Shaz Johar & Sanctuaria

Today theSun  highlights an interview with the author Shaz Johar who  is promoting his fifth fiction novel that will be selling Pesta Buku Antrabangsa  Kuala Lumpur at Putra World Trade Centre ( PWTC) starting today till May 4.   Below the is the full article.  

Headline  Culvating Hard Topics

By Bissme S

Author Shaz Johar tackles the theme of cults in his latest novel, Sanctuaria (published under Fixi).The  2011 winner of the Selangor Young Talent Award for best Malay  novel, who made his debut on the local literary scene with Kougar, is no stranger to controversial subject matters. Kougar explored not only the romance between a much older woman and a youngerman but also touched on the subject of religion, sex, passion and friendship.

His current book is a story of the once idealistic Yang Ariff who builds his version of a utopian community in an isolated commune called Sanctuaria, where everyone is treated equally. Over time, Sanctuaria grows to become a 200-member commune and then, the story takes a dark turn when Yang Ariff becomes consumed by power and his utopia turns into a cult.

“His intentions started out as noble,” said the 36-year-old Shaz whose real name is Mohd Aswan Md Johar.

“But as his commune grew bigger,Yang Ariff becomes power crazy and wants everyone in Sanctuaria to obey him at all cost, threatening to kill anyone who dares to leave.”

Shaz, from Kuala Lumpur,Jones,was inspired by the biopic on Jim an American religious leader who founded a new religious movement called The People’s Temple of the Disciples of Christ. On Nov 18, 1978, Jones allegedly ordered more than 900 cult members, including over 300 children, to commit suicide by ingesting a cyanide-laced drink, in what is now commonly called “Jonestown” in Guyana. Jones shot himself.

Sanctuaria is Shaz’s fifth novel. He is currently working on his sixth, which also tackles a

controversial theme.

“I am exploring the subject of paedophilia,” said Shaz, who was rather tight-lipped over the

outcome of the story, except to say that it’s a story about a woman who forges a friendship

with a young boy who is being sexually molested by his adoptive father.

The woman herself is an ex convict who was imprisoned for killing her abusive husband. Shaz started writing at the age of 16. He would show his short stories to his friends for feedback.

He said: “I always love reading fiction more than non-fiction. In fiction, writers tell the truth in a more colourful way.”

He has since quit his job in customer service at a bank to focus on writing. His other works of fiction include Tabu, a story of a plussized Malay woman falling in love with an African man, and Mental – about a maid who works for an eccentric family, as well as a compilation of 22 short stories entitled Cerpen by Shaz Johar.

Shaz is unfazed by the criticisms of those who find his books too raunchy.

“There is nothing wrong in writing about sex because sex is part of life,” he said.

Sanctuaria will be officially on sale at the Pesta Buku Antrabangsa Kuala Lumpur at Putra World Trade Centre (PWTC), which starts from tomorrow till May 4. Shaz will be on hand for several book signings and talks on the book during that period. For details on that, visit the Sanctuaria Facebook.

The author with his previous books

the cover of his latest book 

Aloy Paradoks & Neo Romantik

Today I am highlight an interview with Aloy Paradoks when he did stage production called Neo Romantik last year.  He has given some interesting answers to the question I had posed to him.  There is a strong talk he might want to restage this production again   This interview appeared in theSun on Feb 14 2013. 


