South African television production houses are working hard to produce quality content. SABC 1 has introduced a new telenovela called Uzalo.
Shot entirely on location in the streets of Kwa-Zulu Natal’s F-Section in Kwa-Mashu and on a sound stage in Newlands in Durban, the show was created by production company Stained Glass Pictures. According to producers, Kwa-Mashu is a strong “invisible” character in the telenovela which is written by playwright-producer Duma Ndlovu.
The storyline follows the lives of two families whose baby boys are born on 11 February 1990 at the Queen Anne Hospital, but are accidentally switched.
Now, 24 years later they find themselves in very different circumstances without them – nor their “families” the Mdletshe’s and the Xulu’s – aware that they’ve got the wrong son.
So far, the show has met expectations, reaching 5 million viewers in its 8.30pm time slot.
The show stars Sarafina star Leleti Khumalo, Bheki Mkhwane and Mpumelelo Bhulose.
SABC 1 has described Uzalo as a provocative, bold and authentic narrative. The two families are immersed in contradictory worlds of church and crime. The show drama also throws the issues of family ties and loyalties against personal ambition into sharp relief – from loving patriarchs who exert unwelcome influence on their ambitious, young sons, to the tension created amongst family members when one of them decides to pursue their own career goals and reject the family business. Uzalo delves into what makes these ambitious and successful, yet troubled families tick. The show is executive produced by Gugu Zuma Ncube and Pepsi Pokane.