Artistes from Paranormal Talents – Ayda Jebat, Haikal Ali, Aisyaah Aziz and the company’s chief Melakaboy…
Back with my second instalment. I actually wanted to post this entry up this past Wednesday but got caught up with some personal matters, hence the delay in publishing this entry. For those who are in my Facebook contact list or linked to those whom I had tagged, you’re probably the more fortunate ones cos you get to view these photographs much earlier when I uploaded them early this past week. Anyway these photographs are just a selected few and not everything that I had shared on Facebook. Personally I feel that I did not snap that many photographs during the Red Carpet event, the Pre-Event Cocktail Reception and the Post-Event Reception, as my attention that night was taken up by chatting with some of the artistes and people in the industry. I only realised how few my photographs were when I uploaded all of them onto my PC, hence why I combined them all into one entry. Hope it will suffice for now as I continue to edit and select the 3000-odd photographs I snapped that night and of course come up with my review of Anugerah Planet Muzik 2016…
This astounding sight greeted us outside the new Mediacorp campus at Stars Avenue that evening…
The main sponsors of Anugerah Planet Muzik 2016…
Throngs of supporters waiting by the side to greet their favourite artistes…
First artiste to arrive on the Red Carpet, who could that be???
It’s none other than actress-host Raja Ilya, accompanied by renowned fashion designer Raffiey Nasir…
Both Raffiey Nasir and Raja Ilya being interviewed by Hafeez Glamour…
Aisyaah Aziz and Rizky Febian…
Members of Musikimia…
Elizabeth Tan and Ayda Jebat…
Artistes under Yazri Malik Productions – The Chapters, Merah and Ryan Sufiyan…
(From left): Anugerah Skrin 2016 winner, Yaya Hamid, up-and-coming talent Yanti, Judah Lyne from The Lion Story, 987FM’s presenter Natasha Faisal and Farhan Shah…
Heart-throbs from three nations: Aziz Harun (Brunei), Sufi Rashid (Singapore) and Cakra Khan (Indonesia)…
Ryz and Projector Band amongst the familiar faces here along with the representatives of Impact Music Entertainment…
Jules Jumari from Juz B and SoulMstrs fame with his partner Yana Keller…
The main sponsors from One Drop Perfumes…
Raisa and Armand Maulana…
Ms. Singapore Universe 2015, Lisa Marie White…
Representatives from PERKAMUS – Madam Rusedah Tawahid and Ms. Deanna Manto…
Didie Alias and Dato Rafiena Ramli, whose company House of Dre was also one of the co-sponsors of Anugerah Planet Muzik 2016…
Award presenter Sheiryn Aisiqa and Izyan Mellyna…
Yuka Kharisma and hubby Ahmad Jeffny…
Members of The Aryan, Nash (left) and Farid (2nd from right) seen here with a bevy of beauties, Lina Sinuan (2nd from left), Surya Rahmanty (middle) and Jahann Shukor (right)…
Ayai Illusi with prolific songwriter S. Atan…
Harris Baba came with his mum Madam Zarina Khatoon…
Anugerah Skrin 2016 winner Syaiful Ariffin, actress-host Gloria Tan and APM2016 Red Carpet host Shenthy Feliziana…
Hafeez Glamour, Adi Yadoni, Wahyu Rahman and Faisal Ishak…
Ryan Sufiyan seen here with his duet partner for his current hit single “Cakar Hati”, Adriana (left) and his fellow collaborators for “Bila Kau Tiada”, Kalysa Aziz and Lefttool…
Dzar Ismail and Raja Razie doing hosting duties for Berita @ Mediacorp right after the Red Carpet event had ended…
Celebrity make-up artist and stylist Rozi Klaseboer with Rommentiq Events owner, Dr. Iqmal Muhammad…
Member of Klutz and Rafaat Hamzah (third from left)…
Mastura Ahmad with hubby Arshad Ismail…
Members of Kraton, the husband and wife team of Surayah Akbar and Jufri Salim…
The award-winning group that is making a long-awaited comeback into the scene – Bhumiband
A beaming Judah Lyne and Haikal Ali post-show after their song “Bertemu Kembali” snagged the Best Singapore Song award…
Ryz, 2kangkata and Hizzy Bk…
Dato’ Khairul Anwar Salleh, Astro’s Vice-President for Malay Language Business, Datin Norenshah Sahari, Datin Tiara Jacquelina and Tan Sri Dato’ Seri Mohd Effendi Norwawi…
Veterans and newbies in the scene (from left): Yusman Umar, Ayai Illusi, Awi Rafael and Azman Samsudin…
Awi Rafael sharing his joy with his big boss at Warner Music Malaysia, Mr. Darren Choy, who is also now the Chairman of Recording Industry Association of Malaysia (RIM)…
Malaysian award-winning songwriter Shah Shamshiri, Sufi Rashid and Ms. Viva Shaik, a friend of the former…
Artistes from Paranormal Talents: Ayda Jebat, Haikal Ali and Aisyaah Aziz along with the company’s Head, Melakaboy…
They were soon joined by Bocil who couldn’t resist singing Ayda Jebat’s “Pencuri Hatiku”…
