Latest news with #KulitWayang
New Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Fattah Amin: 'I'm disappointed'
KUALA LUMPUR: Popular actor Fattah Amin has expressed his disappointment after his film, Kulit Wayang, failed to receive a positive reception following its release on May 8. Fattah said that, like any other actor, he hopes his work will be recognised and watched by the public, given the significant effort and commitment invested in the film's production. "Of course, there's a feeling of disappointment because, if possible, we want many people to watch every piece of work we present. "The first time I watched my performance in this film, I was personally grateful that all the hard work and commitment given were successfully translated in the best possible way. "The character of Tok Dalang that I play isn't easy because I have to speak the Kelantan dialect and perform wayang kulit. "But I think perhaps the producer or director has their own strategy; maybe they intend to submit this film to film festivals, rather than focusing on box office collections," he said. When asked why the film didn't captivate audiences, Fattah suggested that one of the main factors was likely the genre and the audience's initial perception of the theme. "I think it might be due to the genre. Many people believe this film is solely about wayang kulit, leading some to be sceptical. "Additionally, some might think this film is only for people from the East Coast, but in reality, when they watch it, most praise it and realise that it's not just for people from Kelantan, the East Coast, or fans of wayang kulit. "Regarding screening times, that's not my decision. It's just that when many local films are screened in the same month, it's actually healthy competition. "I'm actually happy when there are so many local films in cinemas because we went through a phase where there were no new works. "So now that local films are becoming more vibrant, that's a very good development for the industry," he added. Besides Fattah, the film, directed by Dain Said, also stars Pekin Ibrahim.
New Straits Times
01-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: A story of grief
AWARD-winning filmmaker Dain Iskandar Said returns to the locations from his iconic film 'Bunohan', and again sets his tormented characters lurking in the dark swamps and a magical world. Set in a coastal Malaysian village in the 1980s, 'Kulit Wayang' tells the story of Ramlee or Pak Lee, a reclusive outcast living deep in the dark swamps, talking to his shadow play puppets late into the night. The locals steer clear of Pak Lee, believing that he committed a heinous act in the past. Then, Dewi arrives with her mother, Dian, an Indonesian researching the famed shadow puppet traditions of the village. While her mother does her research, Dewi befriends the local swamp kids, especially drawn to the mysterious but mute Ayu. Egged on by Ayu, Dewi finds Pak Lee's lair in the swamps and becomes his student. As the bodies of children killed by a man-eating crocodile start turning up, Dian starts to notice Dewi's increasingly bizarre behaviour. Dewi seems to be channelling voices from the past who seek retribution but she is endangering her life. FOLKLORE The movie is produced by Mico Studio (M) Sdn Bhd, with Nevin Hiong as its producer. The main cast comprises Fattah Amin, Pekin Ibrahim, Amanda Ang, and Indonesian female leads Reynavenzka Deyandra and Jenna Kamaratih. In a recent interview, Dain said that 'Kulit Wayang' combines Malay folklore with wayang kulit. "It is a fairytale exploring grief and loss, love and reconciliation. "I was intrigued to learn that traditional Malay shadow puppeteers invent their own branch stories (cerita ranting), weaving new storylines derived off the main 'Ramayana' epic. So, 'Kulit Wayang' can be a modern take on the branch-storytelling tradition." Dain said that children's imaginations have no limits, and in this movie that idea takes on vengeful and tragic consequences, especially on the lead character, seven-year-old Dewi. "Through befriending a ghost, she helps shadow puppet master Pak Lee reconcile with his past and the truth of what really happened in his village long ago," said Dain. TERENGGANU 'Kulit Wayang' was filmed in Terengganu and the screenplay was written by Dain, Ben Omar and Nandita Solomon. Dain said: "In 2018, producer Nevin and I met and discussed this movie. "We were about to shoot in 2020 but the Covid-19 pandemic delayed that plan." Dain added that they filmed at a picturesque "black water forest" which looked enchanting, but initially the water receeded and they had to wait until after the completion of his supernatural film 'Harum Malam' in 2022. IMPRESSED When asked about casting multi-talented Fattah as the protagonist Pak Lee, Dain said: "I have seen Fattah in several movies. He is talented and Nevin has worked with him before." Dain added that he was impressed by Fattah's commitment to the film. "Fattah went out on his own and learnt from a dalang. "He did very well in the limited amount of time leading up to the production. "He is very focused and dedicated. He also bonded well with Jenna on the set." It is Dain's first time working with the Indonesian actresses. "We auditioned them in 2020. Then there was a delay due to Covid-19 and we could not use the first girl as she had grown up. "Right before shooting we managed an online casting and found Jenna. She is very disciplined and focused," he said. This