Films On Indian Diaspora Out Of Africa? Add These to Your Watch List

The Indian South African diaspora is a large and vibrant one. They have a film industry of these own and this genre of  films  has come a long way from the love melodies set against snow-capped mountains. The widespread consumption of films depicting the Indian population, as well as the accompanying surge in demand on OTT platforms, demonstrates how the country's cultural wealth may transcend geographical boundaries.

These are the movies and shows to watch tonight if you're looking for Indian-African cross-border stories that delve deeper into cultural dilemmas as they try to reconcile their cultural beliefs with their multinational upbringing:

Films On Indian Diaspora Based Out Of Africa:

1 . Keeping up with the Kandasamys:

 is a 2017 South African Indian comedy film directed by Jayan Moodley that was the first South African Indian film to receive wide distribution. Jailoshini Naidoo, Maeshni Naicker, Madhushan Singh, and Mishqah Parthiephal are among the cast members.

The plot revolves around Shanti Naidoo who is an Indo-South African mother in the classic way. She is overbearing and overprotective of her family, and she is well-known in the neighbourhood for her charity and excellent cooking. Jennifer, on the other hand, is a career-driven woman who is intelligent, elegant, and stylish. Jennifer always manages to outdo Shanti, and life for the two women looks to be a never-ending battle of keeping up with one another. When she discovers it, Jennifer is determined to break up her daughter Jodi's relationship with Shanti's son Prishen. But, in order to accomplish so, she'll need to enlist the support of her adversary.

Following the film's popularity, Jayan Moodley, the filmmaker of Keeping Up with the Kandasamys, announced the release of Kandasamys: The Wedding in July 2018. On June 4, 2021, a third film, Trippin' with the Kandasamys, was released exclusively on Netflix.

It is has a rating of 6.5 /10 on IMDb.

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2. Kandasamys: The Wedding

Kandasamys: The Wedding is a 2019 Indian romantic comedy drama film directed by Jayan Moodley and written by Rory Booth and Jayan Moodley. The film was released in 41 local theatres in 2019 and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from the audience.

The plot centres around Jodi's (Mishqah Parthiepal) and Prishen's (Madushan Singh) upcoming wedding. However, the mothers of both bride Jodi and groom Prishen, Jennifer Kandasamy (Jailoshini Naidoo) and Shanthi Naidoo (Maeshni Naicker), try to push their own demands and agendas for the big wedding day.

The film was a box office triumph, similar to its predecessor, and was named one of the greatest African films of 2019.

It is has a rating of 6/10 on IMDb.

3. Trippin' with the Kandasamys

Trippin' with the Kandasamys is a South African film directed by Jayan Moodley and starring Mariam Bassa, Maeshni Naicker, and Jailoshini Naidoo. It was written by Rory Booth and Jayan Moodley and released in 2021.

Best friends Jennifer (Jailoshini Naidoo) and Shanti (Maeshni Naicker) plan a holiday with their husbands after feeling underappreciated in their marriages. However, what was supposed to be a couples retreat turns into an extended family reunion, with envy running high and family connections being tested.

It is has a rating of 5.2/10 on IMDb.

4. Kings of Mulberry Street (KoMS)

Judy Naidoo produced, wrote, and directed Kings of Mulberry Street, a 2019 South African comedy-drama film.

Aaqil Hoosen, Amith Sing, Rizelle Januk, and Neville Pillay appear in the film, which also features Keshan Chetty, Chris Forrest, Kogie Naidoo, and Thiru Naidoo in supporting parts. The film's theme is inspired by India's legendary 1980s Bollywood films. On June 28, 2019, the film was released in South Africa and earned positive reviews from critics.

The tale is set in the fictional Sugarhill District in the early 1980s, and it follows the exploits of two young Indian lads who must find a way to overcome the challenges and obstacles in order to confront the bullying local crime landlord who is threatening their families. The film was also chosen for screening at a number of international film festivals, including the 24th Schlingel International Film Festival and the St. Louis Film Festival.

It is available on Amazon Prime Video and it is has a rating of 5.8/10 on IMDb.

5. Material

Craig Freimond directed Material, a 2012 South African film written by Craig Freimond, Ronnie Apteker, Robbie Thorpe, Rosalind Butler, and Riaad Moosa. It has since been screened at various film festivals around the world (including London, the International Film Festival of India, and Busan), earning a reputation as one of the best original South African films and a big step forward for the country's film industry. Its depiction of the lives of Muslims in South Africa was viewed as a sincere attempt to address some of the country's multiracial society's social challenges.

It is available on Netflix for you to watch and it is has a rating of 5.7/10 on IMDb.