The ever humble Caliph Buskers. Felt so happy for their win…
The new breed of singers in our local scene – Farhan Shah, Yaya Hamid, Zeenol Hossain, Faridzuan Faris, Yanti and Judah Lyne…
(From left): Rifaah Ridzuwanulhakim, Reyza Hamizan, Hydir Idris, Warna 94.2FM presenter TG and Projector Band’s vocalist, Iskandar Zulkarnain (Is)…
Hydir Idris sharing with Syamel that he did a cover of his hit “Hidup Dalam Mati” when I interrupted them for a snapshot together…
Members of Bhumiband, The Aryan, Rafaat Hamzah, Adi Yadoni and Wawan Husen…
(From left): Hydir Idris, Azman Samsudin, Yusman Umar, Wawan Husen and legendary guitarist from Rusty Blade, Khalid Mobin…
Members of Musikimia and an unidentified guest…
Merah’s vocalist, Ilham Ramadan, with his fiancee Jannah Jakasha…
Group shot of the APM organisers as well as sponsors and performers that included veteran singer Jay Jay, APM Special Award recipient S. Atan and Bocil…
Last shot of the night – Bocil with Ms. Zakiah Halim, Mr. Hassan Salleh and Aura Shai…
Ok I know I promised you in the last entry that my next one would be my review on Anugerah Planet Muzik 2014. However, after attending the film premiere of Banting (or Slam! in English) this past Friday 24th October 2014 at the The Grand Cathay Cineplex, I have decided to prolong your wait for quite a bit as this movie takes precedence. Editing photographs I took the other night, which were less than a hundred, is much easier than going through 3500-odd photographs to be included in my entry. Hence you can regard this as sort of a filler entry before I speak about APM2014 again. Anyway I would first and foremost like to thank Papahan Films, especially Ms. Nurazleena Ramli, the person in-charge of the film’s publicity, for the kind invitation. In my ten years of entertainment blogging, this was indeed my first film premiere invite and I was honoured to attend with the missus.
So what is Banting all about??? Well, I will be paraphrasing this paragraph and the next, since I’m taking them out from what has been typed in its official website (Credits to Papahan Films). The film tells a story of a twenty-four year old Yasmin Muhammad (played by the likeable Izyan Mellyna) who barely has the most exciting life, with a strict mother and religious upbringing. Yasmin is also sick when she’s being judged all the time for wearing a Hijab or sees discrimination upon women who don it. She wonders if a Hijab girl will ever be able to do what most normal girls can do. Things change when Yasmin chances upon a professional wrestling gym and does the unthinkable: she secretly signs up as a wrestler!!! Soon, Yasmin is trading her Hijab for a mask and her awkwardness with unbridled high-flying moves as she becomes her alter-ego, the fearsome Zarith Blade!!! (The name Zarith is I believe, a tribute to director M. Raihan Halim‘s wife, Zarith Sofia)
The film cast and director seen here being photographed with guest-of-honour, Minister for Communications & Information, Mr. Yaacob Ibrahim…
But “laying the smackdown” on people is not what Yasmin is meant to do in life. At least not according to her conservative and very strict mother, Halimah (played by the respected Mastura Ahmad). Yasmin hides her new passion from Halimah and for good reason. Halimah’s idea of having her good Muslim daughter clashes with the life of a professional wrestler clothes-lining and slamming people before a cheering crowd. Things take a precarious turn when Yasmin’s secret double life is threatened to be exposed. And Yasmin finds herself in her most important match ever: wrestling (a.k.a. convincing) her mother to give her the chance to keep her dream alive!!! Will she succeed??? Well, I will not divulge or give you any spoilers as the only way to find out is to watch the movie.
Honest-to-goodness, I am not good at reviewing movies. I’m also the kind who will pay scant respect to movie reviews unless I’m really sceptical of its storyline and need to read first before investing my money to watch it. So my views here might differ from those who watch movies looking at technical aspects and nitty-gritty details. As a watching audience, I want to be entertained, to have a feel-good factor even after the rolling credits are done and to smile just reminiscing about the movie. Banting ticked all three boxes in my list. I am also sure the rest who attended the film premiere, which was by the way, resembled a mini Pesta Perdana event with so many personalities in the local Malay entertainment scene in attendance, walked away with smiles on their faces and encouraging words being heard exchanged between them outside the theatre.
