‘Trauma,” said Pearl Thusi when City Press asked her about her experiences playing a lead role in a new movie about the life of Umkhonto weSizwe operative Solomon Mahlangu, brilliantly played by Thabo Rametsi. “The trauma experienced by South African youths, which makes us appreciate who we are becoming today.”
The movie, called Kalushi (Mahlangu’s second name), was co-written and directed by Mandla Dube. Last weekend, it won best South African film at RapidLion, South Africa’s international film festival, held at The Market theatre.
Thusi plays Brenda, Mahlangu’s fictional love interest. She was nominated for the RapidLion best actress award, but lost out to the star of Russian film Battalion.
Although Thusi has featured in four films in the course of her career, the model-turned-TV presenter and actress has never landed a role this big, and Rametsi said her performance proved she had good acting chops.
“Everyone has helped her improve her craft and reinforce her passion for acting,” said Sarit Tomlinson, who helps manage Thusi.
Thusi told City Press that she identified strongly with the role of Brenda – a student drawn into politics by her boyfriend.
Mahlangu was executed by the apartheid regime and his legacy has strongly informed the #FeesMustFall movement through the song Iyho Solomon.
“I wrote the character of Brenda with Thusi in mind. It was interesting to see her grow into the character,” Dube told City Press.
Thusi helped create the character of Brenda in the course of rehearsals, reading up on Mahlangu and researching as much as she could.
“I believe Kalushi is a valuable addition to the student movement, especially with regard to what the youth are capable of,” she said.
Kalushi is one of several film projects in the works that tell stories relating to the anti-apartheid struggle in South Africa. It follows the success of Prisoner 467/64: The Untold Legacy of Andrew Mlangeni, a documentary by young filmmaker Lebogang Rasethaba.
A major new film on Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is also in the pipeline.
Thusi has been making headlines for different reasons in the past few weeks. She was suspended from The Real Phat Joe show on Metro FM and then resigned from Live Amp, the music show she co-hosts on SABC1, to take a job on MTV Base’s Lip Sync Battle Africa.
The SABC closed its doors on her, but this week announced that she was welcome back.
“For us to compete effectively, I have instructed management to ensure consistent application of the SABC’s directive regarding on-air talent working for direct competitors,” said Hlaudi Motsoeneng, SABC’s chief operating officer. “To this end … the corporation resolved to reinstate Ms Thusi’s services.”
Asked how she felt about getting her job back, Thusi said: “I was never fired. We will see what the future holds.”
Tomlinson said: “Pearl is not returning to Live Amp and there are no discussions about her returning on April 1. We will make our decisions accordingly, on a case-by-case basis.”
Thusi, she said, had emerged from the SABC drama “stronger”. No doubt the performer/presenter is looking to build on her growing reputation as an actress.
The movie will premiere in September 2016.
*This article first appeared on City Press written by Ntombizodwa Makhoba and Palesa Morei, March 27 2016
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