Latest news with #6Jahanam
New Straits Times
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: A costume dramedy worthy of Aziz M. Osman
MENTION the name Aziz M. Osman, and cinemagoers can expect a treat that parodies modern Malaysian life but juxtaposes it on a periodic costume drama-comedy or dramedy. '6 Jilake' is just that, and the award-winning filmmaker's new cinematic experience has just hit over 100 local cinemas. Inspired by the King of Entertainment Tan Sri P. Ramlee's '6 Jahanam', '6 Jilake' is not a remake of the movie. Instead, it is a fresh take on the cult classic and Aziz created it to familiarise the Ramlee movie amongst today's audiences. The film is set in 18th century Perak, a time when the Dutch were the major European power knocking at the doors of Malay states in Peninsular Malaysia. '6 Jilake' revolves around a Dutch colonial agent (Adam John of the Rock trilogy fame) and his attempt to seize a secret gold mine in Kampung Ketayap, somewhere in the Kinta district. The residents of the village, led by their wise and kind headman (Kazar Saisi) and his vain and jealous deputy and former son-in-law (Bell Ngasri, Aziz's 'Kampong Pisang' co-star), are tormented, but unite to hire a brave, young warrior (Amerul Affendi) to defend their home. The Dutch colonialist is no pushover. He is ably protected by six ruthless bandits known as 6 Jilake, and each of them has a special weapon, a special brand of silat and best of all, a yummy name! '6 Jilake' is a "sequel" to Aziz's old friend Mamat Khalid's 'Senario Lang Buana', a story of a brave young warrior who stumbles upon villagers in distress and saves the day. In fact, both of them are beautifully set in the picturesque heartland of Perak, an ideal filming location for period dramas. As it is widely known, Aziz is a history buff, the man behind the 'XX-Ray' series which pays tribute to Hang Tuah. '6 Jilake' follows the footsteps of the 'XX-Ray' series in paying humourous tributes to issues facing modern society. Aziz went all out to recreate an 18th century village somewhere in Gopeng, Perak and that location is picturesque with rolling limestone hills, lush greenery and winding rivers. And thankfully, the film does not rely on slapstick scenes for laughs. Of the main actors, Saiful Apek shines playing a more serious person, the ruthless head of the bandits, complete with a Long John Silver eye patch. His mannerisms and speech bear an uncanny resemblance to Dick Dastardly of the Hanna-Barbera cartoon universe, only that his character does not possess a twirling moustache. Amerul's protagonist is a "badass" like David Carradine's Kwai Chiang Caine of the 1960s series 'Kung-Fu', who stands for justice and is upright. His character is more of an anti-hero than a hero as he is flawed yet likeable. Of the villains, Myza Rafika stands out as the rose among the thorns. Her character Tart Nanas may sound the sweetest but she seems to be the most formidable member of the gang. She is the bandit whose fight choreography is most stylish and she looks great after every fight. Another "iron lady" is a beautiful vampire played by Amy Nur Tinie who shows our hero that there are no damsels in distress. Talented singer Asmidar, the sole "good girl" of the story, finally shows she is a pretty good actress, having only starred as window-dressers in the past. Bell, the irreverent comedy veteran, is once again playing the village's Mr Annoying. Nevertheless, his character is able to see the big picture and help our hero save the village. Of the cameos, the best comes at the end where an A-lister appears. This dashing actor is known for his tough guy roles, but here he is a pussycat. '6 Jilake' is a timely tribute to the King of Entertainment and his genius, and it takes only two great directors post-Ramlee to remake his cult movie namely Mamat, who is sadly gone, and Aziz who remains sharper than ever.
