South African Indian-origin Comic Wins Nickelodeon Award

Johannesburg, May 7 (PTI) South African comedian Preven Reddy has been adjudged this year's African Social Star in the international category of the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards, becoming the only Indian-origin winner in the contest.

Nickelodeon is a US-based pay television network, launched in 1977 as the first cable channel for children, now broadcasting globally.

Reddy, who is a social media hit with his comic short videos as 'Aunty Shamilla', shared the news on social media on May 5.

"I have been crying happy tears all morning. We actually did it. Thank you so much to every single person who voted for me continuously. I am genuinely at a loss for words, this is so, so surreal. Thank you for believing in me South Africa," Reddy wrote on his Facebook page.

In his videos, Reddy adopts a localised South African Indian accent unique to the greater Durban region, home to almost half of the country's 1.4 million Indians.

The accent, though derided by many as being offensive when imitated, remains hugely popular among comedians and their audiences.

The awards were given away in a virtual ceremony by the channel in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

With appearances by Hollywood personalities, including Dwayne Johnson, Ariana Grande, Kristen Bell, Josh Gad, Camila Cabello, Millie Bobby Brown, and Ellen DeGeneres, the recorded show will air on May 8 on the channel.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)