Headline: Love In the Spotlight
By Bissme S

Getting  married is easy but staying married is not. This is depicted in the theatre production, Neo-Romantik, starting today until Sunday, at Stor Teater, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka, in Kuala Lumpur. Produced by Artful Creator and Paradoks Production, the story centres on Asyraf and  Najua who are actors married to each other for the last 10 years. They are invited to host a  live talk show where they will discuss and act out their relationship.
The producer is Ajami Hashim while Aloy Paradoks is both the director and playwright as well as taking on the lead role of Asyraf opposite actress cum-author Fazleena Hishamuddin as Najua.
This play was presented at the Sayembara Short Theatre Script-Writing Festival, organised by Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka last year,where Aloy walked away with the best script and best actor awards.
“I only presented a 20-minute play for the festival,” Aloy says. “For this production, I added more scenes so now the play is more than an hour long.”
He explains that the production is broken into three segments. In the first segment, the couple will act out how they met, became a couple, then husband and wife, and later parents … and the 
challengesthey faced to keep their marriage intact.
“I wanted to show that romance has a new face among the new generation,” explains Aloy. 
“In the past, if you like someone, you send a surat cinta (love letter) to the person you admire. Then, more surat cinta will be exchanged between the couple.
“Now, if you like someone, the first thing you do is add him or her as your Facebook friend and  you follow your admirer on Twitter. The pair will start flirting on these social websites before  going out on their first date.
“In the past, the guy usually makes the first move and asks the girl out on a date. Now, the girl has no hesitation in making the first move.
“People always say love is so cliché but tell me what is not cliché? Everything is cliché.”
In the second segment of the play, the actors invite the audience to ask them any question – even about their sex life.
“I want the audience to feel as if they are attending a real talk show and they have every right to ask the artistes questions,” says Aloy. 
“The audience have total control. Only they can make this segment interesting by asking tough  and provocative questions.”
Some feel Aloy is taking a big risk here by depending too much on the audience to make this particular segment interesting. Generally, Malaysian audiences tend to be shy in participating
in such activities.
“The challenge for the actors in this production is to make the audience feel less shy and passive,” he says. 
“The actors have to provoke the audience to ask them questions. We will also make it easier for the audience by taking questions on Facebook and Twitter, and we are passing around slips of  paper for them to write their questions down.
“There are very few theatre productions that allow the audience to be part of the play. The  audience should take the opportunity to play an active role in asking questions.
“I am also eager to see the kind of questions that the audience will ask us. I know I am taking a risk here. But this is not the time for me to present something safe.”
Aloy has always been pushing boundaries in his plays by presenting innovative productions. For example, in one of his works called Blackout, he had a 20-minute scene which was performed  in total darkness. The audience could only hear the sounds of footsteps and people talking.
Another out-of-the box production is his Rompakan Sepadu last year, where he had his cast actually cooking on stage,giving the audience a real whiff of the food. He likes playing with the idea of arousing the senses, like sight and smell in these cases.
“I do not mind if the idea I try falls flat and turns out to be a big failure,” he says.
“At least I have tried to present something different.”
The third segment of Neo-Romantik will focus on the couple at home after the talk show.
“You will find the couple angry and unhappy with each other over what they had said in the talk show,” says Aloy, adding that the actors here will be depending on their actions and reactions
to each other rather than dialogue to express their unhappiness.
“Their actions will speak volumes about their unhappiness.”
When asked why he focused on a marriage of a celebrity couple, Aloy says: “We are never interested in ordinary people’s marriages. But we are always interested in what goes on behind  the closed doors of celebrities. We want to know how they fall in love … how long they will stay married. We want to know about  the rocky patches in their lives and the romantic things they do for each other.
“We are a celebrity-obsessed society but we like to deny this." 

Ridhwan Saidi & Babyrina

Today theSun published a story where I wrote about author Ridhwan Saidi who wrote a crime thriller titled Babyrina  that supposedly revolved around Malaysian woman named Babyrina who started a website where she posted risque picture of herself. His most impressive quote in the interview : If I write a story about goodness, my novel will not sound sincere. I am keen to explore chaos, brutality and violence. I’m curious to know what goes on in the mind of a serial killer. Obsession and perversion are strong energy.”  

Below is the full article. 

