A 41-year-old Indian-Nigerian filmmaker, Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, has successfully merged the cultures of the two nations in a new movie set for debut.
Expressions like ‘namaste’ linked to yoga, and the Pidgin term ‘wahala’, which has gained global recognition through Afrobeats, highlight the Indian and Nigerian influences in the movie.
Ahuja bridged that gap with her debut film, titled ‘Namaste Wahala’, which aims to unite Bollywood and Nollywood.
“Nollywood has grown up on Bollywood,” Ahuja, who was born in Mumbai and raised in Lagos, told reporters in an interview, referencing the popularity of Bollywood films in Nigeria.
“Why haven’t they come together before?” she questioned.
Her film became a worldwide sensation after its release on Netflix during the COVID-19 pandemic, marking the beginning of a partnership between the two enormous film industries.
Ahuja also revealed that another ‘Namaste Wahala’ film is currently in the works.
Since the release of her first film in 2020, Ahuja has produced a Netflix series called ‘Postcards’ and is set to debut ‘Simi and Friends’ this year.
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With no formal training in filmmaking, she described ‘Namaste Wahala’, a cross-cultural romantic comedy meaning ‘Hello trouble’, as her “schooling” in the film industry.
Filmed in Lagos, the story revolves around an Indian investment banker who falls in love with a Nigerian lawyer, exploring the challenges their families face in accepting their relationship.
The film features a mix of languages, with actors seamlessly switching between English, Pidgin, and Hindi.
“I decided to dive in without hesitation,” she recalled in a recent interview in the vibrant city of Lagos, where she resides.
“India and Nigeria likely represent the world’s largest diaspora, with significant populations and, perhaps more importantly, a vibrant cultural presence,” Ahuja noted.
As a mother of two young boys, Ahuja is finalizing the animated series ‘Simi and Friends’, which is rich in Indo-Nigerian cultural themes.
The main character is a toddler with a Nigerian father and an Indian mother, enjoying a tiffin filled with plantains and samosas, popular snacks from both countries.
“It’s fun and light-hearted,” Ahuja said. “I’m uniting India and Nigeria because it simply works. People love it and see themselves in it.”
“Our cultures are so alike. That’s why many Nigerians grew up watching Bollywood; they relate to it, as it reflects more conservative family traditions and values.”
