From dentistry to directing: Timothy Eubulus's artistic evolution

EUBULUS Timothy is not just a name in the South African arts scene; he is a phenomenon.

This award-winning filmmaker, writer, teacher, and dental surgeon combines multiple disciplines, breathing life into narratives that capture the essence of his heritage and experiences.

Born in Durban at St Aidan’s Hospital, Timothy has carved out a life rich with stories - a life that bridges gaps across culture, time, and struggles. His connection to the vibrant yet turbulent history of the Indian community in South Africa is exemplified in his upcoming film, The Cane Cutter. 

The movie's official trailer was launched last week and will be released on November 16, a day that marks the 165th anniversary of the arrival of Indians to Natal.

With a poignant narrative that explores identity and independence through the eyes of a law student, as he uncovers his grandfather's journey as an indentured labourer, Timothy said the film encapsulated a significant moment in South African history.

Timothy, a single dad from Musgrave, described the movie as a "personal reflection", adding: "Yes, there was pain, fear, and suffering, but there was hope, triumphs and victories."

But before the spotlight focussed on him, Timothy can still remember the days of playing cricket between the "green mambas" in Queen Street, soccer on the Esplanade, and hide-and-seek in West Street.

"I can also remember fishing illegally in the harbour at the Point Yacht Club because of the colour of my skin."

While in Standard 8 at Orient High, he wrote on his desk: "Nothing you say will make me change my opinion of myself." And he has lived by this motto all his life.

It was actor Steve McQueen, he said, and the movie The Thomas Crown Affair that got him thinking about movie-making.

"When I was a kid, I sneaked into the cinema to see the movie and I said 'I can do that'. And since that day, McQueen, for me, will always be the essence of cool. Then, when I was 10, my dad bought me a Chinon 8mm movie camera and a sound recorder. I started making my own little movies with my friends from the Goodhope Center. Pastor JF Rowlands used to visit my home and watch my movies. He liked the name of my movie company, Trinity Pictures, which remains the name to this day."

Timothy said during his teen years, he fought with his mom to convince his dad to send him to London for his O and A levels. O levels are a secondary school qualification marking the completion of foundational education, while A levels are a more advanced, pre-university qualification taken after O Levels (or equivalent) for entry into higher education.

"After this, I went to Manipal University in Karnataka in India to study dentistry."

When he returned to South Africa, he lived and worked in Port Elizabeth and Cape Town, and earned a postgraduate diploma in dental implants and another in dental aesthetics from the University of the Western Cape.

In 2001, he was also the founding chairperson of the Cape Film Commission, putting in place the structures making Cape Town one the top film destinations outside of Hollywood and Bollywood. In 2003, Timothy became the consultant to the Durban Investment Promotion Agency before there was Durban Tourism and that, he said, put in place the structure for the Durban Film Office and the KZN Film Commission.

"I even designed the famous Durban Film Office logo."

Timothy has a diploma in directing actors and another in cinematography from the Los Angeles City College in Hollywood. Other alumni included Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood, Lebo M.  

Some of his works he directed include Deep End, El Gotico (a Spanish short with Rosanna Travares from Eden Crush with Nicole Scherzinger) and Bridging the Gap (the first live broadcast from Robben Island for ETV).

He said even though he had won many awards for movies around the world, including the Harley-Merrill Screenwriting Award in Hollywood, given to him by Irv Kushner, the director of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, it was winning best artistic film in Durban for the short film, Vivaldi's Spring in the Time of Covid-19, that was close to his heart.

"It is about your hometown recognising you."

Speaking on his new labour of love, The Cane Cutter, Timothy, who directed the film, provided some insight into the plot and the idea for the movie.

"When I moved back home from Hollywood, my dear friend Shan Moodley, who is the movie's producer, had an idea to tell the story of the Indian tribe of South Africa. Finding and casting the lead actress was a challenge. Darren Maule, from East Coast Radio (ECR), stepped in, and for the first time we cast a movie live on radio.  

"The film is about a law student Dev (played by Razeen Dada), who drops out of his Master's to do a documentary on his grandfather's journey from India as an indentured laborer. Dev’s world changes when he meets a young doctor Amisha (played by Dr Kajal Lutchminarain) fighting for her independence as a woman.

"Even with everything now in place, we were not able to secure funding. So Shan and I put whatever money we had together and The Cane Cutter became a reality, step by step. We had so many challenges in getting the movie to this stage. But it was my daughter, Teerajeh Jemima, who stepped in and, frame by frame, put together what we can now call The Cane Cutter. And now we are now a few weeks away from the silver screen.”

He said he was blessed to have a host of people, including Sam Ramsamy, Professor Ashwin Desai, Devi Sankaree, Ela Gandhi, Professor Karthy Govender, Dr Devi Rajab, Professor Salim Abdool Karim, Emeritus Professor Daya Reddy, Dr Sheetal Bhoola, Professor Dararath Chetty, Ismail Mohammed and Dr Imtiaz Sooliman and his wife Zohra, all play themselves in the movie.

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