Headline : The Online Link 

Author Ridhwan Saidi first heard about the mysterious internet ‘sensation’ Babyrina in his younger days.It was 1996 and this ‘mythical’star was said to have started a website where  she had posted risque pictures of herself. At that time, the internet was at its infancy and Babyrina was said to be studying in the United States.The story goes that when Babyrina wanted  to come to Malaysia in 2001, she was allegedly turned back. According to some sources, she went on to the United Kingdom instead, and soon, disappeared from the public radar and was never heard of again. 
Piqued by her story, Ridhwan decided to write a crime thriller about a serial killer who arranged his dead victims in the same poses that Babyrina had purportedly appeared on her
website. He then decided to name this novel after her.
“I chose to name my novel after her as she is an enigmaticand mysterious character,” says the 29-year-old local boy. 
“Till today, we are not certain if there is any truth to her story. Some said Babyrina might not even be a Malaysian. They claimed she could be a Latin American.
“Now, we do not hear any more stories about her. She has completely disappeared. That made her  even more enigmatic and mysterious.”
Ridhwan said his novel is not a biography on Babyrina. He also denied claims of naming his book after this risque ‘artiste’ to sell more copies of his novel. 
“The young generation of Malaysians today do not know who she is,” he says. “So the title will not help to boost the sale of my book.
“In the past, some of my books have titles such as Stereo Genmai and Mautopia which can be a little avant-garde and people find difficulty in relating to them. So this time around, I decided to use a simpler title.”
He believes Babyrina had more to offer than just her pretty face and her sexy poses. He said he stumbled upon an ‘interview’ where Babyrina purportedly answered queries from her fans and he 
found her answers carry a sense of humour.
Ridhwan also added a scene where Babyrina has a conversation with one of the characters in the novel. But of course, spilling the beans on this particular scene will only spoil the readers’
fun. There are also many turns and twists in the novel that will keep readers turning the page. 
Ridhwan likes to dabble in dark themes and characters such as serial killers, porn stars, incest, violent murders and eccentric personalities in his books. He released his first novel,
Cekik – a suspense thriller about a gory murder case – in 2011.
After Cekik, he started his own publication firm, Moka Mocha Ink, where he published his own works as well as those of other writers. Babyrina is his fifth work of fiction.
“Writers like to explore what is good and what is bad,” he explains
about his penchant for writing crime thrillers.
“If I write a story about goodness, my novel will not sound sincere. I am keen to explore chaos, brutality and violence. I’m curious to know what goes on in the mind of a serial killer. Obsession and perversion are strong energy.”
Surprisingly, Ridhwan had no desire to be an author when young. He was more attracted to images than words. He dabbled in photography and directed a few shorts. Like everyone who makes short films, he also harbours dreams of directing a feature film.
Still, he feels he is too young now to direct a feature film. “I will only direct my first feature film when I am 40 or 50. I want to collect more life experience before sitting in the director’s chair.”
Meanwhile, his next project will see him writing a fiction novel for Fixi, the publishing house that gave him his first break by publishing Cekik.
The novel is due sometime next year. Since it will be called Brazil, Fixi will be sponsoring him for a trip to that country to watch the Fifa World Cup from June 12 to July 12. He will only start on the book after his return.

Footnote: Babyrina, priced at RM20, will be launched at KL Alternative Bookfest (KLAB) and Arts For Grabs this Saturday at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market, in Kuala Lumpur. Ridhwan will be present for a book signing at noon

The author 

The cover of the book

Norhayati Kaprawi & Ulama Perempuan

I think it was in 2010 I have watched a captivating documentary called Aku Siapa.  That was my first time meeting the documentary maker Norhayati Kaprawi. I must say she is an interesting personality.  Three years later , recently,  Norhayati has presented another interesting documentary called  Ulama Perempuan. I managed to interview her . The article appeared in the today . 

Here is the full article 
Suggested Headline : Advocating Gender Equality 
BY BISSME S.

WHILE some may believe that women can never play the role of a leader in religious matters, documentary filmmaker Norhayati Kaprawi, 47, in her latest work, Ulama Perempuan (Female Ulama), shows that is not the case, at least in Indonesia.The Malaysian director, in her 50-minute documentary released late last year, looks at the work of female Islamic scholars in Indonesia 
and presents a more compassionate and humane face to her religion. In several private screenings held at selected venues, Ulama Perempuan (above) received rave reviews and ignited some healthy debates.Norhayati is an activist who advocates ‘gender justice’ in Islam. Her other wellknown works include Mencari Kartika – about a Muslim woman who was sentenced to six lashes of the cane for consuming alcohol and Aku Siapa – about the issue of wearing a veil in Malaysia. Norhayati (far right) talks about her latest work and the public response to it in an exclusive interview with theSun. 

