GHEETHA Ammasee has a lot to juggle.
Apart from being a radio announcer at Raaga (formerly known as THR Raaga FM), she is also a well-known figure in Kollywood productions, both as a film producer and actress.
Gheetha, who is also known by her stage name Punnagai Poo Gheetha, has been with the radio station since its beginning in 1994.
It was through her radio stint that she acquired the nickname 'Punnagai Poo', which is Tamil for 'smiling flower'.
By 2005, she began to produce Tamil movies in India.
Producing a Kollywood production to be exact.
That year, she produced two movies, namely 'Arinthum Ariyamalum' and 'Kundakka Mandakka.'
In the first film, she also appeared in a cameo role.
Asked which role she enjoys the most, she readily replies that radio deejaying is what she enjoys the most.
"I find it easier and of course, a less stressful role for me," she says smiling.
Which explains why, despite her busy schedule shuttling between Chennai and Kuala Lumpur frequently, she remains loyal to her duties with Raaga.
"And I love acting too, as I find it satisfying."
She admits that juggling the three duties and commuting between two countries require a lot of discipline.
"Time management is very challenging. Fortunately, I have very a supportive management at Raaga and a very strong team (at SG Entertainment & Advertising) to execute my plans."
Another bold step
Already in the midst of producing her 11th film in India, Gheetha has also recently released her first Malay movie, titled 'Siapa Buka Lampu?' (which is currently showing in cinemas throughout Malaysia).
"I've been producing and acting in Tamil movies in India and here, I believe it's time for me to take this step.
"I've wanted to do this (producing a film in Malay language) for some time now.
"But I also thought rather than just making it appealing only to Malaysians, why not making it also appealing to audiences beyond our shores?"
That's how she roped in a film director Reka Wijaya, Indonesian actresses Angie Ang and Gesya Shandy, as well as Tia Tavee, an actress from Thailand.
"My aim has been to make this film marketable in other countries, too."
So when she received the script, she knew that she was ready for a Malay film.
"When I first read the script, I instantly found it funny. So I hope audiences would be as entertained as I had been, when they go and watch it.
"It has a simple storyline, funny and easy for everyone to follow. It's a perfect entertainment for the entire family," she says of the movie.
Another reason why she has banked on this movie is that she also likes film of the horror-comedy genre, of which and she has also produced and acted in one in India back in 2017, titled 'Sangu Chakkaram'.
This production also marks Gheetha's first time acting in a Malay film.
"Initially, during the earlier part of the script-reading session, I found it a little weird, as I felt like I've lost touch (with the grasp of the Malay language)," admits Gheetha who says her Malay was perfect during her schooldays when growing up in Taiping, Perak.
"In fact, since I was from the north, not only my grasp of the language had been fairly good, I was also using the northern Malay dialect then!
"But after few sessions, I managed to get the hang of it," says Gheetha proudly.
Story of a haunted villa
'Siapa Buka Lampu?' tells the story of a villa owned by Aadhya (played by Gheetha), which she opens for holidaymakers.
It becomes viral on social media after some social media influencers reviewed and claimed that it was haunted.
Trying to dispel its bad reputation, Aadhya enlists the help of a couple - Aida (Qasrina Karim) and Amir (Azizul Ammar) — who are reputable in handling mystic cases, i.e. ghostbusters.
The couple, together with their two fellow ghostbusters — Arif (Azhar Jalil) and Aiman (Issey Fazlisham) —show up at the villa, and soon enough, the spirit reveals itself in the form of a Thai woman and called Nak Nak (Tia Tavee).
Situation gets worse when another ghost, Annubelle (Nurul Qiesrawiyah), manages to escape from the entrapment set by the ghostbusters.
Apart from these two, they also have to deal with Hantu Kak Lemah (Nesa Idrus) and Hantu Sundel Bolong (Melissa Aurellia).
Will the hired ghostbusters manage to help solve Aadhya's problem?