Trippin with the Kandasamys

 

“Keep the peace to extend the marriage lease”

As rom-coms go, I am not really a fan of it and I certainly don’t favour funny movies whether the humour is dark, deprecating, observational, surreal or topical. So why would I choose to watch “Trippin with the Kandasamys”with its unimaginative brand of slapstick (the worse kind in my books!) and situational humour punctuated occasionally with its acerbic one-liners? Well, as an ex-South African living away from the motherland, it allows you a nostalgic journey back home and provides cosy comfort for all things familiar. 

In the Covid-pandemic scenario with travel restrictions in place, it has been awhile since we visited home and this movie serves as a wonderful conduit to connect us back to our roots in Chatsworth. With its shenanigans, slang and slander, you have to be a South African with an Indian heritage to fully appreciate this 90-minute feature length movie because a large part of the comedic element is derived from its social relevance. No wonder as to why my daughter who was born in New Zealand does not find it funny. 

“Trippin with the Kandasamys” is the third in the series of the Kandasamys franchise with its debut “Keeping up with the Kandasamys” released in 2017 followed by “Kandasamys:The Wedding” in 2019. After the love story in the first movie, the wedding subject in the sequel, I anticipated that this successive one would graduate to the much anticipated arrival of the first grandchild and the associated drama that goes with it but I was far off the mark. 

In “Trippin  with the Kandasamys”, the two best friends turned in-laws, Jennifer Kandasamy and Shanthi Naidoo plan a couples’ getaway to an upmarket, seaside resort to spice up their wilting marriages and celebrate Shanthi’s 50th birthday. However, they are in for an unpleasant surprise when they realise that the husbands have planned to bring the rest of their families along to celebrate the 50th birthday bash. The cat amongst the pigeons turns out to be Shanthi’s sister-in-law, Baby, who also joins in and with her gorgeous looks fans the flames of the ladies’ jealousy as their husbands’ necks voluntarily rotate far too often towards this piece of eye candy. 

As with the previous feature films in the franchise,  the general plot is predictable but script writers, Jayen Moodley and Rory Booth,  exalt the storyline this time around  by interweaving several serious themes like marital upheaval, infertility, misogyny and infidelity expertly stitching comedy and drama to create a beautiful tapestry of a slice of life in Chassies. Whereas the previous franchises relied heavily on exaggerated stereotypes and melodramatic characterisations, “Trippin with the Kandasamys” seem to have achieved a maturity in terms of its plot, dialogue, thematic explorations and portrayal of familial relationships. 

Unlike the rest of my family who are known to convulse in side-splitting laughter at the slightest hint of humour, I grudgingly chuckle even at the funniest bits. However, I am not sure whether it was a case of nostalgia or not but I actually snorted in laughter more times than I would like to admit; especially with the incongruities that contributed to the humour like the soccer refereeing  that Aya helps out with at the tennis match especially the “fourball” call when Dhesan gets a hit down under,  or when Preggie gives out clues for the name of the song in the quiz game “feel it in my fingers, feel it in my toes” and Aya shouts out “arthritis”. Watching the movie was a visceral experience as you wanted to jump up and bust your moves when you heard the strains of “Burnout” or get up and give Preggie (Ugan Naidoo) a klap each time he asked Shanthie to “organise some tea” or smash his head with the same saucepans he gave his wife for her 50th birthday.

While the flashy, open top and SUV Mercedes’, the luxury holiday resort destination, recreational pursuits in the form of tennis and golf and designer clothing labels testify how far along the Indian race has come in terms of their upward social mobility, some things still say the same which contributed hugely  to the humour like when an eight-sleeper accommodation was booked in the oh-so-gorgeous San Lameer and Aya says it is not a problem to take in more guests because “for Indians, you double the number” or when Shanthie stuffs her bag with the resort’s complimentary toiletries and states “it’s not a holiday if we don’t take all the free things”. Or when Aya(Mariam Bassa) comments on Jennifer’s accent she adopts when speaking on the phone, “she talks like that to the whites too”. Too hilarious!

This movie with female director, Jayen Moodley, certainly has the stamp of women empowerment as evidenced by the dominant relationship played out by the two lead actresses who are so unlike each other. Both the female leads, the snobbish, classy and educated Jennifer(Jailoshini Naidoo) and the larger than life Shanthi(Maeshni Naicker) whose loud colours and busy floral prints amplifies her presence ten-fold, are as disparate as orchids and marigolds but they find their solidarity in womanhood as wives and mothers battling for what they rightfully believe is theirs. The chemistry in the relationship between the two matriarchs is palpable with scintillating performances by Jayloshini Naidoo and Maeshini Naicker. Even Aya’s witty one liners couldn’t eclipse the scene in the bush when both the ladies have their go at bird calls. 

Although the men played decidedly supportive roles in this sequel compared to their spouses, their contribution was nevertheless integral to the success of this comedy. Veteran actor, Koobeshan Naidoo, who played Elvis, Jennifer’s husband, doesn’t need dialogue to make his presence felt as the understated nuances in his movement, facial expressions and gestures were expertly portrayed and spoke louder than words ever could. Madhushan Singh who plays Prishen, the medical doctor son, has certainly matured as an actor and put on a convincing performance of new age husband to Jodi, acted by the mesmerising beauty, Mishqah Parthiephal who was equally believable in her role of new bride. What a contrast in terms of attitude towards marriage is represented in the father-son relationship between Preggie “Organise the tea, Shanthi” and his offspring, Prishen “Communication is the key”. Moodley offers us hope that things are a-changing for our daughters and grand daughters who can one day say goodbye to patriarchal traditions. The charasmatic Mariam Bassa was my hands-down favourite actor in the previous movies but whose thunder was unceremoniously overshadowed by the dynamic duo of Jayloshini and Maeshni in this sequel and although she doesn’t get an Oscar from me this time, her advice of “Wake up!” with its accompanying, symbolic hand gesture was unequivocally the single, most funniest moment for me. (Preggie’s “slaaning” his new shoes came a close second!)

So, on the whole, as a person sharing a double diaspora of Indian and African heritage and having emigrated some 23 years ago, it really warmed the cockles of my heart to be in oneness with culture, cuisine, customs and conversations that were so achingly familiar in the span of an hour and a half’s viewing. Covid put paid to travel to the homeland but Netflix brought Chatsworth and treasured memories into our lounge rooms and for that I am truly grateful. Well done to all associated with “Trippin with the Kandasamys” and eagerly looking forward to welcoming the baby in the next instalment. 

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