Liam Dunpath
Kings of Mulberry Street: Let Love Reign
“Kings of Mulberry Street: Let Love Reign”
2023
1h 49m
Director: Judy Naidoo
Overview
What if the only way Ticky and Baboo can save Granny Chetty from the clutches of the fallen Commander Veerasamy is by pretending to be celebrities from Bollywood?
Cast
Reviews
5 min readThe Bollywood Boys of Durban
I’ll admit it: I went into Kings of Mulberry Street: Let Love Reign expecting a simple, sunny throwback to the kind of childhood adventure movies I loved as a kid—something like The Goonies with a South African twist. What I got instead was a film that’s equal parts charming and clumsy, a sequel that tries to bottle lightning but ends up spilling some of it along the way. It’s not a failure, but it is a film that often feels like it’s trying to do too much at once, like a kid juggling too many toys and dropping half of them.
Set in 1993, just before South Africa’s first democratic elections, the film follows Ticky (Liam Dunpath) and Baboo (Shaan Nathoo), two 12-year-old best friends from Durban’s Indian community. Their mission is simple: rescue Granny Chetty from the clutches of a disgraced ex-cop, Commander Veerasamy, by staging a Bollywood-style show at a fancy casino to steal back a necklace. It’s a premise that should be pure fun, a mix of heist movie tension and musical spectacle.
And for a while, it is. The early scenes hum with the kind of easy camaraderie that made the first film so endearing. Ticky and Baboo bicker, scheme, and dream their way through their neighborhood, their friendship feeling lived-in and real.
But somewhere along the way, the film loses its footing, as if it can’t decide whether it wants to be a coming-of-age story, a heist caper, or a Bollywood musical.
Judy Naidoo, returning as director and writer, clearly has affection for these characters and this world. The film’s strongest moments are the quiet ones, where the camera lingers on the boys’ faces as they navigate the awkwardness of early adolescence. There’s a scene early on where Ticky and Baboo sit on a rooftop, talking about their futures, and for a brief moment, the film feels like it might settle into something deeper.
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Kings of Mulberry Street: Let Love Reign (2023)
The sequel to the beloved South African coming-of-age film Kings of Mulberry Street is finally here, and Let Love Reign promises to pick up where its predecessor left off—with the same heart, humor, and high-stakes drama. Directed by Judy Naidoo and starring Liam Dunpath, Shaan Nathoo, and Hamish Kyd, the 2023 follow-up has fans buzzing, though details about its production remain surprisingly scarce.
A Long-Awaited Return
The original Kings of Mulberry Street (2019) became a sleeper hit, blending adventure, comedy, and drama in a nostalgic 1980s setting. The sequel, Let Love Reign, appears to continue the story of best friends Ticky and Harold as they navigate the challenges of growing up in a vibrant but tough community. While the first film focused on childhood escapades, this installment reportedly shifts toward deeper emotional stakes—hinting at romance, rivalry, and personal growth 
.
Despite the excitement, production details are thin. Unlike the original, which had a clear runtime (87 minutes) and genre breakdown (adventure, comedy, drama), the sequel’s behind-the-scenes journey hasn’t been widely documented . No official trailers or extensive interviews with the cast have surfaced yet, leaving fans to speculate based on the few available clues.
Cast and Crew: Familiar Faces, Fresh Challenges
Judy Naidoo returns as director, a rare continuity in sequels that often swap creative teams. Her involvement suggests a commitment to preserving the tone of the original, though whether Let Love Reign will match its predecessor’s charm remains to be seen.
Liam Dunpath and Shaan Nathoo reprise their roles as Ticky and Harold, respectively, while Hamish Kyd—who played the memorable villain in the first film—is back, though his character’s arc in the sequel is unconfirmed. The lack of new casting announcements or behind-the-scenes photos suggests a tight-knit production, possibly shot under limited publicity .
What We Know (and What We Don’t)
- Genre and Tone: Like the original, Let Love Reign is billed as a mix of adventure, comedy, and drama . Whether it leans harder into romance (as the title suggests) or doubles down on action is unclear.
- Reception: As of now, no critic or audience scores are available on Rotten Tomatoes, meaning early reactions are still under wraps .
- Release and Distribution: The film’s rollout strategy hasn’t been detailed, though its presence on TMDB confirms it’s an official project [TMDB link].
Rumors and Unanswered Questions
With so little public information, rumors have filled the gaps. Some fans speculate that Let Love Reign might explore the characters’ teenage years, given the original’s focus on childhood. Others wonder if the sequel will introduce new antagonists or deepen existing conflicts. However, without official confirmation, these remain guesses.
One notable absence is any mention of the film’s runtime, budget, or filming locations—details that were readily available for the first movie . This silence could indicate a smaller-scale production or a deliberate effort to keep surprises under wraps.
The Bottom Line
Kings of Mulberry Street: Let Love Reign has the potential to recapture the magic of its predecessor, but its behind-the-scenes story is still a mystery. With no trailers, reviews, or in-depth interviews yet, fans will have to wait for more concrete updates. For now, the sequel’s biggest draw is its promise of nostalgia—and the hope that Ticky and Harold’s journey will resonate just as strongly as it did in 2019.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.