#SHOWBIZ: 'Teman Sejati' marks as Nidji's first OST for animation film

New Straits Times

02-06-2025

KUALA LUMPUR: Indonesian pop-rock band Nidji is honoured that their heartfelt single, 'Teman Sejati', has been chosen as the official soundtrack (OST) for 'Ejen Ali The Movie 2'.
This marks their first-ever collaboration with an animated feature film.
The song, from the band's latest album 'Manifestasi Hati' released earlier this year, was composed and written by Nidji's guitarist, Andi Ariel Harsya.
It was originally penned in 2019, long before the band envisioned its future on the big screen.
"Actually, the song had been written for quite some time, since 2019. So, when we were approached by the film production for the song to become an OST, we felt very honoured," said Andi when met at a press conference held at Balai Berita, here, today.
He added, "When we recorded it, we never set a target for it to be chosen as an OST for any production, so this is beyond our expectations. It's really divine intervention."
The track, with its stirring lyrics and soaring melody, perfectly complements the themes of friendship, courage, and resilience explored in the movie.
Other band members — Yusuf Ubay, Randy Danishta, Ramadhista Akbar, Adri Perkasa, and Andro Regantoro — were also present at the event.
Meanwhile, according to Azri Yunus, the film's score composer, music plays an equally vital role as the story itself in shaping a cinematic experience.
"When a film is made, while 50 per cent of it is its story, the other half comes from its audio, including sound effects and music," he explained.
"When I first heard this song from Nidji, it was a spot-on choice. From its lyrics to its melody, it's a perfect song as the film's OST."
Azri, along with Usamah Zaid Yasin, founder of WAU Animation and creator of Ejen Ali, carefully integrated the song into the film by aligning it with pivotal scenes through detailed storyboard discussions.
'Ejen Ali The Movie 2', which premiered on May 22, sees Ali become the pilot for a high-stakes mission under Satria, an elite programme powered by an AI-assisted mecha suit.
Once again set in the futuristic city of Cyberaya, this time Ali's mission takes a darker turn when the renegade Ejen Rizwan enlists Ali's help to uncover the true mastermind behind escalating threats in Cyberaya.