#SHOWBIZ: Beto Kusyairy's latest movie, a nod for Gayong brethren
"I've never specifically put the label of action actor for myself. All the characters I played would depend on the scripts and those I'd be working with, from other cast members to the directors," he says in a recent interview.
"At this stage, I'm no longer chasing popularity, fame, or even jobs. Instead, I only choose work that I like, that which has an impact on my career and the audience.
"An impact which would give the audience the vibe and feel of the performance and its content," he adds.
From a humble beginning taking the role of the mascot for children's TV production 'Along' in 2001, Beto has come a long way in his artistic journey, having earned himself some coveted awards.
These include the best supporting actor awards at the 32nd Malaysia Film Festival (FFM 32) in 2022 and the 2023 Asean International Film Festival & Awards (Aiffa 2023) for his role as Wahid in the 2022 epic blockbuster 'Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan'.
Despite not labelling himself as an action actor, Beto is back playing a character that requires him to show off his martial arts skills.
The feature film in question is the action drama and biopic movie, 'Gayong,' currently screening in cinemas nationwide.
In this movie, directed by Faisal Ishak and produced by Sol Pictures, Beto plays the role of the late Datuk Meor Abdul Rahman Uda Mohd Hashim, a silat grandmaster and the founder of Pertubuhan Seni Silat Gayong Malaysia.
This first instalment (the sequel of this film has also been filmed) recounts the beginnings of Meor and his martial arts from the late 1930s through to the Japanese occupation of Malaya.
Dedicated to the Gayong brethren
"Truthfully, I'm a little anxious to see public reaction to this role, as there are many anak Gayong (silat Gayong practitioners) out there. There are easily hundreds of thousands of them
"I myself am one," reveals Beto, who learnt the Malay martial art since he was just 7 years old.
"While I may not be the most skilful Gayong practitioner, I'm honoured to play this role in this film," shares Beto, who believes that this is his small contribution in honouring the grandmaster and his arts.
"I dedicate this contribution to him and all the 'anak' Gayong around the world," says Beto, humbly acknowledging his Gayong brethren, its founder, and his descendants.
He says that while the film production team had received the blessing from Datuk Meor's daughter, Datuk Paduka Siti Fadzilah, he did not have the opportunity to meet her due to her health condition.
Nevertheless, Beto feels fortunate to have met Datuk Meor's proteges, who include Abdul Majid Md Isa, also known as Pandak Majid, and Cikgu Awang Daud.
When he met the silat Gayong luminaries, Beto said he had the opportunity to chat about Datuk Meor.
"I wanted to find out more about his personality and his demeanour. It was not my intention to copy Datuk Meor in my screen portrayal, which I don't think would be justifiable anyway.
"It was just for me to get an idea of who he was and his personality, so that I could adapt to the script. As an actor, it is my responsibility to colour my character in enhancing the story," he explains.
Asked if 'Gayong' and his portrayal of Datuk Meor would bring the crowd to the cinemas like how phenomenal it had been for 'Mat Kilau' back in 2022, Beto admits that it is up to the moviegoers.
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The Star
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- The Star
Soccer-Snoop Dogg swaps West Coast beats for Welsh dreams in Swansea investment
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The Star
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The Star
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The line-up carries a strong lineage to the KL Sing Song story – Mei Chern was a quietly powerful presence on stage in the 2006 edition, while Nunis and Bihzhu bring seasoned voices that reflect the movement's spirit and evolution, blending folk blues and jazzy pop. 'We were outsiders because singer-songwriters, I think, tend to transcend and bypass music subcultures, scenes, and genres. There was nothing particularly 'cool' or trendy about it – just your songs and how you performed them. We also sidestepped the tribalism and cliques that usually come with music scenes. And since we were all individuals, it made things easier – no band politics, no egos to manage. Setting up gigs was simple: all you needed was a PA, a space, and your own instruments,' says Azmyl, reflecting on how naturally the Troubadours trio slipped back into rhythm – and how open Merdekarya was to welcoming them. 'Jerome, Sei Hon, and I came from different backgrounds – Jerome as a writer and poet, Sei Hon as a visual artist and educator, and myself from the underground and experimental circuit. That mix helped us tap into diverse networks, which gave the collective a distinct identity for that moment in time. It felt like a new wave movement, shaped by the media and political climate – we had a new Prime Minister after decades of Mahathirism, and cultural spaces for expression were opening up. 'At the time, solo singer-songwriters weren't being invited to gigs - most shows were still band-based - so we became that platform, building on the pioneering work of Markiza and Hassan's 'Acoustic Jam', and Joe Kidd's 'Unclogged' series. We played anywhere: art galleries, exhibition openings, readings - you name it. We were mobile, and we bypassed the mainstream idea of what 'playing music' looked like. Our collaboration with Jasmine Low's Doppelganger for the Troubaganger gigs at Tengkat Tong Shin in KL further expanded the mix of voices and backgrounds involved,' he adds. When the stars align The Troubadours weren't the only singer-songwriter gig organisers in town, but they knew how to connect – keeping the pioneers involved while giving new talent a stage to grow. 'I remember how exciting it was to see all these homegrown talents singing their own songs. And there was such a diversity of styles and approaches that it seemed like a movement. Which is why Azmyl, Sei Hon, and I started KL Sing Song. We just wanted to do an event that captured that singer-songwriter scene. I'm not sure how the bands felt about it though,' recalls Kugan. In this 2006 photo, Mei Chern lights up the KL Sing Song stage at KLPac with her performance. Photo: The Star/Filepic The Kota Kinabalu-based Kugan, who has long straddled the arts, literary and music scenes, has also seen movements, venues, and trends come and go during his time living in Kuala Lumpur. For context, both KL Sing Song and Readings KL began in 2005. Two decades on, it's clear that music in Malaysia has had a harder time sustaining that kind of grassroots momentum compared to the literary scene. 'Yes, music always has it harder. The spatial and technical demands of live performance are just more complicated than for readings. Most venues aren't built with music in mind – the stage is often an afterthought. I once performed at a place where the toilet was right next to the stage. So not only were people constantly milling about in front of me, I also had to compete with the sound of flushing toilets throughout the set,' he says. Keeping independent music alive in Malaysia may always be a challenge, but Kugan is happy to give KL Sing Song a new lease of life. An evening to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones is always a good place to start. But tonight's show at Merdekarya is more spontaneous gathering than long-planned affair. 'I'm not sure how much support we'll get. The scene's different now - the new generation is so polished and all over social media. We're not trying to make any big statements, we just want to tap into that KL Sing Song spirit - a space for people to share a common love for music," says Tan. The weight of legacy is also best avoided. 'I don't know if this counts as a legacy - we didn't start a 'movement'. We just picked up on what was already there and added our own generational spirit to it. The (early) 2000s felt like a zeitgeist moment for Malaysia, a time when solo singer-songwriters were becoming part of the fabric. Globally and locally, that sound was rising, and things happened organically,' says Azmyl. 'This 20th anniversary show came together because the timing was right. Jerome, who's now based in Kota Kinabalu, happened to be back in KL for his art exhibition, and I'd recently reconnected with Sei Hon. "It felt like a now-or-never moment – same instinct we had back when we started Troubadours and launched KL Sing Song. Karen and Mei Chern said yes right away, and so did the rest of the alumni,' he concludes. The next KL Sing Song series dates will be announced soon, with performers such as Melina William, Reza Salleh, Panda Head Curry?, Amrita Soon, Umar Akmal, Ray Cheong, Bumi Liar, Otam, Markiza, and Kien Lim already pencilled in.