*What motivated you to make Ulama Perempuan?

Many Malaysians have been to Indonesia but not many really understand [the way] Islam is practised over there with its rich history and vibrant discourse on religious issues that are
ongoing. Some accuse Muslims in Indonesia of being too liberal, and that carries a negative connotation… It insinuates that they are less pious. And that Islam practised there is not as pure as it’s in Malaysia.
I find that to be far from the truth. Many Indonesians are open minded and adopt a more moderate and humane approach in religious matters. They also have a more indepth knowledge and 
understanding of their religion and … a rich religious tradition that respects diversity.No doubt that there are extremists and radicals in Indonesia, but the country also has progressive Islamic scholars who challenge those radical and extremist groups. I was also amazed at the extent of their advocacy of gender issues and women’s rights … even in their rural areas. I thought Malaysians should know about it and reflect on why we have not progressed as much in raising gender awareness here.

*What is your aim in making this documentary?

I hope that viewers, especially women, will feel empowered and inspired by the strong, loving and good-natured religious women figures featured in the documentary. I believe the audience 
will have a better awareness of gender issues and a better understanding that Islam does not condone gender discrimination. Many forms of discrimination or injustices done in the name of 
Islam are in fact due to a person’s interpretations that regard women as inferior to men.

* Name some of your favourite scenes?

A particular scene that moved a lot of people while some even shed tears is when they watched a female ulama give a sex worker a motherly embrace, without any judgment whatsoever.My own 
favourite is the one of a little girl who volunteered to come forward to recite a Quranic verse in front of hundreds of people in their national mosque in Jakarta.The ustaz treated her gently  and with full respect although by Malaysian standard, the little girl may not have been considered to be properly attired for the mosque.
That experience will surely empower the little girl, at least to be more comfortable in public speaking and addressing a large audience or perhaps even take a leadership role as she gets older.

* What kind of responses have you received for Ulama Perempuan?

University students and members of Islamic organisations said they have a much better understanding of women’s issues after watching the documentary.It also inspires them to adopt a more compassionate and humane approach in their work with the community.A non-Muslim lecturer told me that while she has never been comfortable to be among Muslims before, the documentary made her realise that Islam is a good religion after all ….”

* Most of your documentaries touch on your religion. Why?

I try to put forward a perspective,information or argument that are rarely highlighted in the mainstream media. I hope my documentaries can encourage Malaysians not to adopt a simplistic
approach to Islam and just blindly follow the things said by [other people]. They should be critical and appreciate the complexities of the many issues facing our society today. The most  important thing is that justice and equality should be upheld always.

* What is your next project?

I have recently launched a short animation on the history of monogamy based on the Quran.I havedone a documentary on Kuda Kepang (a traditional dance form) from my hometown of Batu Pahat in Johor. I hope to produce a longer version of it.

Norhayati says Islam does not condone gender discrimination. 

A scene from her documentary Ulama Perempuan

Women Inspiring Women

Tomorrow we celebrating International Women's Day and theSun published this article today    

Headline : Inspiring Women 
By Bissme S 

Tomorrow is International Women’s Day, a day where we celebrate women who play an important role in enriching all our lives. To mark this occasion, theSun asked 12 Malaysian personalities, who are celebrities in their own right, about the particular lady who has inspired each one of them. It is a story of women inspiring women. 