is Dain's second movie after Bunohan which uses the Kelantan Malay dialect. He said: "The Kelantan dialect is like a language of its own. I grew up there, and I love the way they use the language, full of poetry and irony." FAN The movie is Dain's reunion with Pekin who starred in 'Bunohan'. "Pekin is always wonderful to work with, he brings a lot to his characters," said Dain. Dain admitted that he has been a wayang kulit fan since his childhood. "I grew up watching wayang kulit at the beach in Tumpat." Kulit Wayang also marks Dain's reunion with Amanda Ang, who also appeared in 'Harum Malam'. "Amanda's character is a quirky one," he said. Nevin said: "'Kulit Wayang' has the potential to resonate deeply with Malaysian audiences." Fattah said: "The film highlights our fading traditions with the hope that the new generation will not forget it." Pekin said: "I have worked with both the producer and director twice now, and I believe they have made an entertaining and creative movie."
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Local actress Amanda Ang on starring in occult film Kulit Wayang
LONG before she took home best actress at the 2020 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Amanda Ang was already landing roles for the big screen and stage. Since leaving her career in advertising, the Labuan native has forged a long and exciting path for herself in the acting world, appearing in numerous plays, movies and TV dramas. Her role in the upcoming local horror film Kulit Wayang is Ang's latest highlight. Directed by Dain Said, the film tells the story of Ramlee, played by actor Fattah Amin, a dalang (puppet master) living in the dark swamps of a remote coastal Malaysian village in the 1980s. His life took a plunge when his daughter Ayu was brutally murdered. While the rest of the village blames the wild crocodiles of the swamps, Ramlee believes otherwise. Ang plays Mak Ta, a senior resident in the coastal village. Speaking with theSun, she elaborates on her role and experience making the film. How would you describe the movie in three words? The first word would be traditional. Second would be mystery and third would be mystique. What was it like to return to the world of horror after Harun Malam in 2022? I do not normally do horror films. I actually do not know why I get involved in horror films. It is not my genre of choice to watch. But it is a challenge to face my fears in a way. For Kulit Wayang, I would say a big part of me being in this film is because of director Dain Said. I enjoy watching his mind work. He is just so creative. He has such a beautiful mind. So much so that you want to keep discovering horror with him. And I am happy to say my journey from Harun Malam to Kulit Wayang was a fruitful one. I have gained a lot more enjoyment doing this one with him. It was very enjoyable. Why did you decide to take on this role and script? When I read the character description of Mak Ta, it sounded as if she was a makcik bawang (nosy old lady). But when I read the script, I realised I could not be further away from that. It made a lot of sense because it is Dain Said. He would not write a role like that. So, it was exciting to me because it was a character I had not done before. She is a Chinese woman who lives in Kelantan. She, like many other Chinese people in Kelantan, has assimilated into the local culture. I love and respect that. There is so much colour to the role. She is also someone who is older than me. To work on those muscles, to be more grounded was a lot of fun playing with. How did you get into the shoes of Mak Ta? When I am given a role such as this, it always starts with a voice. I let the voice carry where my character goes. It allowed me to get into her characteristics, someone who is basically in her world and is consumed by her grief and darkness. The voice helped me carry through that a lot, which made it easier for the other physicalities to come in. What was the scariest part about making the film? When you are filming a supernatural film, it makes sense for most of the filming to take place at night. For us to be in quite a rural area, the mystical aspect will come through on set. You are always wondering if something is going to happen at night. Whether someone is going to go missing from the set. Sometimes, you are also afraid to go to the washroom alone. Your mind plays tricks on you. In my case, a lot of my scenes were shot at an old-school wooden house. So, there is a lot of creaking. It sets the mood in front of the camera and behind it. Do you believe in the supernatural? I am agnostic. So if the supernatural is true, it is true. If it is not, I am okay. But I am open to it being true but I am also open to it just being nothing. Speaking of which, did you play with wayang kulit when you were younger? No, I did not and I did not know how spiritual it actually was. That was a real eye-opener and it definitely added a layer, which made me more interested in it. If I ever had the chance, I probably would play with it. But I do not think I have the talent for it. What is going to surprise people about the film? I would use the word shocking instead. There are elements that will shock people. Even though it is something we do not experience, it is something we can definitely relate to. How would you convince fans to watch the film? If you are interested in finding out more about traditional arts and how Malaysians view the mystique, come and watch this film.
