“Sultan-The Warrior” Trailer and Gallery

Malaysian Classics : Tiga Abdul

(Courtesy:wikipedia)

Tiga Abdul (The Three Abduls) is a 1964 Malaysian comedy film directed by and starring Malaysian silver-screen icon P. Ramlee. It tells the story of three brothers who are caught in a web of trickery set by the cunning Sadiq Segaraga who uses his three daughters to fleece the three brothers of all their wealth. The movie is a tribute to traditional folktales with a moral set into the story and is set a fictional middle eastern country named Isketambola, which is loosely based on Istanbul, Turkey.
Story and Plot Point
Ismet Ulam Raja is a wealthy businessman with three sons, Abdul Wahab, Abdul Wahib and Abdul Wahub. Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib are selfish and money-minded, running their individual businesses to success. Abdul Wahub, on the other hand, enjoys a simple life and owns a small music shop. When Ismet Ulam Raja has a heart attack on his birthday, Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib start plotting out how much wealth they are set to gain when their father dies. Abdul Wahub is appalled at their behaviour and tries to get their father to go to the hospital, although Ismet Ulam Raja is strongly against hospitals. Their father dies at home, and the two elder brothers immediately distribute their late father's vast wealth among the two of them while Abdul Wahub only inherits their father's house. Although Abdul Wahub is upset at this injustice, he accepts it as he is the youngest brother, and returns to his simple music business.
Sadiq Segaraga, a friend of the late Ismet Ulam Raja, has also set his eyes on the vast wealth that once belonged to his friend. He orders his three beautiful daughters, Hamidah, Rafidah and Ghasidah, to woo the three Abduls. Hamidah is successful in wooing Abdul Wahab and Rafidah is successful in wooing Abdul Wahib, but Ghasidah and Abdul Wahub only argue with each other on sight.
The two elder Abduls meet Sadiq Segaraga to ask for his two daughters' hands in marriage. Sadiq agrees, on the condition that they sign a contract written by him and his lawyer, Kassim Patalon. The contract states that if the Abduls lose their temper at any moment during their marriage, all the wealth they own will go to Sadiq and the Abduls will be sold as slaves. Although they are suspicious of the contract, they agree to sign it. After the marriage, Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib move into Sadiq's home, where they are told they are not allowed to eat their food, only smell it, and they are to sleep in the stables, not in their wives' rooms. The two Abduls lose their temper at these conditions, and Sadiq reveals the contract, claiming all their wealth and sells the two men as slaves.
Abdul Wahub sees his brothers being sold in the marketplace, but cannot do anything. That night his father appears to him in a dream, telling him to meet a man named Sulaiman Akh-laken. Abdul Wahub does as he's instructed and it turns out that Sulaiman Akh-laken is Ismet Ulam Raja's lawyer who managed Ismet's overseas properties, which are now passed on to Abdul Wahub. Abdul Wahub discovers that he is several times richer than his two elder brothers combined. Using this knowledge, he starts his plan by meeting Sadiq Segaraga and asking for Ghasidah's hand in marriage. Sadiq shows Abdul Wahub the same contract he'd presented to his elder brothers, and Abdul Wahub says that he'll sign it, on the condition that Sadiq signs another contract. The second contract states that if Sadiq loses his temper, then Abdul Wahub will claim all his wealth and sell Sadiq as a slave.
Abdul Wahub and Ghasidah are married, although they supposedly still hate each other. Abdul Wahub arrives at Sadiq's home and is told the same things his brothers were told but, being prepared, he reacts to all the conditions with ease. The following days Abdul Wahub counters Sadiq's trickery by avoiding Ghasidah, going on supposed dinner dates with another woman and giving away all the things in Sadiq's shop to the poor. Each time Sadiq almost loses his temper, but his lawyer Kassim Patalon reminds him about the contract he signed.
Ghasidah then confronts Abdul Wahub, asking him whether he's really having an affair with another woman. At first Abdul Wahub pretends it is true, but the truth comes out that it was just pretend, and that he is actually in love with Ghasidah, and Ghasidah is in love with him.
Sadiq Segaraga finally loses his temper when Abdul Wahub invites the people of the town into Sadiq's house to take away anything they want. When Sadiq admits that his truly angry, Abdul Wahub reveals the contract, taking everything that Sadiq owns and selling Sadiq, Kassim Patalon, Rafidah and Hamidah as slaves in the market.
After a while, Abdul Wahub buys Abdul Wahab and Abdul Wahib (who have been bought by a merchant), along with Sadiq, Kassim Patalon, Rafidah and Hamidah, and brings all of them back to the house that was once the only thing that Abdul Wahub inherited from Ismet Ulam Raja. After a tearful speech, Abdul Wahub apologizes to everyone for his doing and undoes the contracts that bound them as slaves. All those who spent their time as slaves learned their lesson.
Cast
P. Ramlee as Abdul Wahub (youngest son)
Haji Mahadi as Abdul Wahab (eldest son)
S. Kadarisman as Abdul Wahib (middle son)
Ahmad Nisfu as Sadiq Segaraga
Sarimah as Ghasidah (youngest daughter)
Mariani as Hamidah (eldest daughter)
Dayang Sofia as Rafidah (middle daughter)
M. Babjan as Ismet Ulam Raja
Salleh Kamil as Kassim Patalon
S. Shamsuddin as Pencerita
Songs
Bunyi Guitar (The Sound of the Guitar) - Performed by P. Ramlee
Tolong Kami, Bantu Kami (Oh Please Help Us) - Performed by P. Ramlee
Sedangkan Lidah Lagi Tergigit (Even the Tongue) - Performed by P. Ramlee and Saloma