*Nisah Haron(author)

“The lateTan Sri Aishah Ghani, the first Malaysian woman senator. Readingher book, Ibu Melayu  Mengelilingi Dunia – Dari Rumah ke London, I learnt that she had to leave behind her husband and  three small children to pursue her studies in London.As a woman, wife and mother, I understand  that it must have been difficult. That was her sacrifice to obtain her dream. Her book has  inspired me to write my own travelogue, Kembara Sastera Nisah Haron, when I did a backpacking  trip to the UK and Ireland in 2011.”
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*Marina Mahathir (activist and columnist)

“It’s Tun Dr Siti Hasmah Mohamad Ali, my mother. Her father sent her off to study medicine in Singapore and she was one of the few Malay women there. She really slogged through it, failed her first year and had to repeat it. She also failed in her final year and had to repeat once again. So, she took two years longer than everyone else.Still, that discipline and perseverance  served her well because she became the second Malay woman doctor in the country then. I remember one time whenshe was on TV, she talked about how unhappy she was about bad that was for the  first wives. She does not shy away from defending what she believes in.”
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*Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman (film producer)

“For me, it’s Oprah Winfrey. Her talk show is so inspiring and she’s helped so many people through her shows. Early in her career, Oprah faced discrimination as an African-American  hosting her own show. But she has not allowed her critics to get to her.In future, I would like to work towards having my own talk show just like her.”
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*SalamiahHassan (singer)

“It’s Tina Turner for me. The singer has gone through terrible tragedies, including physical abuse. But her spirit was not broken.Of course, I am always envious of her beautiful legs and
wish mine was like hers!”
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*Noor Suraya (author)

“I chose Cut Nyak Dien. She is an Aceh freedom fighter who’s fought against the Dutch.In her struggle for freedom, she went blind and almost starved to death. She’s from an aristocratic family but she sacrificed her comfortable life for the sake of the people and for the land she loved so much.”
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*Vanidah Imran (actress)

“Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, the governor of Bank Negara Malaysia. People say if you want to succeed in a man’s world, you have to be one of the boys. But Zeti has retained her femininity
and still wears the baju kurung to work.I always tell my daughter Maryam, who is 10, to study  hard and be as intelligent as my idol.”
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*Fauziah Nawi (film director and actress) 

“Salmiah Sidek, my late mother. My late father worked in an optical company and his wage was not enough to support his five children. So my mother sold cakes as she wanted her children to  live comfortably. She was always the last to go to bed and always the first to get up.”
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*Norhayati Kaprawi (documentary maker)

“Sharifah Zuriah Al Jeffry, a visual artist and my neighbour. She is so positive and full of zest. She keeps telling me that there is always something new to learn every day, so never stop  learning. I was shocked when she told me that she only learnt how to do the batik in her 60s and  she continues to sell her batik scarves till this day.”

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*Mislina Mustaffa (actress and activist)

"Linda Andre is my idol. She was a stranger until I met her last year and now we have become friends. She is 72 and is an Indonesian Chinese who is a British citizen. She did not let her old age and her diabetic condition stop her from travelling and seeing the world.”
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*Adibah Noor (singer)

“For me, it’s Norlia Abdul Majid, my mother. As a child, she was treated as a scapegoat. As a mother, she has gone through hell and back just to put food on the table for her four children and then to get them educated – so that her children could live comfortable lives.”
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*Shuhaimi Baba (film director)

“J.K. Rowling. Her journey to success was not an easy one. Her book (Harry Porter) was rejected numerous times. But she did not let go of her dream. Her perseverance was so inspiring. She  teaches us to hold on to our dreams and to never give up.”
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* Melinda Looi (fashion designer)

“My late grandmother. My motherwas struggling to bring up six children while running her tailoring business. There were times when we couldn’t even afford to pay for the basics.So, my  grandma would help by selling flowers and sugarcane that she had planted.I really admire her strong personality, and often think of her whenever I am faced with challenges in my own life.”

