WHEN the Guyanese movie ‘Brown Sugar too Bitter for Me’ premiered recently at the National Cultural Centre, many did not bargain for all the emotions it stirred up or the impact it made.

With a lavish launching ceremony on April 20 and 21, film producer Mahadeo Shivraj and his talented cast served up a movie that truly locked onto the emotions of patrons.  The movie took them on a journey of   mirth as well as alarm and  remorse as the producers brilliantly brought to life the issue of ‘God creating man and man creating boundaries’ among themselves.
The stir this movie created resulted in its continuation on April 22, 2013 at the same venue.
The actors and actresses who must have been carefully selected produced a show that served up thunderous waves ‘of real life issues’ on a shore laden with strife, anger, and blinding rage.
And Shivraj effortlessly played a scorching role that  depicted a gripping story, bringing to life the everyday issue of differences in economic levels in  society, eventually resulting in segregation among ‘society classes’.
And talk about raw talent… It was such a treat to see Shivraj play multiple roles with such ease and great finesse.  And one certainly has to commend NCN’s Niaz Subhan who also showcased superb acting skills.

Raising the bar
‘Brown Sugar too Bitter for Me’ has not only raised the bar on locally produced movies but it has signaled to all that our homegrown Shivraj has a far way to go in promoting local acting talents and drama.
This excellent movie so far has been given rave reviews at every showing countrywide and can certainly hold its own against other overseas productions.
The manner in which this masterpiece propelled fear, anger, jealousy and envy while being  laced  with laughter, pleasantries and a soothing but startling ‘reality clash’, told the credible story that Guyana ‘truly got talent’.
This movie was launched in honour of Guyana’s 175th Anniversary of the arrival of East Indians. The striking fusion of rich Guyanese ballads added a  Caribbean taste to the movie, and made viewers feel at home even as the tears flowed and bodies racked with laughter.
‘Brown Sugar too Bitter for Me’ reminded its audience that they ‘should not see each other as different’, as it  captured the life of an ordinary East Indian cane cutter  brought  here to work on the sugar estates during the period of ‘indentured labour’.
The movie showcased his struggles as he fought valiantly to ensure his children did not suffer like he did or get caught in the tentacles of ‘societal economic differences’.
‘Brown Sugar too Bitter for Me’ has opened new avenues for the rich acting and production talents overlooked here too often in the haste for foreign movie productions.
The movie saw dazzling performances from Guyanese actors Michael Ignatius, Aditya Persaud, US- based actress Radhika Olharte, Shivannie Latchman, Niaz Subhan, and Chronicle’s own Akash Persaud, among others.