'Bengal Tiger: The Rajbansi Story', a captivating documentary on South Africa's political icon, is set to release in October
MOVIE
"The Bengal Tiger" will be out in cinemas from October 3.
Image: Supplied.
An evocative documentary, set for release in cinemas on October 3, will commemorate the life of the late Amichand Rajbansi, founder of the Minority Front (MF).
Co-produced by his wife, Shameen Thakur-Rajbansi and local film-maker, musician and writer Arish Sirkissoon, also known as LX Seth, "Bengal Tiger - The Rajbansi Story" will showcase the legacy of the larger-than-life South African politician.
Interviewees on the nearly three-hour-long project include a range of voices from political leaders, historians and journalists to community figures who knew or studied Rajbansi.
Some names include deputy minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Narend Singh, public servant and prolific writer Kiru Naidoo, business tycoon Vivian Reddy, as well as Brijlall Ramguthee, former editor of "Post", among many others.
"As a filmmaker, I have always been drawn to stories that delve into the complexities of human resilience and leadership. 'Bengal Tiger - The Rajbansi Story' is one such tale, a narrative that transcends political boundaries to illuminate the life of a man who profoundly impacted South Africa’s socio-political landscape," shared Sirkissoon.
Local film-maker, musician and writer Arish Sirkissoon, also known as LX Seth.
Image: Instagram.
While Sirkisson never had the opportunity to meet Rajbansi in person, through his research, he has discovered many interesting facts about the man who was fondly known as the "Bengal Tiger".
He said Rajbansi was a figure of both admiration and controversy, embodying the struggles and triumphs of a marginalised community during a turbulent era.
"I didn't have a negative or positive opinion on him. I didn't know enough about him until I started to do the research. We went so deep into who Mr Rajbansi was, and my opinion now is that he was a man who tried his best at everything.
"The decisions he made at particular times in our country are a kind of trajectory with decisions he thought were best for the country and the best for the Indian people."
He said that when people watch the documentary, they will see positive things that not many people know about.
An example he shared was of Rajbansi, who often travelled around the country, seeing a group of children on the side of the road playing cricket. He stopped the vehicle and gave them R2 000 to buy a kit and upskill themselves.
Sirkissoon said: "This documentary is not merely a recounting of his life but a deep exploration of his legacy - what he represented to the South African Indian community during apartheid and what his story means for us today.
"Through candid interviews, rare archival footage, and an unflinching lens, the film seeks to present a balanced portrayal of a leader who operated within a deeply flawed system but whose efforts undeniably shaped history," said Sirkissoon.
The documentary had been a few years in the making with the filmmaker working closely with Rajbansi's son, Pradhil Thakur Kooblall and his fiancée, Priyanka Nundkumar and Thakur-Rajbansi.
Pradhil Thakur Kooblall and Priyanka Nundkumar were killed in a horror crash on the N3 highway in KZN.
Image: File.
Kooblall's and his fiancée's sudden death in 2003 halted the project until last year, when they decided to proceed with it as a tribute to Rajbansi, Kooblall and Nundkumar.
"Their death was something that hurt us very badly, and it took us a long time to physiologically recover from. Once we got everything back on track, we said we needed to finish this for them."
"This film is about more than one man - it’s about identity, resilience and the power of representation. It’s time we tell the stories that have been sidelined for too long," Sirkissoon said.
Thakur-Rajbansi, reflecting on her husband's legacy, stated: “This documentary will preserve Mr Rajbansi’s legacy because he worked so hard and is a name that’s being passed down in households from generation to generation."
She said that for years before his death, she had been asking her husband to write his autobiography, but he would always change the subject.
“For some odd reason, I don’t think he wanted to write his own story. I think he wanted people to decide who he was. Now it’s my responsibility and duty to him to do this for him. I also owe it to my late son, who inspired and encouraged me to take this step.
“I hope the documentary helps to motivate and inspire young people, especially to understand what goes into being a politician and what type of life it is,” she ended.