Renowned Malaysian director Othman Hafsham, a pioneer in the local sitcom genre, hopes the younger generation will produce smarter, more sophisticated sitcoms.
Othman, celebrated for iconic sitcoms like 'Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu' (PMPMTT) and '2+1', believes that recent sitcoms lack the intellectual depth and quality he hopes to see in the genre's evolution.
"I'm actually known as an expert in smart sitcoms. I hope future productions excel in storylines and humour, making them both sharp and engaging," Othman told BH Online.
At 85, Othman — whose full name is Othman Shamsuddin — was honoured at the 2024 Anugerah Seri Angkasa (ASA) awards held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC) recently.
He received the 2024 Tokoh Seri Angkasa Award for his lifetime contributions to Malaysia's entertainment industry.
Alongside the trophy, he received a Proton S70, RM30,000 worth of jewellery, and RM10,000 in cash, presented by Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil.
Othman, who also directed popular films such as 'Adik Manja' and 'Mekanik', hopes his recent recognition will inspire the next generation to produce even higher-quality work.
"I hope my victory can fuel younger talents to create works better than mine.
"I want the younger generation of directors to approach their work with even greater passion, pushing boundaries to inspire everyone involved."
Reflecting on his five-decade-long career, Othman expressed gratitude for the strong commitment shown by his cast and crew.
"If I were to summarise my journey in the industry, it has been truly remarkable. The commitment of my actors was exceptional —they rarely gave me any trouble on set."
A graduate of the London School of Film Technique and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in the United Kingdom, Othman began his career in 1968 as a film director with Film Negara Malaysia.
He later joined RTM as a TV producer before branching into advertising, where he served as an advertising director at Pearl & Dean Sdn Bhd.
Othman's artistic journey has been marked by multiple awards, including two Best Director trophies at the Malaysian Film Festival for 'Mekanik' and 'Rahsia'.
In 2015, he was presented with the Lifetime Achievement award at FFM.
The sitcom PMPMTT stands as one of his most popular creations, airing on TV3 from 1983 to 2004 with over 1,200 episodes across 17 seasons.