Malaysian classics: Sumolah

(Courtesy: wikipedia)

Sumolah (Let's Sumo) is a 2007 Malaysian action-comedy film starring Afdlin Shauki and featuring the Japanese sport of sumo wrestling. The film was shot in Malaysia and Japan. The film has a multi-national cast including Thai actress Inthira Charoenpura who was previously known for her performance in Nang Nak, and Singaporean actor Gurmit Singh known for his performance in the sitcom Phua Chu Kang. The plot of the film revolves about what would happen if an unambitious Malay mat rempit is forced to enter the challenging world of sumo.
Story and Plot Point
Ramlee (Afdlin Shauki) is a down and out Malay boy who cannot seem to hold down a job, much to his mother’s (Kartina Aziz) disappointment. Out of a job and out of money, he stumbles across a challenge by sushi restaurant owner Honda (Patrick Teoh) to “eat all you can for free food – within a time limit”. Hungry and desperate, Ramlee attempts the challenge, and fails. In compensation, Honda (Patrick Teoh) lets Ramlee take a job at the restaurant to pay off his due.
Ramlee becomes a member of the Boleh Sushi shop staff, along with Haris (Awie) and Andy (Radhi Khalid). Ramlee is immediately attracted to Honda’s beautiful daughter, Siti (Inthira Charoenpura), who is half-Japanese and half-Malay. He begins to learn the meaning of having good work, good friends and family.
One day he learns that part of his obligation is to take part in the Malaysian Sushi Association Amateur Sumo Wrestling Championships held by the local Japanese owners of sushi restaurants.
Whilst taking part in the initial friendly bout, Akira (Gurmit Singh), Siti’s ex-boyfriend, humiliates him in public. It is only after that that Ramlee finds out that he had been tricked into working for Boleh Sushi because Honda was desperate for a third member for their team.
Ramlee has to make a choice – whether to stay on and fight for Boleh Sushi in the upcoming Championships, or to give up on his new-found family. He decides to step up to the challenge and begins training with the boys for the big fight.
He learns the meaning of the word nokotta – never give up, the fight is not yet won. He learns that no matter what the result, the honour is in fighting the good fight. Ultimately, Ramlee’s challenge is to let go of the excuses he has made for himself, and to fight till the end, no matter what.
Cast
Afdlin Shauki as Ramlee
Inthira Charoenpura as Siti
Gurmit Singh as Akira
Awie as Haris
Patrick Teoh as Honda
Radhi Khalid as Andy
Gavin Yap as Mickey
Terry Gallyot as Hassan
Ben Ten as Tadano
Mohd Afif as Kodok
Kartina Aziz as Mak

Malaysian Classics: Sepet

(Courtesy:wikipedia)

Sepet is a 2004 Malaysian romantic comedy drama film set in Ipoh, Malaysia. Directed by Yasmin Ahmad, it tells a tale of a love that blooms between a Chinese boy and a Malay girl. Sepet is a Malay word which, in this context, refers to the 'slit eyes' of the Chinese.
Story and Plot Point
19-year old Ah Loong is in charge of a stall selling pirated VCDs. Contrary to the stereotype of his social standing, Ah Loong, starring Ng Choo Seong, is an incurable romantic with an unlikely hobby - he loves to read and write poetry. Quite content to carry on being the Romeo of the slums, Ah Loong's life takes a sudden turn one day when a Malay schoolgirl, Orked, arrives at his stall. She is in search of films starring her favorite actor Takeshi Kaneshiro. Love blossoms between Orked and Ah Loong, although there are social and racial pressures that stand in their way. In the end, Ah Loong is involved in a motor vehicle accident while Orked is going to England to pursue her studies. It is not clear if he lived or died until the sequel, Gubra which shows that Jason really did die. After the credits finish rolling however, Orked is shown wearing a wedding ring sleeping beside Jason, who also has a wedding ring. In Mukhsin, Jason and the adult Orked are shown to be living together. However, the adult Orked is not called by her name in this scene as the young Orked is.