New Straits Times
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Aziz M. Osman's modern take on Ramlee screen classic
VETERAN, award-winning filmmaker Aziz M. Osman is now delivering a new cinematic experience with '6 Jilake', which has hit over 100 local cinemas beginning on April 24. This action-comedy, inspired by the King of Entertainment Tan Sri P. Ramlee's '6 Jahanam', is not a remake but a fresh take on a cult classic and is aimed at familiarising the Ramlee movie among today's audiences. The film is produced by Eartistic Sdn Bhd and set in 18th century Perak. The story revolves around a Dutch mercenary spy's attempt to seize a secret gold mine in Kampung Ketayap. COWBOYS At the recent preview of his new movie, Aziz said: "The movie '6 Jilake' wasis inspired by those old cowboy movies where a group of outlaws want to take over a small town or village. "The residents are tormented, and unite to hire a brave, young warrior to defend their home and dignity." Aziz added that the film's title was his playful twist on '6 Jahanam' and reflected his modern approach in the form of contemporary slang. "This, coupled with subtle and humourous tributes to timeless issues facing society, is my way of getting Malaysian viewers of today to enjoy traditional martial arts, learn about Perak's history, and also get acquainted with one of Ramlee's gems," he said. STELLAR The film boasts a stellar cast, including Amerul Affendi, Bell Ngasri, Saiful Apek, Kazar Saisi, Asmidar, Kamarool Yusof, Laura Olivia, Wan Gegau, Wan Raja, Mamak Puteh, Jalil Hamid, Myza Rafika, Adam John, Amy Nur Tinie, TJ Isa, Datuk Remy Ishak, Datin Maria Farida, Ayda Jebat, David Teo, Datuk Fauziah Nawi, Abon and Amen Khalid. Aziz described his cast list as a strategic one with emphasis on popular actors who are crowd-pullers. "We need actors who can attract audiences to the cinema. Apek, Bell and Amerul are hugely popular talents who have become household names," he said. "Each character has a fair share of screen time and development, and that means ample opportunity for them to provide performances that pack a punch." MAGICAL The film's producer Dr Nur Shasa Ain Abdul Aziz said: "Many of us have grown up with Aziz's magical touch in filmmaking which is always out of the box. "Never one to take short cuts, he went all out to recreate an 18th century village somewhere in Gopeng, Perak and that location is picturesque with rolling limestone hills, lush greenery and winding rivers," she said. GOPENG Filming took place over 32 days in January, and the film was produced with a RM1 million Digital Content Fund (DKD) allocation from the National Film Development Corporation (Finas). "The film '6 Jilake' is more than just an action-comedy romp, it's a blend of genres, offering joy, sadness, laughter and lessons," he said. "The film doesn't rely on typical slapstick scenes and jokes but features lots of moral values and aims to inspire." CAKES The film also incorporates elements of Malay culture, using names of traditional cakes, like Badak Berendam, Sepit, Kole Kacang, Bingka Ubi, Tart Nanas and Talam for its characters. As for Jilake, he added that it was a quote by Rani Kulup, the Perak-born social activist and social media celebrity who popularised the catchphrase "Kipidap" over the last decade. "I also wanted to celebrate tradition like my old friend Mamat Khalid and insert a bit of history in it, like the fact that the Dutch tried to control the tin trade in Perak in the 18th century. "After all, I am a history buff, as shown by 'XX-Ray' and 'Leftenan Adnan', and furthermore I began my directing career with Malay costume dramas in the 1980s." TRADITION Aziz also said that Malay tradition in movies sells as seen by Syamsul Yusof's 'Mat Kilau' three years ago. Aziz is dedicating '6 Jilake' to the late veteran actress Datin Noor Azizah, who played his long-suffering mother in the 1976 tear-jerker 'Sayang Anakku Sayang' and who became a close friend over the years. "She has always been my favourite screen mother, and losing her was like losing a big part of my childhood," he said. VILLAIN Saiful Apek thanked Aziz for casting him as the film's main villain. He said that he was delighted to play a more serious person and get out of his comfort zone. "I've played lots of serious people in the past, even though fans prefer me to be a comedian. The real Apek is 50 per cent funny and 50 per cent serious." KUNG-FU Amerul is honoured to play a "badass" freelance warrior a la Kwai Chiang Caine of Kung-Fu, who stands for justice and is extremely upright. "My character is more of an anti-hero than a hero as he is full of flaws yet he is likeable and relatable to viewers." The film's preview took place at GSC Mid Valley and was attended by Aziz, Dr Shasa and most of the main cast.