The Sun
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Drawing horror from tradition
LONG before she took home best actress at the 2020 New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, Amanda Ang was already landing roles for the big screen and stage. Since leaving her career in advertising, the Labuan native has forged a long and exciting path for herself in the acting world, appearing in numerous plays, movies and TV dramas. Her role in the upcoming local horror film Kulit Wayang is Ang's latest highlight. Directed by Dain Said, the film tells the story of Ramlee, played by actor Fattah Amin, a dalang (puppet master) living in the dark swamps of a remote coastal Malaysian village in the 1980s. His life took a plunge when his daughter Ayu was brutally murdered. While the rest of the village blames the wild crocodiles of the swamps, Ramlee believes otherwise. Ang plays Mak Ta, a senior resident in the coastal village. Speaking with theSun, she elaborates on her role and experience making the film. How would you describe the movie in three words? The first word would be traditional. Second would be mystery and third would be mystique. What was it like to return to the world of horror after Harun Malam in 2022? I do not normally do horror films. I actually do not know why I get involved in horror films. It is not my genre of choice to watch. But it is a challenge to face my fears in a way. For Kulit Wayang, I would say a big part of me being in this film is because of director Dain Said. I enjoy watching his mind work. He is just so creative. He has such a beautiful mind. So much so that you want to keep discovering horror with him. And I am happy to say my journey from Harun Malam to Kulit Wayang was a fruitful one. I have gained a lot more enjoyment doing this one with him. It was very enjoyable. Why did you decide to take on this role and script? When I read the character description of Mak Ta, it sounded as if she was a makcik bawang (nosy old lady). But when I read the script, I realised I could not be further away from that. It made a lot of sense because it is Dain Said. He would not write a role like that. So, it was exciting to me because it was a character I had not done before. She is a Chinese woman who lives in Kelantan. She, like many other Chinese people in Kelantan, has assimilated into the local culture. I love and respect that. There is so much colour to the role. She is also someone who is older than me. To work on those muscles, to be more grounded was a lot of fun playing with. How did you get into the shoes of Mak Ta? When I am given a role such as this, it always starts with a voice. I let the voice carry where my character goes. It allowed me to get into her characteristics, someone who is basically in her world and is consumed by her grief and darkness. The voice helped me carry through that a lot, which made it easier for the other physicalities to come in. What was the scariest part about making the film? When you are filming a supernatural film, it makes sense for most of the filming to take place at night. For us to be in quite a rural area, the mystical aspect will come through on set. You are always wondering if something is going to happen at night. Whether someone is going to go missing from the set. Sometimes, you are also afraid to go to the washroom alone. Your mind plays tricks on you. In my case, a lot of my scenes were shot at an old-school wooden house. So, there is a lot of creaking. It sets the mood in front of the camera and behind it. Do you believe in the supernatural? I am agnostic. So if the supernatural is true, it is true. If it is not, I am okay. But I am open to it being true but I am also open to it just being nothing. Speaking of which, did you play with wayang kulit when you were younger? No, I did not and I did not know how spiritual it actually was. That was a real eye-opener and it definitely added a layer, which made me more interested in it. If I ever had the chance, I probably would play with it. But I do not think I have the talent for it. What is going to surprise people about the film? I would use the word shocking instead. There are elements that will shock people. Even though it is something we do not experience, it is something we can definitely relate to. How would you convince fans to watch the film? If you are interested in finding out more about traditional arts and how Malaysians view the mystique, come and watch this film.