Cast
Choo Seong Ng as Ah Loong
Sharifah Amani as Orked
Linus Chung as Keong
Mei Ling Ten as Mah (Ah Loong's mother)
Ida Nerina as Mak (Orked's mother)
Harith Iskander as Abah (Orked's father)
Adibah Noor as Kak Yam
Kar Hoong Thor as Pah (Ah Loong's father)
Zahan Marissa as Lin
Awards
18th Tokyo International Film Festival 2005
Best Asian Film Award
Ninth Malaysian Video Awards
Best Film
27th Créteil International Women's Film Festival in France
Best Film

18th Malaysian Film Festival
Best Film
Best Original Screenplay (Yasmin Ahmad)
Best Poster
Best Supporting Actress (Ida Nerina)
Most Promising Actor (Ng Choo Seong)
Most Promising Actress (Sharifah Amani)
Global Chinese Golden Arts Awards
Best Film
Anugerah Era 2005
Best Film
Sequels
The sequel to Sepet, called Gubra, was filmed in Ipoh, Malaysia and released in 2006. The third movie in Yasmin Ahmad's Orked trilogy is a prequel to both Sepet and Gubra, titled Mukhsin.

Sarcasms
Being cynical in character, Yasmin Ahmad included a few sarcastic remarks of today's Malaysian society in her film:
Orked had on a few occasions sarcastically criticized her friend, Ling, about her obsession with Western male celebrities, particularly Leonardao Dicaprio. She even told off Ling's Western-facelike Malay boyfriend for failing his English in the SPM examinations. This was in reference to the teenage Malays nowadays' obsession with Western celebrities.
Orked rebutted Ling's boyfriend for questioning her love relationship with a non-Malay, i.e. Jason, by telling him Malay men had been marrying non-Malays for generations. This indirectly referred to today's quite prevailing biased perceptions of people having inter-racial love relationships. It was also expressed through Keong's dialogue with Jason when the former was hospitalized. Keong had said people in the olden times can marry each other regardless of race but people in the today's more civilized society tend to fight over and think too much of such matters.
Mak Inom expressed her gratefulness to Him after knowing Orked obtained a scholarship to study overseas despite getting 5As in the SPM examinations. Kak Yam, who was sitting beside her, solemnly said Jason had 7As (probably a few years back but wasn't even offered a scholarshhip). This indirectly criticized the Malaysian Government's perceived biased treatment in handing out scholarships to non-Bumiputras.
Controversy
The film was initially banned in Malaysia for four reasons, pertaining primarily to scenes deemed in inappropriate to the Malay community and their Islamic faith:
There's a scene where the father and the mother were dancing in their sarongs (a large sheet of fabric, often wrapped around the waist (for men) and above the chest (for women)).
A scene where the father and the mother were tickling each other in bed after having sex.
There's also a scene where the family comb each other's hair, where the women only wear sarongs.
Ah Loong didn't convert to Islam at the end despite his courtship with Orked who is a Muslim.
Director Yasmin Ahmad gained enough support from the government, and finally, the movie was shown in Malaysian cinemas, with 9 cuts on the movie.

Malaysian Classics: Seniman Bujang Lapok

Seniman Bujang Lapok (The Three Bachelors as Actors) is a 1961 Malaysian comedy film directed by P. Ramlee. It is the fourth installment in the "Bujang Lapok" series of films, but the last to feature P. Ramlee, S.Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar as the main trio of actors. However, it is not a direct sequel to the previous "Bujang Lapok" films, as there are no references to the events of the previous films.
The film is a self-referential spoof of the Malay film industry of the late 1950s/early 1960s. The plot revolves around the main trio attempting to become actors and break into the film business, and hence features a fictionalised look at the behind-the-scenes process of Malay film-making during that time. The line between reality and fiction is blurred as real film industry places are used, real film sets of previous Malay films are used for the film-within-the-film, and all the featured actors use their real-life names or derivatives thereof.
The film-within-the film, "Setan Angkat Julang", is a fictionalised account of the historical event of "Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang", i.e. the death of Sultan Mahmud as he was carried upon an altar.
Fifteen years after this film was released, another "Bujang Lapok" film was made: Bujang Lapok Kembali Daa (The Return of the Three Bachelors). The fifth and final installment in the series was directed by Aziz Sattar and featured P. Ramlee's son Nasir P. Ramlee taking over P. Ramlee’s part in the trio.

