The gist of Stranded Pearl
Venkat Raman
Auckland, September 14, 2024
More than seven years ago, reporting that his 2011 film ‘Vindaloo Empire’ (The Curry Munchers) will be shown at the ‘Festival Globe Movie Festival 2017’ in California (USA), we had said that lead actor Aunanda Naaido (Anand Naidu in real life) was busy preparing for his next film Stranded Pearl.
We had predicted: “An Island paradise, big business, complex characters, love and betrayal set the scene for this romantic adventure film. With the stunning backdrop of the South Pacific, ‘Stranded Pearl’ will be a drama, with adventure, action and romance that follows a woman who learns that life is not what it seems, a man who has closed himself off from the world, and another who has built his world based on deception.”
A Chartered Accountant, Anand has since then advanced in his career and today works at Air Rarotonga as the Chief Financial Officer.
A conversation stirrer
As it hit the big screen all over New Zealand and the Cook Islands on September 12, 2024, Stranded Pearl became a talking point. In a fast-paced and yet somewhat leisurely approach, the film captures the essence of understanding nature and, more importantly, bringing two strangers – a man and a woman – together to cope with the vagaries of nature stranded on a South Pacific island (an Unchartered Island as they say).
Just as the woman, who is in pursuit of an adventure at sea and the man who is wanted for the murder of his wife in Auckland get to terms with each other, there is an intruder, followed by the discovery of a survival kit floating in the sea.
(A scene from Stranded Pearl)
Siddharth Patel (or Sid, convincingly portrayed by Aunanda Naaido) is the man who is wanted for the murder of his wife in Auckland (did he really do it?) and Julia Thompson (an excellent performance by Kristy Wright, the Australian actress of Star Wars III, the Revenge of Sith and Home and Away) is the woman who takes more than one risk in her life.
While Sid is haunted by past decisions, Julia is determined to expose a million-dollar conspiracy that threatens not only her life but the very environment that she loves.
Against the breathtaking backdrop of the Cook Islands, Siddharth and Julia’s bond deepens as they confront their fears and fight against powerful forces. But will their struggle leave them stranded on a lonely island, or will they find a way to overcome the odds together?
If you spotted the ultimate villain in the first scene, please keep the secret- Stranded Pearl must be seen from the beginning until you learn what happens to the villain.
The Cast and Crew
Others in Stranded Pearl’ are Robert Reitano, Aleisha Rose, Jagdish Punja, Rawiri Paratene, Ray Woolf, Stan Wolfgramm, Rob Kipa Williams and Richard Halpin.
Produced by Aunanda Naaido and Ken Naz, and directed by Ken Khan with the script by Rachel Smith, the movie has an unexpected end at which the real culprit emerges.
Speaking to Indian Newslink, Anand said that Stranded Pearl is more than just a romance set in a tropical paradise.
“It is a gripping tale of resilience, the fight to protect nature, and an unyielding struggle for love. The story follows Siddharth and Julia, two individuals with turbulent pasts, who find themselves thrust together in extraordinary life-and-death circumstances. Stranded Pearl is a rom-com adventure that blends romance, action, and environmental themes, offering a story that is as thrilling as it is heartfelt,” he said.
(A scene from Stranded Pearl)
An exciting opportunity
Rawiri Paratene, a stalwart of New Zealand screen and theatre for over five decades with Whale Rider and Shortland Street among his long list of credits, said that the opportunity to work on a film shot in the Cook Islands was exciting.
“I love the Cook Islands as the Maori remind me of the friendly Maori people and our life when we were young. This is a very nice film, and I am proud to be part of it and what the team has produced,” he said.
According to Anand, many of the cast and crew are from New Zealand and hence its release has been of anxiety and excitement.
“The film’s setting and humour will appeal to Pacific and Indian communities, but the themes are universal and will resonate with mainstream audiences, especially females, who love rom-coms. It is family-friendly so it’s a movie everyone can enjoy,” he said.
A love letter to people
With a deep love for the Pacific islands, being born in Fiji, and his home in the Cook Islands, Stranded Pearl is Anand’s love letter to its people and his way of giving back to the Pacific Island nation which welcomed him with open arms when he moved there to live 12 years ago.
Anand hopes that the film will promote the Cook Islands as a prime film location and inspire others in his community to tell Pacific stories to the world.
“This film is not only a testament to our passion for storytelling but also a celebration of the Pacific’s rich culture and natural beauty,” he said.
Stranded Pearl also highlights the contribution of Indians in the film industry going beyond niche genres and Bollywood productions by showcasing that talent in a mainstream production.
“Experience the magic of Stranded Pearl and immerse yourself in a world of romance, adventure, and intrigue,” Anand said.
A New Zealand self-funded film with assistance from the Film Commission, the film boasts high quality (shot with Red), Dolby 5.1 surround sound and amazing production value.
Shot in the Cook Islands, its crew comprised New Zealanders, Cook Islanders and Australians.
The Public Good Entertainment Communications, supported by Unitec Publicity and Events Manager Peter Rees has promoted the film leading up to its release in several centres of the Northland and South Island in New Zealand and Cook Islands.
Please follow this link to choose the cinema near you:
https://www.strandedpearl.com/screenings
Email: mahayanafilms@gmail.com
Editor’s Note: All photographs appearing in this Story were supplied by Aunanda Naaido (Anand Naidoo)