Wan Nor Azriq & D.U.B.L.I. N

Headline: Walking Out His Story  
By Bissme S 

Author  Wan Nor Azriq struck it lucky the first time with his debut novel, D.U.B.L.I.N. The book won the first prize in the novel category of the writing competition, Sayembara Penulisan ITBM- PENA-BH (2013).D.U.B.L.I.N. centres on an ageing and ailing writer, Mr H, who tries to make sense of his current life and his complex relationship with his research assistant, Anita. 
Wan will be coming out with his second novel, Boneka Rusia Guido, next month.The story is a satire on the Malaysian political scene and has a young narrator telling the story of an ambitious political leader and recluse novelist.In this exclusive interview, the 27-year-old shares his views on his writing style, his penchant for elderly characters and also how he became a writer.

*Explain your inspiration for D.U.B.L.I.N., and your style of ‘walking in literature’ where walking is said to have inspired so much great writing?

“Four years ago, I read an article in the Guardian which mentioned a tradition of walking in literature. Many authors love walking and have used their [walks to work out] their writing. Since then, I have done a lot of research on the subject.I walk a lot. I have been walking since high school. My school was quite a distance from my home. I like to daydream and whenever I  walk, it allows me to do that.”

* Is your lead character Mr H based on a real person?

“I have a habit of creating elderly characters in my short stories and novels and I do not know why.There is a part of Mr H in me. I think there is an old man inside me. There is also part of my father in Mr H and I am very close to my father (an English teacher and a self-taught painter).”

* What reactions did you receive for D.U.B.L.I.N.?

“[Some said] my novel is different and has unique structure [while  others said] my novel does not  have a concrete idea. One reviewer said my work is ‘floating between East and West  philosophies’ and it does not have anything worthwhile to say.”

* Some felt D.U.B.L.I.N. is too western and not Malay enough. Any comment?

“I really don’t understand what they meant when they make such comments. When I read a book, I do not think about the book as either eastern or western. For me, I will want to see if I can connect with the book, or the language, or with the story that’s featured and with the characters that the author has presented. For me, there is no nationality in literature."

* You mentioned many famous authors in your book but did not include any local ones.

“The authors I mentioned in my book loved to walk and they used their walking experience in their work. I’m not aware of Malaysian authors who love walking and/or who use their walking experience in their writing. That is the reason [why] I did not include any. I have problems writing something that is close to me. There must be distance between what I write and myself. If I were to include Malaysian authors in my book, it would have been too intimate
and I would not like it.”

* Some have said D.U.B.L.I.N. is a difficult book to read.

“Reading a book is like going to a theme park. If you want to play  simple games,then you can throw darts or enter the ‘haunted houses for some scares. But If you want something more  challenging, then you can take the roller-coaster rides.So if you are looking for something  simple and light, you cannot get it from my book but if you want something complex, you may  enjoy my book.
I think there are more difficult books [to read] than mine. If you think mine is difficult, then don’t read it. I am not saying this in arrogance. I really believe reading  should be something pleasurable. All books are meant to be entertaining.”

* If you have to rewrite D.U.B.L.I.N., would you change anything?

“When I am finished with writing a story, I get detached from the story. I cannot remember what  I have written. Whenever my friends point to some scenes from D.U.B.L.I.N. and  in my short stories, I will be totally in a blur. When I start a new writing project, I want to be as far  away as I can from my old project as I do not want to repeat myself.I will be so immersed in my  new writing project, that I have no emotion left for my old one.”

* Did you always want to be a writer?

“No.I was a science student. Art was alien to me. My girlfriend then loved reading the popular romantic novels. She gave me one to read [and said] the story would make me cry.It is about a wife who learns that her husband has AIDS. But the wife stands by his side till the end. I did weep after reading the novel (laughs). But I also told my girl that I could write a better story than this and that was how I began writing short stories.”

Wan Nor Azriq .... there is no nationality in literature 

His second novel hitting the book shelf 

His debut novel

Valentine Day & Romantic Films

Valentine Day falls tomorrow. I interviewed 10 celebrities who talks about their all time favourite romantic movies. This story appeared in theSun newspaper on Tuesday Feb 11. Below is the full article ..... 

