ON TOP DOWN UNDER

COVER STORY

KAMANTHA Naidoo is on top Down Under!

A DURBAN-born Australian with a Canadian accent believes she was created to perform.
Kamantha Naidoo's already  appeared in bit parts with Hollywood heartthrob Ethan Hawke and Brit footballer-turned-actor Vinnie Jones.

Kamantha's on top of her game, living the dream. Going everywhere slowly.
A psychology graduate, Kamantha wants to read for bigger roles as and when they come up.

The 24-year-old was born in Mobeni Heights, Durban and raised in Canada with sibling Julian, by their parents Allen (ex Mobeni Heights) and Raganie (A.K.A Chilka,ex Pelican Drive, Bayview, Chatsworth). She was later to leave with her family to the land Down Under aka Australia.

"I left Durbs at 18months (lil baby). I miss the culture, the people - especially my wonderful family. It feels like home even though I didn't grow up there," said Kamantha who holidays here often.

She caused a stir when she entered a Sari Queen contest at a KZN casino in 2007. When she beat the locals, including a drag queen, to don the tiara, her nationality was questioned by the sour grapes brigade.

In 2010, Kamantha's taking to the world's stages — Hollywood, Aussiewood and, judging by her well-shot Face Book pics, Saucywood too,

"I generally describe myself as a very talented and outgoing 'multi-tasker'. If there's anything I love it's being a performer! I absolutely love acting, modelling, presenting, and public speaking. My dream is to land myself in a career where I can make use of these skills," said Kamantha, a qualified Relationship and Family Therapist. 
(At present she is a Student Counsellor for international students at an Aussie University.)
After a hard day's work though, it's all about performance.

"I started acting as a child in school plays, and started modelling in primary school after my debutante ball in grade five. Since then I have played numerous roles in plays, commercials, student films, and some amateur TV work. I have also done extra work on the following feature films: The Condemned with Steve Austin and Vinnie Jones,  Fool's Gold and Daybreakers with Ethan Hawke.

"I play a zombie extra in the last mentioned flick. If you don't blink you'll catch me standing near Ethan at the train station scene," giggled Kamantha, a drama and history enthusiast who sizes up a tall 1.68 metres.

She said she also shoots for television commercials.

The first was in 2009 for the Queensland Teachers Credit Union where she played the main role of the featured student.

In 2010 she played a Businesswoman in a global commercial for McDonald's.

This year she featured in the Aussie drama Spirited, an Aussie mini-series Dance Academy and was a featured extra on the Australian TV series Home and Away.

"I also played 'Kam the Beauty Queen' in a pilot tv show called Random Sillinezz which stopped production after a few episodes were filmed due to unforseen circumstances early last year."

"I have been doing more modelling than acting lately though. With regard to modelling, I have recently done shoots for clothing labels, websites, and Bridal magazines. This weekend I am doing some work on a music video for a LA production company. All in all, its going well."

While she's pretty settled Down Under, Kamantha always has a soft spot for Durban.
The family even returned here for two years. Kamantha, then aged nine, and did grades five and six at Effingham Primary before jetting off to Australia.
"I love Durban. I always have a good time when I visit. I have family and friends in Durban. I love and miss them tremendously. Fave hangouts? I love Gateway, Pavilion, Suncoast, oh and I simply love the Bangladesh market in Chatsworth! lol.

"I think most people would squeal if they went there, but for me its all about getting the authentic experience and that means 'doing what the locals do' and not acting like you're a stuck-up visitor from overseas 24/7.
"I was in Durbs last year from May to July and am crazy about coming there again," she said.

* Golden City Voice is sure to throw her a Model bash on arrival so best watch this space ...

MALLS UNDER ATTACK! 

ARE shopping malls, the last safe haven for consumers to socialise and shop in air-conditioned luxury, fast becoming thug targets?

First three people were mowed down at  the Chatsworth Centre Tattersals last Sunday.