Story and Plot Point
The "bujang lapok" trio of Ramli, Sudin and Ajis go to Jalan Ampas Studio in response to an open call audition. During their audition, they drive director Ahmad Nisfu crazy by forgetting the script and improvising with their own lines. However, the studio boss likes their natural comedic talent and tells the director that the trio are to be signed on for an oncoming film.
Back at home, Ramlee is in love with a nurse, Cik Salmah, who is being watched by Sharif Dol, a villain from a neighbouring village. Sharif Dol sends his mother to propose but Salmah turns him down. The vengeful Sharif Dol burns down the entire village to get even, but is later arrested for his crime.
Songs
Menchecheh Bujang Lapok
Gelora
Cast
P. Ramlee as Ramli
S.Shamsuddin as Sudin
Aziz Sattar as Ajis
Saloma as Miss Salmah
Sharif Dol as Sharif Dol
Ahmad Nisfu as Director Ahmad Nisfu
Of note, Saloma's real name is Salmah Ismail.

Malaysian Classics: Puteri Gunong Ledang

Puteri Gunong Ledang (The Princess of Mount Ledang) is a 1961 Malaysian period film directed by S. Roomai Noor and based on the Legend of Gunung Ledang. The film introduces actress Elaine Edley in her first film role.
Story and Plot Point
Sultan Mahmud Shah, ruler of Malacca, dreams of a woman with unnatural beauty. Plagued by the dream, he asks the court magician their meaning. The court magician tells him that his dream is that of an extraordinary princess who lives on the peak of Mount Ledang. Sultan Mahmud becomes obsessed with the Puteri, and orders his Bendahara to cancel his scheduled wedding to a local princess.
Sultan Mahmud’s officers and Dinda, the princess he had been engaged to, are confused with the Sultan’s sudden change of attitude. Dinda’s brother, Laksamana Zainol, is especially angry on his sister’s behalf. Zainol, propelled by his sister’s betrayal, begins talking to the Malaccan people of Sultan Mahmud’s foolishness, planting the seeds of rebellion.
Sultan Mahmud commands the Bendahara to seek the Puteri of Gunung Ledang out, but he claims the task to be impossible. The elderly Hang Tuah, greatest of all Malaccan warriors, offers to find the princess for the Sultan. He forms a party of warriors and they set out to Mount Ledang to find her and present the Sultan’s proposal of marriage. They travel a great distance and have to overcome many obstacles. Hang Tuah himself becomes injured and is too weak to reach the peak, so he sends the younger members of the group onward without him. A single young warrior named Tun Mamat survives to reach the peak, where he is tempted by a flower fairy who tries to seduce him off his path. Tun Mamat repeatedly spurns the flower fairy and, upon beating her test, meets an elderly Nenek Kebayan who agrees to help lead him to the peak of Mount Ledang.
Once at the peak, the Nenek Kebayan leaves Tun Mamat, and he is greeted by four more flower fairies. They give him one final warning and then leave, making way for the Puteri herself to appear. The Puteri tells Tun Mamat that she has no desire to be queen, but she will marry Sultan Mahmud if he cana give her seven presents as her dowry. Tun Mamat descends the mountain with the message, along the way reuniting with various members of the group who were lost or left behind on the way, including the recovering Hang Tuah. When Tun Mamat repeats the Puteri's message to him, Hang Tuah realises that the conditions are a rejection and he has failed in his task to the Sultan. He decides to leave Malacca forever in self-imposed exile.
Tun Mamat and the rest of the warriors return to Malacca where the seven conditions are presented to Sultan Mahmud and the royal court, which are:
A golden bridge from the peak of Mount Ledang to the Malaccan palace,
A silver bridge from the Malaccan palace to the peak of Mount Ledang,
Seven trays of mosquitoes' hearts,
Seven trays of germs,
Seven jars of betel nut juice,
Seven jars of virgin's tears,
A bowl of Sultan Mahmud's son's blood.
At hearing the conditions the royal court is in shock and dismay, but Sultan Mahmud is so focused on the beauty of the Puteri that he proudly claims that the seven conditions are easy and commands his people to fulfill them. All the gold and silver of the kingdom is taken from the Malaccan people to build the bridges; mosquitoes and germs are allowed to thrive, causing sickness throughout the land; all virgin women are forced to cry into bowls to collect their tears.
At this time Zainol holds more secret meetings with the discontented people of Malacca to discuss Sultan Mahmud's inhumane commands. The people, now confident and angry, decide to strike at Sultan Mahmud for his injustice. During a second collection of gold and silver, a discontented man stands up to the royal collection officer and a fight ensues between the soldiers and the Malaccan commoners. This triggers more fights and skirmishes, sending the entire kingdom into turmoil.
At long last six of the seven conditions are fulfilled. Sultan Mahmud is overjoyed but is cut short when the Bendahara reminds him that the seventh condition has not been done. Sultan Mahmud visits the sleeping chambers of his son, Tengku Ahmad, to strike him down with a keris but two nights in a row he is unable to go through with it. On the third night, Sultan Mahmud is ready to kill his son for good, but at the last minute throws his keris aside. Then the Puteri herself appears and says that she will never marry him because he is a cruel man. Sultan Mahmud realises the error of his ways and begs his son for forgiveness.
The next morning Zainol and a large group of Malaccan people attack the palace. Sultan Mahmud decides to face them openly where he confesses his crimes and puts his life in their hands. All the people, including Zainol, accept his apology and pledge allegiance to him once again.
Cast
Elaine Edley as Puteri Gunung Ledang
Mazlan Ahmad
Fatimah Ahmad
Wahid Satay
Puteh Lawak
Mahmud June
Haji Ashad
Shariff Medan
Yem
Abdullah Sani
Kalam Hamidi
Ahmad Nisfu
Mak Dara as Nenek Kebayan
Songs
Silakan, Kawan
Bilangan Tangan
Burung Kakak Tua
Gunong Ledang
Lagu Puteri Dahlia
Lagu Puteri-Puteri Bunga (Melati, Kemboja, Matahari, Tanjung)
Sudah Ku Telam
Title spelling
At the time the film was released (1961), the Malay spelling of the word "Gunong" used "o" in the second syllable. In the 1970s Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka standardised the Malay language, and the accepted spelling from then until current day is "Gunung".