The Star
21-04-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
Kulit Wayang, a Malaysian movie packed with local and Indonesian stars, win many hearts with its unique cultural promotional campaign
THE Kulit Wayang Official Movie Launch, Trailer Premiere and Press Conference was held at the Kulit Wayang Cultural Festival @ KL Base in Sungai Besi recently. The two-day festival was part of the unique promotional campaign for the movie. The festival seamlessly integrated a 3km celebrity fun run, a vibrant cultural festival, a traditional dance competition, traditional games, and also the movie launch. On hand at the launch of the movie which was produced by Mico Studio (M) Sdn Bhd, were its producer Nevin Hiong, co-producer Penny Chan from EMT Ventures Sdn Bhd, director Dain Said, its main cast members which included award-winning actors Fattah Amin & Pekin Ibrahim, Indonesian female leads Reynavenzka Deyandra & Jenna Kamaratih and well-known local Chinese actress Amanda Ang. 'We know that a movie launch shouldn't just be for the press and have transformed the event into a large-scale public celebration. This two-day event gives us a unique opportunity for brand synergy and cultural engagement,' expressed Penny Chan, who is also the festival organiser during the press session. 'Kulit Wayang has the potential to resonate deeply with Malaysian audiences. As a co-producer, I am very proud and honoured to be part of this movie,' she added. 'It took us nearly a year to shoot this movie and I am so excited to see it finally being released. The film highlights our fading traditions with the hope that the new generation will not forget it. I am also proud that the producer and director were brave enough to cultivate and inject the movie with a unique storyline and an artistic visual style, in an entertaining way while preserving its key messages,' shared Fattah Amin. 'I have worked with both the producer and director twice now, and I believe they have made an entertaining and creative movie that showcases our cultural elements while featuring the beauty of the east coast,' Pekin Ibrahim added. Set in a remote coastal Malaysian village in the 1980s, Kulit Wayang tells the story of Ramlee (aka Pak Lee), a reclusive outcast living deep in the dark swamps, talking to his shadow play puppets late into the night. The locals steer clear of Pak Lee, believing that he committed a heinous act in the past that rendered him unable to perform his shadow play theatre ever since. Dewi arrives with her mother, Dian, an Indonesian researching the famed shadow puppet traditions of the village. While her mother does her research, Dewi befriends the local 'swamp kids', especially drawn to the mysterious but mute Ayu. Egged on by Ayu, Dewi finds Pak Lee's lair in the swamps and becomes his student. As the bodies of children killed by a man-eating crocodile start turning up, Dian starts to notice Dewi's increasingly bizarre behavior. Dewi seems to be channeling voices from the past who seek retribution even while endangering her life. Dewi's presence in Pak Lee's life awakens a spirit that has been dormant in him Award-winning Malaysian director Dain Said of Dukun & Bunohan fame, returns to the locations from his iconic film Bunohan, where he once again sets his tormented characters lurking in the dark swamps while luring his audiences into a magical world of stories, ghouls and demons. 'Kulit Wayang combines Malay folklore with the rich traditions of Malay shadow puppet theatre, Wayang Kulit. It is a fantastical fairytale exploring grief and loss, love and reconciliation, and the healing power of storytelling,' explains Dain during the question & answer session. 'I grew up on the east coast of Peninsula Malaysia listening to stories on the beach told by local shadow theatre or wayang kulit storytellers. Wayang Kulit is now a dying tradition in Malaysia. For centuries, a main 'trunk' of shadow puppet stories told and played across South-East Asia has been the Ramayana epic,' Dain shared. 'I was intrigued to learn that traditional Malay shadow puppeteers invent their own 'branch stories' (cerita ranting), weaving new storylines derived off the main trunk of the Ramayana epic. "So when Mico Studio's producer Nevin Hiong, approached me with his story idea for a film connected to Malay wayang kulit, I felt at once that our film Kulit Wayang can be a modern take on the branch-storytelling tradition of this art form, which represents our early attempts at storytelling with the moving image,' he further added. 