“Greytown Girl” is an inspirational real-life story with love at its core.
It follows the lifespan and romantic relationship of Meena, played by newcomer Sanam Sitaram, and Eddie, played by Emmanuel Castis, who were separated by apartheid and distance.
Written and co-produced by Rani Sitaram of East Coast Media and directed by Oscar-nominated Darrell Roodt, the film stars many industry favourites, including Jack Devnarain, Linda Sokhulu and comedian Natashia Portrag among others.
Meena’s story is a sad yet potent reminder that love can transcend time and space.
Born with a disability and believing that 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.
Meena’s father, Veer (Devnarain), teaches her to read from glossy magazines, where she discovers pen pals. Meena writes to friends all over the world, but just one writes back.
Her American pen pal, Eddie, is so deeply impacted by her letters that he changes his previously superficial view of the world.
He is enamoured by this strong woman from another continent, whom he has never seen, that he chooses Meena over all else.
Through the romance of letter writing, the two fall in love. Eventually Meena is teased by the choice of a new life with the man she loves, only to realise that her choices have consequences.
Devnarain said that the film celebrates triumph over adversity, enduring love, family values and hard work ethic.
“We’re talking about adversity in the form of apartheid laws, because Meena was never able to get the kind of medical treatment and care that she needed in order to help her overcome the disability that was induced by her cerebral palsy.
“There is also the theme of enduring love. Meena and Eddie were pen pals for 25 years before they met face to face.
“A theme that is very familiar to our Indian audiences is how Indian families relate to each other and how we have a certain reverence for our older people … We don’t dispose of our elders, we treasure them,” said Devnarain.
The former “Isidingo” actor said that one of the reason he was eager to be a part of this movie was because of the extra-ordinary storyline.
“The fact that the two people in question, are still alive, is the most remarkable and touching feature about the entire story. They are still as much in love today as they were in the ’90s.
“I also felt a very compelling need to try and tell stories with integrity and heart … It was important to make a statement to say that we must expect more as audiences, and we must expect more from our writers and producers, we must support Indian film-making.
“It was important to me that I was able to play a part in creating a multi-dimensional character, like Veer, who was conflicted in many ways.”
He added that he also wanted to bring the best of his life and his career to his sister, Rani’s efforts because he is extremely proud of her.
“My niece played Meena, it was her first role in a major feature film and I wanted to be there to guide and mentor her, as it turned out, I was just in awe of her.
“I didn’t have to interfere, she just had a very firm footing in her character from day one and I was absolutely impressed.
“It reminded me that that sometimes, people’s best work is when you leave them alone.”
About “Greytown Girl” becoming a family project, Devnarain shared that it was never the intention.
“Meena’s story was always at the heart of the project, it was just by the way that we were able to do this as a family … it became secondary to the project that we are a family telling a story that reflects the values that we were raised with.”
Devnarain also got to perform with his fellow “Isidingo” peers, Castis and Sokhulu.
“It was like going back 15 years in time … It actually reminded us how sharing so many years together, working on the same set, it gives us a foundation, an instinctive connection with each other …
“It was a wonderful reunion, a way for us to remember and honour the path we all travelled together in TV. It was a fulfilling moment.”
Devnarain said that viewers should make sure they watch the movie because it showcases what film-making is truly about.
“I want them to treat and challenge themselves. I want them to experience what film-making is truly about in its traditional sense, which is to honour a story that explores the inner world of a person who is faced with enormous challenges, somebody who is able to find triumph and love through all of that.
“That for me is the classic process of storytelling, where audiences feel uplifted … And they are treated to visual content that respects them.”
∎“Greytown Girl” is currently showing at Nu Metro cinemas and selected Ster-Kinekor cinemas nationwide.