Singh’s association with South Africa’s number one box office star, Leon Schuster, saw the production of the Top Three Highest Grossing South African Films of All Time, MR BONES 2, MR BONES 1 AND MAMA JACK. Singh is set to film LONG WALK TO FREEDOM later this year.Īmong the films produced by Singh include: THE ROAD TO MECCA, with Kathy Bates FATHER HOOD, with Patrick Swayze and Halle Berry CAPTIVES, with Julia Ormond and Tim Roth Tobe Hooper’s THE MANGLER, with Robert Englund and based on a Stephen King short story PALJAS (shot in Afrikaans, the first South African film to be selected for Oscar Consideration in the Best Foreign Language film category) and RED DUST, with Hilary Swank and Chiwetel Ejiofor, a drama focussing on South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Nelson Mandela called Singh “a producer I respect very much… a man of tremendous ability” when he granted him the film rights to his autobiography, Long Walk To Freedom. He is responsible for many of the most profound anti-apartheid films made in South Africa, among which are PLACE OF WEEPING, SARAFINA!, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY and YESTERDAY which received South Africa’s first Oscar® nomination. From there, he moved into video distribution, forming Videovision Entertainment and then progressed into film production in 1984 with PALACE OF WEEPIING, the first anti-apartheid film to be made entirely in South Africa.
Born and raised in Durban Singh began his film career at age 18 when he left his studies at the University of Durban-Westville to purchase a 16mm movie rental store. Is this film going to be the biggest hit of the holiday season.Executive Producer, ANANT SINGH is recognised as South Africa’s pre-eminent film producer, having produced more than 100 films since 1984. Perhaps, as a nation, we get the humour, the politicians and the fart-jokes we deserve. But then again, so are Jacob Zuma and Julius Malema, and they aren't that funny anymore. After-all, Leon Schuster is a South African institution. Perhaps my funny-bone was out of order, or maybe my tastes are simply to high-brow. However, don't let these comments stop you from seeing it. Besides, the plot is ripped off from the far superior, Jean Reno-starring French film, "Le Visiteurs", and the acting is terrible. In fact, I barely chuckled (apart from at Alfred Ntombela, who is always good for a giggle) and found that it dragged. I've enjoyed some of Mr Shuster's movies (eg "Sweet and Short" and "Zulu on My Stoep") and I have laughed at many of his candid camera gags, but "Mr Bones 2: Back from the Past" didn't have me rolling in the aisles. Naturally, havoc ensues when the two tribesman - who don't even know how what a flush toilet is - land up in modern day Durban and try to return the cursed stone to its rightful resting place. The story revolves around sangoma, Mr Bones (Schuster), and his king, Hekule of Kuvukiland (Tongayi Chirisa), who must travel into the future and save their world after the king is given a cursed gemstone by a dying Indian man during the long gone days when the British Empire still had it's claws in our continent. But that doesn't excuse the fact it's not a very good film - or that it substitutes ring sting, blows to the crotch and flatulence for genuine wit. This sequel to the most successful South African film ever, "Mr Bones " - which grossed over R33 million in our country, will probably do quite well at the box-office. THE new Leon Shuster flick doesn't try to reinvent the wheel it simply serves up the same crude, scatological, slapstick-stained low-brow humour the popular comedian has been depositing on an adoring public for years. MR BONES 2: BACK FROM THE PAST with Leon Schuster, Tongayi Chirisa, Leeanda Reddy and Alfred Ntombela, directed by Gray Hofmeyr.