MEET AUNTY SHAMILLA

Aunty Shamilla has taken the internet by storm. She’s a fearless, straight talking, Indian-aunty from Durban who takes no rubbish. She’s been nominated for a Nickelodeon Kids Choice Award, bagged sold out shows across the country, and was too busy at her day job to chat so instead sent her genius creator Preven Reddy to talk nonsense with us. Prev reassured us not to take it personally: “She doesn’t care about all the fuss.”

Preven is a young, bright-eyed and determined comedian who studied writing and producing at AFDA. His parents wanted him to study law, but, “I conned them into letting me go by convincing them that learning to manage contracts and create content is basically like getting a business degree,” he explains. After completing his studies he headed to Johannesburg and worked as an adjudicator and a PA on film and TV sets while pursuing his dream of making it big. He knocked on the doors of comedy clubs to give him a slot. He auditioned for acting parts and was constantly rejected. Talk show host, life coach and free therapist for most millennials, Oprah preaches that success happens when preparation meets opportunity. Preven Reddy’s story is true testament to these words.

Then one fine day while Preven was a driver for Mark Banks and they were discussing the Durban boys comedic dreams while fighting Johannesburg traffic, Mark made a phone call to the owner of the famous Parker’s Comedy Club and sealed him 15 minutes on stage that night. Thankfully the ambitious Prev had material ready and finally got his foot in the door.

At just 24 he has hustled hard to achieve his goals – goals he writes on a vision board each year. “I’ve managed to tick off 99% of those milestones, four years in a row,” although his weight loss targets still creep in year after year. Last year he nailed a TV show appearance on Imbewu, and this year a part in a Leon Schuster film to be released in June.

Preven’s most famous character Aunty Shamilla hit the VMA’s (Video Music Awards) in New York and Comicon in Johannesburg last year. The realisation of how popular Aunty Shamilla was became real when she needed security to move around the event. The down-to-earth comedian says that when he’s not in his Aunty Shamilla attire, no one even notices him. He’s a nobody with no security. However, the no-nonsense Aunty received invites from Nickelodeon and Comedy Central to attend their stands – which set the ball rolling for the award nomination this year.

Aunty Shamilla wasn’t supposed to happen. Preven had a steady number of followers on his social media where he mostly stuck to traditional stand up “and I basically just ranted as myself,” he says. He then posted a short skit of Aunty Shamilla with no masterplan, but received such a great response from his fans that Aunty Shamilla eventually took centre stage. She is 99% based on his own mother and says that his fan base crosses the barrier of racial and age divides because the theme and content she brings to life are universal.

Amidst the Coronavirus drama Preven was set to head to the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards in March, but the event has been postponed until later this year. “I’m up against a DJ with 4,9-million followers who Naomi Campbell sent well wishes to, so I doubt I’m going to bring the award home but I don’t care, just being invited is a win.”

* PREVEN REDDY, THE CREATOR OF AUNTY SHAMILLA, CHATS TO CANDICE MEIRING-BASNETT ABOUT HIS JOURNEY

Discover Durban #durbanhasmore

In Durban for business or leisure? Hop aboard the Ricksha Bus for a scenic three-hour overview of Durban’s major attractions. Explore rich history of traditional Zulu culture in the Valley of the 1000 Hills or visit a local township and experience the unique Durban lifestyle.

Durban’s sub-tropical climate is ideal for surfing the country’s best waves all year round, lounge on the golden beach, cycle or walk on the promenade, grab a bite to eat, fish, snorkel, scuba dive, canoe or kite surf on Durban’s ocean playground.

From adrenaline-fueled adventures to family-orientated activities, Durban offers something for everyone. Take a guided tour of Inanda, where the late former President Nelson Mandela chose to vote in South Africa’s first democratic elections in 1994.

Fall in love once again. Take a walk on the Beachfront Promenade, where you will truly experience love happiness that makes Durban the must visit destination. Pack your picnic basket, meet up with friends or simply enjoy a ricksha ride at the beach to experience tranquility that comes with nature and the warmth of the people of Durban.