A NEW short film highlighting a historical figure from the 16th century, Tun Fatimah, is set to hit digital screens later this year.
Titled Tun Fatimah: The Rebel Queen, it aims to showcase the adat, kesopanan and rich values of the past through the stories of Malaysia's very own heroines, heroes, heritage and history.
Produced by bzBee Consult Sdn Bhd, the work is made possible with the support of the DC3+ Grant from the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation.
WEALTH OF STORIES
bzBee founder and managing director, Professor Mohd Said Bani CM Din, said: "Malaysia has ample stories which can and should go international.
"It is high time we shone a spotlight on the wealth of stories in our very own hikayat.
"Tun Fatimah: The Rebel Queen is an important stride forward to create awareness as well as preserve the hikayat of Malaysia," he said.
A NOVEL ADAPTATION
Said Bani added the short film was adapted from the novel, Kirana Dream After The Rose, written by award-winning author and bzBee chief operating officer, Ninot Aziz.
"Our Tun Fatimah story takes a twist, setting the plot of this last Queen of Melaka both in the 16th century and present-day Melaka.
The ultimate aim is to produce a full-length film of juxtapositioning the 16th century and present-day Melaka," he said.
Ninot said: "Tun Fatimah: The Rebel Queen shines a light on a strong female figure in Malaysian history, and highlights the values, culture and heritage of Melaka during the 16th century."
"We are storytellers and the opportunity to explore this with the use of digital creation in the form of CGI (computer-generated imagery) is very exciting for us.
"Hikayat, legends and various folklore contain a wealth of knowledge on topics ranging from governance, protocol, diplomacy, architecture, shipbuilding, weaponry and textiles to medicinal practices, literature, entertainment, music, dance, wisdom and creative thinking — proof that our ancient societies had highly conceptualised ideas and creativity," she added.
COMPETENT PRODUCTION
Said Bani and Azlina Merican who serve as executive producers, had worked together with Ninot on this idea for more than three years as part of bzBee's efforts, passion and belief in the importance of culture and heritage.
The short film was written by Said Bani, Ninot and Nadia Khan (of Gol & Gincu Vol.2 and Motif fame) to showcase the beauty of the Malay language in the 16th century.
A collaborative effort with Nur Hussein of Langit Terang Productions and critically acclaimed movie director Bade Hj Azmi, Tun Fatimah: The Rebel Queen also features the use of CGI to build an idealistic representation of the world of 16th-century Melaka.
Tasked with building the concept art for this film were digital artist, Walid Muhamad, and 3D artist, Faizal Rahmat, to create an immersive experience for the audience.
Playing the lead roles of Tun Fatimah and Kirana in the short film is up-and-coming actress Yna Rose Noah, who recently won Best Supporting Actress at the Eastern European International Awards for the film, Showtime 1958.
She is joined by cast members such as Naim Shamsol, Niezam Zaidi and Jimmy Leong.
Musician and songwriter, Taja Mustapha, provided the film score and a hauntingly beautiful original soundtrack was written by Teuku Umar Ilany Teuku Iskandar, a lecturer at the National Academy of Arts Culture and Heritage and founder of the gamelan group, Gangsapura.
STRONG PRESENCE
In the annals of history, Tun Fatimah is known for her courage, political finesse and determination as a key figure in setting the legacy of Melaka beyond the Portuguese invasion in the early 16th century.
Through her strong influence with Sultan Mahmud Shah, the last Sultan of Melaka, Tun Fatimah's son and daughters went on to establish the new political powers in Semenanjung Tanah Melayu, especially through the establishment of the Johor Sultanate through her son, Raja Ali Ibni Sultan Mahmud, known as Sultan Alauddin Riayat Shah II (1528-1564) and the Perak Sultanate through her stepson, Sultan Muzaffar Syah (1528-1549).
MALAY MANUSCRIPT LEGACY
Today, Malay Manuscripts are available in over 150 museums and libraries in over 60 countries, including Malaysia, Indonesia, the UK, the Netherlands, Russia and France.
This wealth of historical literature can offer the younger generation an insight into, not just well-written works, but also history, creative thinking and even science.
In an attempt to nurture a capable generation armed with crucial skills, it is important to reflect and bring together the past and the present.
PRESERVATION OF HIKAYAT
Unfortunately, unless the hikayat is appreciated, the stories and the knowledge embedded in them will slowly fade away and disappear.
It is hoped that the production of Tun Fatimah: The Rebel Queen will encourage a deeper appreciation of the hikayat by the masses using digital content to create beautiful and believable ancient worlds.