The joint was robbed with thieves making their getaway through ducts in the ceiling. The results were horrific. Three dead and a tenant community feeling unprotected by the Centre's management security plans, according to reports.

Not so lucky too was City Press Sub-Editor Mohau Mokoena and a bystander  who were hospitalised after being caught in crossfire at Campus Square, Mellville, Gauteng on Monday. They suffered gunshot wounds to their legs after robbers targeted a jewellery store.

Mohammed Kathrada, held up at gunpoint on his first wedding anniversary, at  HMS Jewellery, was one of the lucky ones to get away.

'Sungirl' Prativa Govender spoke about how she narrowly missed the bullets in Tuesday's edition of the country's biggest daily the Daily Sun.

The POST newspaper's fearless team of Yogas Nair, Tasnim Langry and Jolene Marriah reported on the Chatsworth Centre siege midweek.

They also examined the issue of security measures and strategies at shopping malls. Most management and PR teams claimed their malls to be safe, and well protected. One hopes so. But on a national scale, the paranoid mind doubts the gobbledegook and PR spin.

It is certainly not uncommon to hear of such daylight robberies at "well-secured" malls where guns shouldn't even be let in.

Now how in God's good name are we going to save the world from the "bad guys" with guns at malls during FIFA World Cup 2010 in June when the locals themselves are so vulnerable to attacks?

Unlike Cape Town where there is still that perception of a safe and secure City Centre, Durban Central and Gautengers have deserted town for the casino complexes and the malls. Now if these too become unsafe for shoppers and families, what are our options? To stay at home, order via Mr Delivery and consume DStv or TOP TV (when the latter gets its act together) I suppose!!

WEEKEND OUT!

Marriage On Line (Suncoast Supernova)

Friday and Saturday

1. The irrepressible duo Essop Khan and Mahomed Alli at at it again. The twosome play in Marriage On Line, about a senior couple who find love through cyberspace at the Suncoast Supernova (Cinecentre).  There's a show tonight (Friday, 21 May at 9pm) and two shows back-to-back tomorrow night at 6.15pm and 9pm. Sex and the City 2 premieres for an Xclusive audience on Sunday hence the squeeze on Saturnight. If you haven't caught a Khan and Alli show as yet, you might get smitten by this one. Young people are welcome.

See suncoastcasino.co.za for information.

2. Wayne Brady - Making It Up (DICC)

8pm, Saturday

You've seen him creating a scene on Whose Line Is It Anyway? Now catch this master of the improv on his one night stand at the Durban International Convention Centre on Saturnight. Tickets at R300 a seat are available via computicket.com. No under 13s will be allowed cos they laugh too loud.

WEEKEND IN!

(courtesy: DiStv Views on FB)

1. Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (SONY MAX)

Friday, 8pm

Shah Rukh Khan in a delightful role of a middle-aged man who rekindles the flames of love.

2. Thendral (SUN TV)

Saturday, 9pm

Adultery is the theme in this series about a middle-class girl in modern society.

3. Dance India Dance: Lil Masters (ZEE TV) 

Saturday, 7pm

Watch the young 'uns bust sum awsum moves!

4. Hey Ram (B4U)

Sunday, 2am

Kamal Hassan masterfully directs himself in this piece about a man who is convinced Gandhi must die for the ills beseting his India.

Also starring Shah Rukh Khan.

5. Aawaz De Kahan (B4U)

Sunday, 7am

Catch all those evergreens from Hindi movies of yesterday. This unmissable show also serves as a marker for tracks to youtube or PVR.

6. 21st Century: Traumas

Sunday, 5.30pm (Islam Channel)

War is traumatic for children —  of both Israel and Palestine!

 VOICE OUT

*dear hindsight: you're a %itch.no lies. (SOURCE: brenwin naidu on FB)

P.S.
WHERE IN THE WORLD IS LOGIE???
E-mail us a picture of you and him if you track him down this weekend - Friday, May 21 till Sunday, May 23 - to goldencityvoice@gmail.com or post pic on Golden City Voice group on FB