It’s a wrestling movie, so a bit of fierceness being shown here by the film cast, producer and director along with Minister Yaacob Ibrahim…
Banting in all honesty after watching it, is so close to my heart. I grew up watching wrestling, had great wrestling matches at the high jump mattress at Serangoon JC with my friends when we were in secondary school. I also used to wrestle my cousins on our respective beds and till now I still do practise some of the safer moves with my daughters and nephews. Up till this day, I religiously read the weekly World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) RAW reports just to keep up with what is happening in the WWE. We all know the storylines and moves in wrestling are fake, even Banting revealed a bit of that, but it keeps us entertained, like a soap opera, willing the good guys on and wishing the bad guys would just shut up and lose. Banting tried to create that and the wrestling fanboy in me was suitably impressed to an extent.
I take my hat off to the wrestling girls played by Gloria Tan, Abigail Chay, Syaza Qistina Tan, Ashley Erianah and Joanne-Marie Sim, besides Izyan Mellynaof course. Wrestling is not easy for ladies and I sometimes detect how difficult it is, even for the professional ones in WWE to execute some of their moves. They did try to create a convincing outlook in their matches and some of the moves did look great and believable. The person or persons who trained them can take heart that these girls did their utmost best and done well. Not easy to look pretty and having to suffer bumps, cuts and bruises in the process. I’m sure during the course of filming, the girls have taken slight knocks and injuries from botching their moves, but this is all part and parcel of filming, especially action scenes.
Another “garang” pose, this time with the film poster backdrop in the background…
Other than the wrestling aspect of the movie, the film resonates with me because of the life being led by the lead character herself and her sister Nissa (played by Adlina Adil). Like the movie, I have two young daughters myself and it has probably given me an advanced glimpse of what the future might be in for me when they eventually grow up and be young women with their own dreams and aspirations. They will have their own interests and likes which will differ to or contrast with what we want or expect from them. We are also living in a generation where everything needs to be explained with logic and rationale, without being too strict and hard-handed, lest the kids will turn rebellious and lie at the first available opportunity. During our parents’ time, a raised eyebrow, a wave of the cane, a slight raise in tone of voice, a wag of the finger and a simple “No!!!” usually would do the trick. Now no more. And what’s more, I see some of the character traits of Yasmin (the younger daughter in the movie) similar to that of my younger one – Steely, determined, fiesty, independent and strong-willed.
A good movie needs to have a good balance in how the actors bounce off each other. I see a lot of that in this movie, from the leads right down to the supporting cast. I just find the Atok character played by legendary actor Osman Zailani, very endearing. It even made me miss my own late grandfather who defended me at the slightest opportunity when my father would flare up with me when I was younger. As for Fauzie Laily who plays Yasmin‘s BFF, Zaidy, words cannot describe how proud I am for my old friend at his achievement on becoming a film star. He brought his A-game in this movie and he has improved so much since his first stab at acting in “Teman Anugerahku” back in 2005. Watching him in the movie is just like knowing him in real life. The characters in reel and real life are just too similar, the jokes and teasings, as well as the sound advices, are what I have been accustomed to from knowing Fauziesince he was still the scrawny teen from Temasek Polytechnic. Oh by the way, I like that Fauzie looked a bit chubby in this movie. Hahaha…
The lead actors in Banting: Fauzie Laily, Adlina Adil, Izyan Mellyna and Mastura Ahmad…
While I do not need to wax lyrical on the likes of Mastura Ahmad and Adlina Adil, because we know what accomplished actresses they are both on television and theatre, I feel that as a relatively newbie in the scene, Izyan Mellyna has all the attributes to be Singapore‘s very own Sharifah Amani. I cannot describe in words why I feel this way, but if there is a reference point I can compare her to, then Sharifah Amani is the one. Ok I used the word “newbie”, but really Izyan is already an experienced hand in the scene having been a child star during the days of “Ya Alif” and also has theatre background. It’s just that television viewers have been warming up to her since the start of 2014 when Walimah, followed by TeRaSeh! 2.0, Di Luar Garisan 2 and Walimah 2 came along. Along with Nurfarhana M. Noor, Izyan Mellyna is the name and talent to watch in our local Malay entertainment scene. See them soar and progress over the years, they will only get better.