Malaysian Classics: Pendekar Bujang Lapok

(Courtesy:filemkita)

Pendekar Bujang Lapok (The Three Bachelors as Warriors) is a 1959 Malaysian comedy film directed by P. Ramlee. It is the second in the Bujang Lapok series of films, and stars the "Bujang Lapok" trio of P. Ramlee, S.Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar.
Although the three main characters have the same names, actors and personalities as the previous Bujang Lapok film, it is not a direct sequel as there are no canonical references to the events in its predecessor.
Story and Plot Point
The "bujang lapok" trio (i.e. three bachelors) of Ramli, Sudin and Ajis are in the middle of traveling and are waiting at a jetty for a boat to arrive and lead them across the river. The boat company is owned by a rich man named Ahmad Nisfu, who uses thugs to run the business and keep "commoners" in line. The thugs only allow certain people to take the boats early, while others have to wait a long time. An old man named Pendekar Mustar wants to cross the river, but he is ill-treated by the thugs. When he continues to insist to be allowed to cross the river, he is dragged away to be beaten up, but he defeats all the younger and more well-built thugs successfully.
Ramli, Sudin and Ajis are impressed by Pendekar Mustar's abilities and decide to follow him. They eventually meet Pendekar Mustar face-to-face and request that they be taught silat, the martial art that Pendekar Mustar used to defeat the thugs. Pendekar Mustar welcomes the boys and starts to teach them the art of silat, only to find out that they are all illiterate. He sends them to school where Pendekar Mustar's daughter, Ros, teaches to learn to read and write.
Later, Ahmad Nisfu arrives at Pendekar Mustar's house with his thugs. He wants to claim damages for the ruckus that Pendekar Mustar caused, but before he can ask for them, he sees Ros, changes his mind, and then asks Pendekar Mustar for her hand in marriage. Pendekar Mustar refuses, and the bujang lapok trio chase the thugs away.
One night, Pendekar Mustar sends the boys to meditate at a nearby cemetery. He says that whatever happens, the boys must concentrate on their training. Coincidentally, on that night itself Ahmad Nisfu's thugs kidnap Ros. They pass the cemetery but the boys ignore her, thinking that it is just another test. It takes Pendekar Mustar's wife to convince the boys to rescue Ros from Ahmad Nisfu.
Songs
Pok Pok Pok, Bujang Lapok (The Bujang Lapok Theme Song)
Maafkan Kami (Forgive Us) Malam Bulan di Pagar Bintang (The Moonlight in the Edge of the Stars)