POPULAR online video streaming service Viu is back with its latest Viu Original, 'The Secret', a riveting investigative thriller.
The 27th Viu Original released in Malaysia, 'The Secret' was created by Jasmine Zaidi and features a lineup of established actors and actresses as well as rising young talents.
These include Siti Saleha Baharom, Datuk Remy Ishak, Ellyza Azizi, Sara Mack Lubis, Ucop, Nadiya Nisaa, Fatimah Abu Bakar, Amir Nafis and Lorenzo Imann.
SUICIDE
Directed by Jason Chong and produced by Revolution Media with the support of the Film In Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), it is centred on the purported suicide of a university student named Liya.
'The Secret' begins with Liya (Ellyza), a popular university student, falling to her death from the top of the university building.
The authorities quickly rule her death as suicide, but her lecturer Dr Johanna (Siti Saleha) suspects something more sinister after she stumbles upon a threatening letter in Liya's hostel room.
MURDER
With the help of Liya's best friend Nini (Sara), as well as her fellow lecturer Amir (Remy) who was also Liya's student consellor, Johanna learns that her student had been raped and murdered.
However, proof is lacking and Johanna and her allies face an uphill battle to prove their point.
But Johanna refuses to give up and makes it her mission to bring the suspect to justice.
She soon learns that there are people in high places who go to extremes to conceal the truth and slander her in order to stop the investigation.
COMPLEX
Revolution Media head Zainir Aminullah said that the drama explored some of the most intense and complex issues facing society today.
"We often portray the harrowing realities of modern life through dramas. 'The Secret' aims to raise awareness of several major social problems prevalent today.
"This drama is not only entertaining but educational as well, as it increases community awareness and promotes social change," he said.
Chong said 'The Secret' was a heavy drama about sexual harrassment and institutional abuse of power.
"It is about the interaction of different characters in a big city and how they relate to authority in a university.
"It is also about daring to speak up against abuse of power, and tackles many relevant issues facing Malaysian and Western society."
MENTAL HEALTH AND MYSTERY
Siti Saleha said that mental health was importantly tackled by the drama series.
"This drama compels viewers to talk to people they can trust whenever they have personal issues.
"It is an emotional roller coaster, and very twisty."
Remy said that 'The Secret' was basically a crime mystery with many suspects and motives aplenty.
"The investigation by the protagonist Johanna fleshes out the story bit by bit, and the mystery behind Liya's death is contained for as long as it takes."
TRAUMA
Ellyza said that it was her first big role and she was happy that both the older and younger generations could relate to her character who has personal problems bottled up.
"Liya is a successful student and a popular one too, but she reached out to the wrong people and was killed.
"Even though Liya is dead for the larger part of the story, we get to know more about the multi-faceted person that she was in a series of flashbacks, which focus on her interaction with her best friends and her lecturers."
Siti Saleha said that Johanna was based on a real-life lecturer and like the character, this lecturer had a traumatic childhood.
"This aptly explains her empathy with the victim and her family, and why she is brave in fighting for justice," she said.
CRISIS
Remy said that he could not reveal much about his character but added that Amir supported Johanna as best as he could, since he was Liya's lecturer and counsellor.
Sara said that Nini was a strong, streetwise yet vulnerable young woman who was facing a crisis.
"It is very painful to lose your buddy, and worse, to learn that she died under very suspicious circumstances.
"Nini is Johanna's window to Liya, whom she had only known as her student, but gradually gets to know more about the complex person that she was," she said.
SERIOUS
In preparing for the role of Nini, Sara observed how her younger sister coped with the loss of her friend.
"The pain that she went through was great, but it gradually gave her inner strength to embrace what her late friend stood for."
Ucop said that he was happy to play a quiet young man who was serious.
"This is a refreshing change for me, character wise, as I often play the loud, happy-go-lucky and somewhat live-wired young men," he said.
KLANG VALLEY
'The Secret' began on Aug 22 and will be screened on Viu every Thursday, over eight weekly episodes.
Chong said: "Each character has an interesting story to tell, and all of them develop and evolve along the way.
"Filming went smoothly over 48 days early this year, at various scenic spots around the Klang Valley."
'The Secret' was launched at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) Mid Valley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur on Aug 20.
The launch was attended by most of the main cast, Chong, Zainir and Jasmine.