Banting, is not just your typical light-hearted comedy. It brings with it moments of anxiety, also tugs a bit on our emotions (yes some people I know cried at some of the scenes :P). Above all, it feels very Singaporean and relates so much to the average Malay family here, the challenges we face as a society, as individuals, having to chase our dreams and having to appease our older folks in matters sometimes beyond our comprehension or will. Then there are the conflicts of interests. Somehow, somewhere, for those of us who have watched this movie, we can relate to them and agree that at some point of time in our lives, we have been through those kind of situations before, whether to listen to our instincts and passion or stick to the tried-and-tested success formulas. Director M. Raihan Halim and his team at Papahan Films have done well to potray all that I have mentioned either directly or subtly in the movie.
Executive producer Edmund D. Lim addressing the audience along with fellow executive co-producer and director, M. Raihan Halim, before the film commenced…
The film, which is brought to you by the same people who produced award-winning television shows like “Yazid Pakai Lampin“, “Mr. Perfect“, “Papa Rock” and “Step Puteri” amongst others, will hopefully usher in a new era of film-making and revive the local Malay film industry which has long been decimated since the demise of the Jalan Ampas studio. I will not go as far as to put undue pressure on M. Raihan Halim and declare that he is now the messiah of the revolution, but in a way, he has taken steps to break down the walls of barrier and shown fellow local Malay film-makers that it is possible to take the plunge and tread where others do not dare. He stands tall with his team from Papahan Films that such a move can be done. I share their pride at seeing their dream materialise and realised and I was honoured to have witnessed the momentous and ground-breaking occasion. Please do support and watch Banting when it is out officially at the theatres this Friday 31st October 2014 onwards and you will understand the same pride that most, if not all of us who came for the film premiere feel and share till now…
Beautiful ladies (from left): Amal (Ainon Talib’s cousin), Malaque Mahdaly, Ateeqah Mazlan, Syaza Qistina Tan and Ainon Talib…
Syaza Qistina Tan and Sezairi
Malaque Mahdaly and Syarif SleeQ
Nurul Aini and hubby Sofian Roslan
The wacky couple: Alyph SleeQ and Azzah Fariha
The mean students in “Step Puteri”: Maressa Zahirah and Syaza Qistina Tan…
Haizad Imran, Ashmi Roslan and Firdaus Rahman giving us their best wrestler impersonations…
Syirah Jusni and Ashmi Roslan
Firdaus Rahman and wife Jannah Ismaeil
Izyan Mellyna seen here with the film mascot…
Izyan Mellyna and husband Saifulnazri
Always game for a goofy photo: Nurfarhana M. Noor and Izyan Mellyna…
They are joined by SOS’s Imam Shah…
From left: Jeffrey Zauhari, Malay language ambassador, Cikgu Asnida Daud, Berita Harian’s entertainment correspondent, Madam Hanim Mohd Saleh, her husband, Mr. Azrin Rahim and Abdul Rashid Mustajab who had a cameo role in the movie…
Talented peeps in one photograph (from left): Seriwahyuni Jaes, Siti Aishah Ahmad, Faisal Ishak and wife Umie Isa, Rilla Melati, Khairudin Saharom and Mastura Ahmad…
Haizad Imran, theatre activist Hazriq Idrus, Giovanni Homme’s Rafil Kamaruddin and Firdaus Rahman…
Fauzie Laily looking so sharp in his suit together with his wife, Nurul Huda…
The film cast and crew with guest-of-honour, Minister for Communications & Information, Mr. Yaacob Ibrahim…
Suzairhe Sumari, Ariati Tyeb Papar, Syirah Jusni, Ashmi Roslan, Nizlan Sani (soundman), upcoming drama Demi Adriana’s lead, Fizah Nizam and hubby Helmindra J.A. Halim…
Syaza Qistina Tan seen here with Joanne-Marie Sim…
The lead cast of Banting…
Cikgu Asnida Daud with award-winning director Sanif Olek, Sani Hussin, Ashmi Roslan, Syirah Jusni, make-up artist Zool Mimi and Suzairhe Sumari…
Cikgu Asnida Daud, Suzairhe Sumari, Syirah Jusni, Sani Hussin and veteran comedian Osman Kong…
Nurijah Sahat, Ahmad Yusof, Azman Shariff and Osman Zailani…
Norman Ishak, CNA’s Nurul Atiqah and Wan Haddad Salleh…
Fauzie Laily, Izyan Mellyna, Faisal Ishak and Ibrahim Sawifi…
Ms. Isadhora Mohamed (centre) seen here with Ms. Noor Azmah (left) and Latiff, a staff of Mediacorp Suria…
Celebrity blogger Diah Mastura Roslan was also in attendance with hubby Hidayat Wahab…
Edmund D. Lim addressing the audience…
The main cast being introduced to the audience…
A representative of MM2 Entertainment also took time to give a short speech…
M. Raihan Halim, Executive co-producer and director of Banting…
Izzat Yusoff and wife Esliza Razar enjoyed the movie given the thumbs up and smiles…