THE true story of a small-town South African girl with physical limitations - abandoned as a baby to bravely build her life, creating a love story that crosses continents through letters - is being told in a cinematic production.
The movie Greytown Girl, an empowering and cinematic true story of love and resilience, written by Rani Sitaram and co-produced by Sitaram and Asgar Mahomed and directed by Oscar-nominated Darrell Roodt, will be released at all Cinecentre, NuMetro and Ster Kinekor cinemas on Friday.
Meena, played by Sanam Sitaram, will take movie goers on an inspirational true-life journey that begins in 1960s South Africa.
Meena is born disabled through a forceps delivery. Believing she was abandoned, little Meena bravely creates a life for herself at an orphanage. Only when Meena is able to walk independently can she return to her parental home. With a new family and a language and culture that are foreign to her, the courageous Meena finds her new normal.
Meena’s father Veer, played by Jack Devnarain, teaches her to read from glossy magazines, where she discovers pen pals. Meena writes to friends all over the world. Just one writes back.
Meena’s American pen pal Eddie Gibson is deeply impacted by her letters. Through the romance of letter writing, Meena and Eddie fall in love, even when it seems they will never be destined to be together.
Sitaram said the idea behind the movie began more than three decades ago.
“On my wedding day, a dear friend of my mother’s dressed me. I asked my aunt how I could say thank you. She responded with a don’t worry, one day you will do something for me,” Sitaram said.
“She called me a few years later after my husband and I had started our film and media company, East Coast Media, and asked me to meet with her niece Meena and that I should tell her story. Meena and her story changed me at a soul level," said Sitaram.
She said Meena and her close family members were involved in relaying her life story.
“Greytown Girl is a family drama, so both young and old will enjoy the experience as we follow Meena from childhood to bravely making choices as an adult. There are elements in the film that anyone at any age will be able to identify closely with,” said Sitaram.
Other cast members include Emmanuel Castis, Shaleeni Ranchhod, Rahul Rai, Natashia Portrag (Bash with Tash), Uveka Rangappa, Satchu Annamalai, Suria Govender and child actors Reya Govender, Yuva Maharaj and Sanaah Chotai.
The film was shot around Durban in oThongathi, Greytown, Mount Edgecombe and Mariannhill.
Sanam, 31, said she was very excited about the production as it was her first film where she got to explore the depths of performance in the way she enjoyed.
“I did have phone conversations with Meena, but she is frail and has difficulty speaking.
“My mom is a brilliant scriptwriter and this story is about a real person who has lived this life. It has been 10 years in the making and I cannot wait to see it on the big screen,” Sanam said.
“It was a great experience working with my mom and my uncle Jack who plays Meena’s dad,” Sanam, who has had roles in films such as Kandasamys, Catch Up, Flashes of a Fighting Chance, Let Me Be and Kissing Booth 2.