UNITEC - 2 February, 2011
For Immediate Release

Curry Munchers film spices up cultural stereotype debate

Sione's Wedding shook your coconuts. Boy got you moon walking to Poi E.

On February 24, buckle up for the latest homegrown comedy straight out of New Zealand's cultural melting pot. Not enough spice in your life? Add some Curry!

CURRY MUNCHERS is an independent feature film directed by Unitec film graduate Cristobal Araus Lobos and produced by Auckland based Mahayana Films. It features a local Kiwi-Indian cast which includes Shortland Street heartthrob, Ben Mitchell, in a rare bad-boy role.

A romantic comedy at heart, CURRY MUNCHERS tells the story of an Indian family which migrates to New Zealand, a story shared by other migrant families, who came to New Zealand searching for a better life.

Lead character Sid is a mid-twenties boy searching for meaning in his life. His parents want him to focus on studying to be an engineer. But Sid only has one thing on his mind - girls! This leads to Sid taking up a part-time job at an Indian restaurant without his parents' knowledge. The struggle to keep all sides happy leads Sid to question who and what, is most important in his new life. Will he go against his parents' wishes to get the local girl, Mary (Alison Titulaer) and pursue his new passion for food? What follows is a roller coaster slapstick adventure, fused together by a deliciously new soundtrack of Indian/NZ music.

Shot around Auckland and on location in New Delhi last year, the film's co-creator Anand Naidu, who plays Sid, is unapologetic about the un-PC approach the filmmakers have taken with stereotypes and issues on race and discrimination, which is a common thread in migrant communities.

"New Zealand is becoming increasingly multicultural and we're embracing that," says Naidu. "We wanted to show that we can laugh about ourselves in a positive way. At the same time, I also hope the film can help debunk a few myths about Indians and some people's perceptions of them. In the end, CURRY MUNCHERS a film all Kiwis can call their own."

CURRY MUNCHERS go home, na...go see the movie!

RELEASE DATE: 24 FEBRUARY AT EVENT CINEMAS.

SEE THE TRAILER: On the official website - http://www.currymunchersthemovie.com or on Youtube - http://www.youtube.com/user/mahayanafilms

ENDS

© Scoop Media