COCONUT
After the death of his Grandpa (Aja), 19-year-old Dev and his non-English speaking Grandma (Aji) become best friends by teaching each other how to swear in Fiji-Hindi and English.
"Coconut" is supported through the Creative Australia "Match Lab" and Australian Cultural Fund.
Click play to watch the pitch video below.
"Coconut" is like "Kneecap" meets "Lion".
Learn more about Fiji-Indian and Girmitiya Culture and Language on Instagram
THANK YOU to everyone that supported and donated to our crowdfunding campaign!
We reached our target thanks you all of you.
The Synopsis
Dev, a 19-year-old Indian-Australian with a wolf cut mullet and budding hip-hop lyricist is known as a "Coconut" - brown on the outside, white on the inside. Dev has always struggled to connect to his Indian Community. His Cultural disconnect is painfully obvious when he fumbles and ruins the Hindu ritual of immersing his Grandpa’s ashes into the river.
Dev, with his strong Aussie accent, has never spoken Hindi. That changes when he is tasked with taking Grandma to her hydrotherapy sessions. Grandma grieving and angry at her Hindu Deity for not saving Grandpa, refuses to depend on anyone, fearing she’ll be soon placed into a nursing home.
After a hilariously awkward hydrotherapy lesson, where Dev relies on a translator website and portable speaker to communicate, his patience is at breaking point when they miss their bus home. With Grandma unable to walk further, Dev pushes her in a shopping trolley and they bond unexpectedly over teaching each other to swear. Dev is horrified when Grandma takes a special liking to swearing.
That night, Grandma invites Dev to perform a ritual for Grandpa. They spend the night levelling up their swearing game, leading to a profanity-filled hip-hop track in Hindi and English. Just as they hit a lyrical stride, Raj (Dev’s dad) walks in, only for Grandma to break the silence with more swearing.
Our Cast & Crew
Cast
Dev Prakash: Indra Liyaraachchi
Aji (Grandma): Saba Zaidi Abdi
Raj Prakash (Dad): Dinesh Matthew
Hindu Priest: Pundit Ravendra P Sharma
Woman Passenger: Lindy Yeates
Jogger: Justin Moore
High School Boy: Liam Rosewarne
High School Girls: Gemma Livingstone, Vi Pham
Bus Passengers: Ben Polazzon, Izzy Charbonnier, Jeyan Kernot Lee
Bus Driver: Matt Arztenhofer
Crew
Director, Producer, Writer: Ravi Chand
Producer, 1st AD: Sara Norman
Director of Photography: Matthew Jenkins
1st AC: Karina Davies
2nd AC: Nicole Zhang
1st AD: Sara Norman
2nd AD: Emma Boyce
Gaffer: Jack Donald McDowall
Key Grip: Victor Tikanov
Production Designer: Nikko Guan
Art Direction: Angelica Soler Becerra
Art Assistants: Sabrina Syarafina Nur, Finn Hartnett, Izzy Charbonnier, Lara Buchanan
Wardrobe: Jamie Jungyoon Tak
Wardrobe Assistant: Beth Arendse
Hair & Make Up: Maria Nasrallah
Hair & Make Up Assistant: Aida Woldu, Beau Gardner
Sound Recordist: Nathan Lucas & James Thompson
Unit Manager: Gilly Richardson
Production Assistants: Agung Aksara, Jashan Ramjee
Script Supervisor: Jeyan Kernot Lee, Sophie Kesoglidis
Best Person: Shyam Prakash, Gabriel Mooney
Music (Mother Tongue track): HAMLEY
Stills & BTS Video: Candice Chen
Partner BTS: Notin Wang
Caterer: Lily Norman
Graffiti Artist: Ashley Goudie
Shopping Trolley Welder: Sean Dowling
Cultural Wardrobe Artist: Rukshikaa Elankumaran
Fiji-Hindi Linguist: Dr Farzana Gounder
Fiji-Hindi Dialect Coach: Nandeeta Maharaj
Fiji-Hindi Translation: Shanno Kumar
Special Thanks
ALL OUR INCREDIBLY GENEROUS CROWDFUNDING DONORS!
Creative Australia
Australian Cultural Fund
Steve Brown at Kinto
Tony Dowling at Try Escape Landscaping
Black Shades & Arrogance
Heni
James Infante
Kinetic
This wouldn't be possible without our amazing cast, crew and supporters below:
Actor Casting Call
Important: Please ensure you read all information.
Shoot dates are 15-21 May, 2025 with rehearsals prior.
When you send your details, please ensure:
- If you have an acting showreel, send the link do not attach any video files.
- When attaching a photo, keep it under 500kb. Large files will not be accepted.
- All roles are for Melbourne only actors.
- Include your age and height (cms).
We start reviewing applications as soon as they are submitted. Due to the number of applications we receive, we will only contact shortlisted applicants.
This is a Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne Uni) Masters project. As such all roles are unpaid.
[ APPLY HERE ]
Deadline 7 March 2025
Character: RAJ (DAD)
Age: 50-60
Indian or Sri Lankan, male
Raj straddles the roles of stoic son and emotionally distant father. A product of his Fijian-Indian upbringing, he holds tight to tradition, often burying his emotions under a facade of practicality. Dutiful to his mother (Grandma/Aji). He assumes he knows her, yet has never truly seen her as a person beyond her familial role. Raj needs to rebuild a genuine connection to his mother
Acting experience preferred but not necessary. Unpaid.
[ APPLY HERE ]
Deadline 7 March 2025
Character: SIONNE
Age: 20 - 55
Pacific Islander, male
A gentle giant with a disarming smile, Sionne exudes warmth and an easy charm that instantly puts others at ease. As a trainee hydrotherapy instructor, his upbeat demeanour hides a subtle insecurity about his capabilities. He always tries to avoid confrontation with humour.
Energy and strong, grounded comedic timing required.
Acting experience preferred but not necessary. Unpaid.
Application deadline
7 March 2025
Crew Roles
Important: Please ensure you read all information.
Shoot dates are 15-21 May, 2025.
When you send your details, please ensure:
- You put in the subject heading "CREW Call & Name of Role".
- Please include your IMDB link if you have one and / or link to your work.
- When attaching a CV, keep it under 200kb. Large files will not be accepted.
- All roles are Melbourne only.
We start reviewing applications as soon as they are submitted. Due to the number of applications we receive, we will only contact shortlisted applicants.
This is a Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne Uni) Masters project. As such all roles are unpaid.
Crew Role: Hair & Make Up Assistant
Working with Hair & Mark Up Artist.
Will provide professional photos for portfolio.
Budget for general materials covered.
Unpaid.
[ APPLY HERE ]
Deadline 7 March 20225
Application deadline
7 March 2025
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