'The heart of the story idea that Nevin brought to me was that of grief, but we wanted to put it through a genre trope – fantasy, ghosts and ghouls, pivoted on my childhood experiences of watching and listening to stories on the beach,' Daim continued. 'It was a fantastic and exciting project to work on. I appreciated that Nevin also felt that perhaps we can re-introduce our ancient shadow play tradition to younger audiences,' a thrilled Daim enthused. According to Dain, children's free-spirited imaginations have no limits. When stories and local storytelling are lost, so is the childhood ability to imagine, to tell our stories. Dain was inspired by this and wanted to express the old idea of how children can inspire adults, to achieve the freedom of imagination that adults lose. In Kulit Wayang, that idea takes on vengeful and tragic consequences, especially on the lead character, seven-year-old Dewi, who through befriending a ghost, helps shadow puppet master Pak Lee, reconcile with his past and the truth of what really happened in his village. 'Since this shadow play theatre tradition was once shared across the region, I wanted Kulit Wayang to be a South-East Asian story, blending tradition and modern technology in telling stories to contemporary audiences,' conclude Dain. The Main Cast Fattah Amin is a top A-line actor in Malaysia with a Facebook following of 80,000, 3.7 million in Instagram and 906,000 on TikTok. He has won numerous awards, including Pelakon TV Lelaki Popular" at the 31st ABPBH (Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian), and "Pelakon Baharu Paling Popular (Lelaki)" award in 2016. Pekin Ibrahim has 229,000 followers on Facebook, 454,000 on Instagram and 295,000 subscribers on YouTube. He is known for his roles in critically acclaimed films like "Bunohan (2012) Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah (2010) Mat Moto: Kami Mat Moto Bukan Mat Rempit (2016)", for which he won Best Actor at the Malaysia Film Festival. He has also received numerous award nominations, including Best Actor at the 24th FFM (2012) and the 28th FFM (2016) in various categories. Indonesian actress and model Reynavenzka Retno Ayu Deyandra Wayang started acting from 2010. Her career highlights includes films such as Taring, Bahwa Cinta Itu Ada, Toilet 105, Misteri Hantu Selular, Brokenhearts, Pulau Hantu, Panda and web series that include Kalis as well the sinetron Firasat. Junior Indonesian actress Jennaira Kamaratih Jiwa has starred at the Junior Theater Festival Jakarta, and the Open Bo Lagi 2 webseries. Local Chinese actress Amanda Ang is known for excellent and award-winning performances in the Singaporean television series Last Madame as well as local movie Blood Flower. The film which was filmed on location in Terengganu also stars Wan Zulkifli, Farra Zohra and Zul Zamir. The screenplay for the film was written by Dain Said, Ben Omar & Nandita Solomon from an original story by Nevin Hiong. Music for the movie was composed by Yudha Kobayashi. The launch event also saw the screening of the Kulit Wayang official well-attended launch was followed by a Wayang Kulit performance (Shadow Play) featuring actors Fattah Amin & Pekin Ibrahim, followed by a meet & greet session for selected fans, influencers & KOLs. Kulit Wayang' is supported by Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia (FINAS) and Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC). The key sponsors & partners for the film includes Surewin Entertainment Sdn Bhd, Editing Star, Halo Optical, Beauterfly International, RT Pastry, Fusion Snacks Global, Gorgeous Jo, Yougut, Gardenia, Chek Hup, Musang Valley Plantation, Fatimas & Roti Roti (Sharepopo), Bestari Food (Saingon), Lafre, Cutea Panda, Chinese Imperial Beef Roti, Little Joe Mama Joe, Be Leap Wetwipes, Axe Brand, Merry Ice Cream, Biolyn Oil, Speed 2.O, Footer, Aims Fresh, Liquick, Moss, MD Plantation, ArctaPhos, Spritzer, Honey, Fruitplus, Himalaya, Top Win, Happy 66 Tool, Kakatoo, Ma Beaute, Face bar, Sneaky Surprise and Heritage, among others. Kulit Wayang can be seen in more than 50 cinemas nationwide from 1st May 2025. Also announced during the event was that the Malika Music Festival 2025, originally scheduled to be held during Kulit Wayang Cultrural Festival has been postponed to 31st May 2025, in order to make it a bigger and more exciting show. Additional line up added to the festival which features Indonesian pop rock heavyweights Nidji, punk rock favourites Bunkface and timeless indie stalwarts OAG.
