Bhai's Cafe Explained

Bhai's Cafe
Director:Maynard Kraak
Cinematography:FW Stark
Editing:Cohen Lorenzo Davids
Released: (Durban)
Runtime:99 minutes
Country:South Africa
Language:English

Bhai's Cafe is a South African musical comedy-drama film shot in the style of a Bollywood film directed by Maynard Kraak from a screenplay by Darron Meyer and Aaron Naidoo. It premiered at the 2019 Durban International Film Festival.[1] It had a brief theatrical release in February 2020 before moving to DStv Box Office when cinemas closed the following month.[2] [3]

Premise

The film is set at a local café in Wynberg, Cape Town run by Bhai that comes under threat from a property developer, whose son catches the eye of his daughter.[4]

Cast

Production

The story was the brainchild of Razia Rawoot and Mehboob Bawa, with the setting inspired by Bawa's memories of the corner shop in Claremont his family owned when he was growing up in Cape Town. Originally intended to be a sitcom, director Maynard Kraak introduced them to screenwriters Darron Meyer and Aaron Naidoo to help them turn it into a film. It was filmed on location in Cape Town.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Bhai’s Cafe to close 40th Durban International Film Festival. Chatsworth Rising Sun. 6 July 2019. 5 October 2021.
  2. Web site: Movie Release: Bhai’s Cafe is Officially Out in Cinema’s Nationwide!. Urban Asian. 14 February 2020. 5 October 2021.
  3. Web site: Gentrification and family at the heart of 'Bhai's Cafe'. IOL. Debashine. Thangevelo. 17 May 2020. 5 October 2021.
  4. Web site: Bhai's Cafe filmed in Cape Town. Weekend Special. 24 January 2020. 5 October 2021.
  5. Web site: Bhai’s Cafe – A South African film about family, urban gentrification and romance with a Bollywood touch. Writing Studio. Daniel. Dercksen. 5 February 2020. 2 November 2021.