“Namaste Wahala” – The Indo-Nigerian Love Fiction

“Namaste Wahala” is an intercultural romantic movie set in Nigeria that debuted on Netflix on Valentine’s Day 2021. It stars Indian Ruslaan Mumtaz as Raj, an Investment Banker and Nigerian Ini Dima-Okojie as Didi, the NGO lawyer. In an electrifying second chance meeting after Raj and Didi first literally bumped into each other, the realities of cultural clashes hit them both thereafter. However through perseverance and selflessness from the duo the barriers would eventually melt away.

Interestingly the movie touched on some intricate sides of both culture and societal problems, namely but not restricted to mothers’ love, father’s preference of the boy-child, and seeking redress for abused women, to mention just a few. But the question of who pays the dowry or bride price was not answered, even if mentioned at the end. It is not only romantic but also laced with some comedy like the roles played by Koye “K10” Kekere Ekun (Emma) and Broda Shaggi (the Taxi Driver), in the Taxi scene it was very obvious that Indians can bargain as much as Nigerians.

“Namaste Wahala” which is a combination of the Hindi language and Nigerian pidgin English can be translated as ‘Hello trouble’. It was directed by Hamisha Daryani Ahuja, a restaurateur who gave up the restaurant business for Movie Directing. So far there is no other movie to her credit thus this appears to be her first. No doubt “Namaste Wahala” turns out to be a success for a first film and we look forward to more movies to her credit.

Cast List

Ruslaan Mumtaz as Raj

Ini Dima-Okojie as Didi

Richard Mofe-Damijo as Ernest  (Didi’s father)

Joke Silva as Shola (Didi’s mother)

Sujata Sehgal as Meera (Raj’s mother)

Osas Ighodaro as Preemo

Anee Icha as Angie

Hamisha Daryani Ahuja as Leila

Anu Papa as Raj’s Father

Koye “K10” Kekere Ekun as Emma

Ibrahim Suleiman as Somto

Imoh Eboh as Jane

Chukwuemeka Frodd Okoye as Raymond    

Broda Shaggi as Taxi Driver

Sailesh Ahuja as Tarun

Uche Obunse as Hotel Receptionist