First Locally-Made Indian Comedy Series
Saturday 24 February 2007, 7:25PM
By Fraser Mills
1332 views
Wellington's Indian community – and all who enjoy a good laugh - are in for a treat when the first-ever locally-made Kiwi Indian comedy series Desi Jamura Videshi Khel begins screening on Triangle Television Wellington next month.
The migrant tale, produced in New Zealand by Dr Rachel Singh of Dreamz Productions, will be in Hindi, with English subtitles. It tells the story of an Indian immigrant student, Akshat, whose life is full of challenges and quirky twists. Akshat quickly learns that the way he deals with the predicaments thrown his way can influence the direction his life takes.
Mandeep Singh was spotted for the lead role of Akshat while dancing at a wedding. He has made the unusual transition from flipping burgers to becoming the first Indo-Fijian actor to take the lead in a New Zealand television series.
Once he had mastered the challenge of switching dialects from Fiji Hindi to global Hindi, says Mandeep, he was able to transform into the persona of his screen character.
Desi Jamura Videshi Khel, roughly translated as 'Caught in a Foreign Web', begins on Triangle Television Wellington on March 1, at 8pm and screens for 13 weeks. The show proved hugely popular with Triangle Television Auckland's Indian viewers when it screened last year, quickly establishing itself as compulsive viewing.
Preparation for filming took about six months. Then, with a tight plan in place and a cast of 11 actors, the Dreamz team launched into filming the first series of 13 half-hour episodes in just seven days.
"We filmed on two locations a day, and did lots of night scenes - so we worked for about 18 hours each day," says Dr Singh. "We gave the timing to the cast in advance so they could be available."
The entire cast and crew – about 20 strong - are from the New Zealand Indian community. Some were born here, others are immigrants from various Indian provinces or from Fiji. Scriptwriter Rima Malik developed a story outline created by Dr Singh.
Dr Singh says the Dreamz team, which shares common ancestry and a common vision, decided to join together to combine their creativity. She says every person in the Dreamz team, both on screen and off, has his or her own migrant tale to tell.
"Right thing at the right time with the right people at the right moment," says Dr Singh of the Desi Jamura Videshi Khel journey.
A second series is already in the pipeline, and will air on Triangle Television Auckland and Wellington next autumn.
TRIANGLE TELEVISION
Triangle Television Auckland and Wellington broadcast a mix of local programming and international news, information and entertainment 24 hours a day.
Triangle Television Auckland has operated as a public broadcaster in the Greater Auckland Region since August 1, 1998, and is Auckland's only regional, non-commercial television station. The station broadcasts from UHF Channel 41 and, in Remuera and surrounding suburbs, from UHF Channel 52. From UHF Channel 42, Triangle Television also reaches the North Shore, Whangaparaoa, Freemans Bay, parts of Mission Bay, St Heliers and Kohimaramara, and parts of the Coromandel.
Triangle Television Wellington is Wellington's only regional, non-commercial television station. The station delivers a uniquely-Wellington schedule. The Wellington station broadcasts from UHF Channels 40 and 41 providing coverage to the Greater Wellington region and to some parts of Marlborough and Blenheim.
The migrant tale, produced in New Zealand by Dr Rachel Singh of Dreamz Productions, will be in Hindi, with English subtitles. It tells the story of an Indian immigrant student, Akshat, whose life is full of challenges and quirky twists. Akshat quickly learns that the way he deals with the predicaments thrown his way can influence the direction his life takes.
Mandeep Singh was spotted for the lead role of Akshat while dancing at a wedding. He has made the unusual transition from flipping burgers to becoming the first Indo-Fijian actor to take the lead in a New Zealand television series.
Once he had mastered the challenge of switching dialects from Fiji Hindi to global Hindi, says Mandeep, he was able to transform into the persona of his screen character.
Desi Jamura Videshi Khel, roughly translated as 'Caught in a Foreign Web', begins on Triangle Television Wellington on March 1, at 8pm and screens for 13 weeks. The show proved hugely popular with Triangle Television Auckland's Indian viewers when it screened last year, quickly establishing itself as compulsive viewing.
Preparation for filming took about six months. Then, with a tight plan in place and a cast of 11 actors, the Dreamz team launched into filming the first series of 13 half-hour episodes in just seven days.
"We filmed on two locations a day, and did lots of night scenes - so we worked for about 18 hours each day," says Dr Singh. "We gave the timing to the cast in advance so they could be available."
The entire cast and crew – about 20 strong - are from the New Zealand Indian community. Some were born here, others are immigrants from various Indian provinces or from Fiji. Scriptwriter Rima Malik developed a story outline created by Dr Singh.
Dr Singh says the Dreamz team, which shares common ancestry and a common vision, decided to join together to combine their creativity. She says every person in the Dreamz team, both on screen and off, has his or her own migrant tale to tell.
"Right thing at the right time with the right people at the right moment," says Dr Singh of the Desi Jamura Videshi Khel journey.
A second series is already in the pipeline, and will air on Triangle Television Auckland and Wellington next autumn.
TRIANGLE TELEVISION
Triangle Television Auckland and Wellington broadcast a mix of local programming and international news, information and entertainment 24 hours a day.
Triangle Television Auckland has operated as a public broadcaster in the Greater Auckland Region since August 1, 1998, and is Auckland's only regional, non-commercial television station. The station broadcasts from UHF Channel 41 and, in Remuera and surrounding suburbs, from UHF Channel 52. From UHF Channel 42, Triangle Television also reaches the North Shore, Whangaparaoa, Freemans Bay, parts of Mission Bay, St Heliers and Kohimaramara, and parts of the Coromandel.
Triangle Television Wellington is Wellington's only regional, non-commercial television station. The station delivers a uniquely-Wellington schedule. The Wellington station broadcasts from UHF Channels 40 and 41 providing coverage to the Greater Wellington region and to some parts of Marlborough and Blenheim.