOVIE:

Kandasamys: The Wedding

OUR RATING

4/5 Stars

WHAT IT'S ABOUT:

Welcome to the world of neighbours on the verge of becoming one big, happy family—the Kandasamys and the Naidoos. It’s been a few years since Jennifer Kandasamy and Shanthi Naidoo rekindled their once-tainted friendship, and the two could not be happier that their children, Jodi and Prishen, are to be wed. It’s one week before the wedding and the mothers start falling apart in a roller coaster of hysteria, laughter and tears as the young couple’s relationship is put to the ultimate test as their wedding day draws nearer! 

WHAT WE THOUGHT:

The most conniving mothers are back on your local screen, and this time they’ve got a wedding to plan. If you loved Keeping up with the Kandasamys, the second one lives up to the hype and even then some.

You will laugh, you might cry (if you’re a mother) and you’ll instantly fall in love again with the OG matriarch that is the grandmother, played by Mariam Bassa. Besides the hilarious script, it’s also a well-executed fusion of South African flavour and Bollywood drama, and you don’t have to be Indian to love it. The Kandasamys and Naidoos will easily creep into your hearts, and I can’t wait to (hopefully) see more of them soon.

Once a forbidden love, Jodi and Prishen are now ready to say their vows, and their mothers have lots to say about that. Big news puts everyone in a tailspin, but will the lovers survive their families?

It’s been two years since the warring Chatsworth families graced our screens, and in that time director Jayan Moodley has clearly been working hard with his follow-up - and the pay-off is big. The Wedding has everything you want - drama and comedy - but the theatrics remain grounded enough that it doesn’t become silly extra.

But what was surprising was the touch of seriousness about motherhood and all the forms it takes, and it will really make you want to hug your mom afterwards. Moodley balances the craziness of mothers at weddings with their strong undying love for their children, and vice versa. But it’s also about standing up and supporting your significant other even if it means defying your family, and Jodi and Prishen exude healthy relationship goals.

Another brilliance is the ability of the writers Moodley and Rory Booth to create humour that’s so distinctly South African Indian, yet anyone from other cultures can wholeheartedly join in the laughter. Maeshni Naicker and Jailoshini Naidoo can easily be anyone’s mothers, and their passion for their roles is why they are the stars of this hopefully burgeoning franchise. Their high-strung antics is perfectly juxtaposed with their husbands’ frivolity, but they remain loyal to the women in their lives and don’t shy away from telling them the hard truths. One particular moment with the best of them all - the grandmother that’s supposedly constantly at death’s door - was a heartwrenching moment that you don’t expect but just instantly elevates the whole movie.

Its universal appeal should make it even appealing to an international audience - not only is the story and acting fantastic, but the cinematography is breathtaking, complete with Bollywood slow-mo and epic dance moves.

WATCH THE TRAILER HERE:

WATCH IT NOW ON SHOWMAX

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