The only confusing thing about Kandasamys: The Baby, Netflix's latest South African comedy-drama, is probably its abrupt changes in tone. One moment it's a cringe comedy backed by crude humor, and then suddenly it's a drama built on serious and relevant themes. Unfortunately, he fails at most things he tries. However, considering this is the fourth entry in the Kandasamys film series, I'm sure the franchise has an audience. If you have seen the last one randomly and are in a slightly perplexed state, then this article will clear all your doubts. However, I don't think the movie would have left you with too many.
Jodi and Prishen are about to become first-time parents. The couple is about to receive a visit from their parents, who will travel from South Africa to Mauritius. The couple isn't too keen on their families meddling in the whole pregnancy thing, and considering how suffocated I started to feel fifteen minutes after being introduced to Jodie's mother, Jennifer, and Prishen's mother, Shanthi, I can understand why.
Director: Jayan Moodley
Writer: Jayan Moodley
Stars: Mishqah Parthiephal, Mariam Bassa, Maeshni Naicker
It's a South African film, yes, but the characters are of Indian origin, so the Kandasamys (Jodie's family) and the Naidus (Prishen's family) are basically two types of authoritarian Indian parents. While Jen is this heavily accented, upper-class English-speaking aunt who constantly disapproves of her own daughter, Shanthi turns out to be a typical spoiled brat to Prishen and a neglectful mother to her youngest son, Deshan.
The husbands, Elvis (yes, named after the icon) and Preggie (not sure what happened here), married to Jen and Shanthi, respectively, are mostly background characters, playing the role of boomer parents who have good intentions for children. There is another person in the Kandasamy family, Elvis's mother Aya, who fills the shoes of a colorful grandmother, something necessary for a film like this.
Prishen does this very cleverly, as she sidelines the families by arranging them for an all-expenses-paid trip to Mauritius. Of course, his intention is to keep the parents away from him and Jodie, but it's still a pretty nice gesture, right? Well, not for Shanthi and Jen, who quickly figure things out and burst into the hospital right after the baby is born. The two women are also surprised to discover the involvement of Anjali, Jodie and Prishen's neighbor, in the couple's life. Since Anjali seems like a pretty nice and likable person in general, she makes a lot of sense.
Anyway, there's not much conflict in the first half of Kandasamys: The Baby other than Prishen and Jodie doing their best to keep their parents away. A heavy dose of cringe comedy is infused to move the narrative, most of which involves Aya. This ranges from Aya accidentally losing her false teeth into Jodie's breast pump to her making tea for everyone with breast milk.
Meanwhile, Prishen seeks help from fathers to keep the mothers away. Both Elvis and Preggie understand the task and come up with a plan involving their tour guide and tour manager, Moothoo. What they don't know is that their wives are also in cahoots with Moothoo. Aya is also plotting against both sides with the tour guide. This entire arc is insignificant to the actual story, other than moving the narrative forward.
As I already mentioned, the film suddenly changes course when Jodie suffers from postpartum depression and, as always happens with brown parents, the elders don't understand the struggle. Elvis and Jen suddenly decide to hand over her entire business empire to Jodie, which only makes things worse for her. As if this wasn't enough, Jennifer (and Shanti) suddenly start showing a lot of appreciation for Anjali, making Jodie feel jealous and humiliated. However, Prishen remains at her side, like a rock. I guess this is clearly a fictional big husband thing.
At some point in the film it was inevitable that a heated exchange of words would occur, and what's better than an auspicious event like baby "Arya's" naming ceremony for that? Jodie was already furious when her parents haphazardly arranged everything, and Prishen was trying to calm her down, but at the ceremony she couldn't take it anymore after hearing some snide comments about paternity from her own mother and his mother. she. in law. Prishen and Jodie walk away from the scene with their baby in their hands, leaving their parents stunned.
Comments
Post a Comment