Headline: That Big Love Story   
By Bissme S 

This Valentine’s Day will be especially special as it coincides with Chap Goh Meh, the final day of the Lunar New Year celebration, which is also known as the Chinese Valentine.So, while couples the whole world over celebrate love and romance with roses, presents and chocolates as well as a candle-lit dinner for two this Friday, Chinese couples might well throw mandarin oranges into the mix.
Single Chinese girls will gather at rivers or lakes to toss mandarin oranges into the water in the hope that single guys will pick them up.
These days, to make it easier for the guys, the girls might even write down their contact numbers on the mandarin oranges in the hope of a call from a likely prospect or two.
And as the day nears, love songs rule the airwaves, for as the poet extraordinaire William Shakespeare wrote: “If music be the food of love, play on!”
The same can be said for romantic flicks. So, in conjunction with this celebration, theSun asked some celebrities to name their favourite big-screen romance.

* Sofia Jane, actress

“I love Out of Africa. I was a teenager when I watched this film.Poetic dialogues, the colonial setting and fantastic music just made me want to grow up fast so that I can have those conversations with the man I love. I also love the chemistry between (lead actors) Meryl Streep and Robert Redford.”

A scene from Out of Africa 

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* Osman Ali, film director

“For me, it’s While You Were Sleeping. It is about a girl who sell tickets at the train counter who falls in love with one of her regular customers.This movie inspired me to direct my first tele-movie, Toll Gate Girl, where a driver falls in love with a girl who works at the toll. I am considering directing a sequel to it this year.”

A scene from While You Were Sleeping 

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* Vanidah Imran, actress

“It’s Sleepless in Seattle. You will never know when you will meet your soul mate. When I was a teenager, I loved Pretty Woman.I love lighted-hearted romantic movies that make you smile.”

A sceme from Sleepless in Seattle

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* Bront Palarae actor and director

“It’s Jean Pierre Jeunet’s Amelie. It is a different look at romance and love that makes the film special.My wife likes it too and I can watch the film again and again with her. The film is filled with whimsicality and eccentricities.”

A scene from Amelie 

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* Diffan Norman, filmmaker (his short film, Kekasih, was shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival)

“I love many movies but Ibu Mertuaku is on the top of my list. The saying ‘love is blind’ is eternal and can be seen in the movie.
“The lead character loses his sight. He gets back his sight only to experience the brutality of rejection (as the woman he loves is married). He then decides to blind himself again!”

A scene from Ibu Mertuaku 

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* Zang Toi, New York-based fashion designer

“It’s Funny Face. It is a beautiful Cinderella movie (where a simple girl becomes a famous model) that is perfect to watch on Valentine’s Day.Audrey Hepburn gave a beautiful performance and the gorgeous setting of fashionable Paris will take your breath away.”

A scene from Funny Face 

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* Hans Isaac, actor and producer

“For me it’s Pretty Woman. It is a timeless classic that you will never get bored watching again and again.It is a story where a rich man meets a poor girl and then falls in love with her. It’s a film that launched Julia Roberts’ career.”

A scene from Pretty Woman 

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* Daphne Iking, TV host

“It’s The Notebook. I have read the novel and I thought the movie did justice to the adaptation. Everyone wants to grow old with their loved ones and I am no different.My other favourite movie is Love Actually. The movie shows that love is about sacrifices. I could relate to the movie because I have made sacrifices for love.”

A scene from The Notebook 

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* Raja Azmi, film producer

“It’s has to be Ghost. The movie shows that love lives on even in death. The fact that the guy returns as a ghost to protect his lover is so romantic.My other favourite movie is Pretty Woman. Like in the movie, I will always dream that someone will come to ‘rescue’ me and give me a happy ending.”

A scene from Ghost 

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* Syed Hussein Syed Mustafa, artiste

“I am not the romantic type. If I have to make a choice, it will be Serendipity. There is a Malay saying: ‘Jodoh ditentukan oleh Tuhan’ (God decides your soul mate) and this film depicts this saying perfectly. I like the way the movies has been directed.”

The poster of Serendipity