IT’S been more than two decades since singer and actress Amy Mastura won the third Grand Championship of Asia Bagus, the talent-search programme created by Fuji Television in 1992, to promote young up-and-coming performing artistes in Asia.
After winning the title, her self-titled album was released in 1994, with hit tunes like Meniti Hari and Jawapan Kasih. That same year, she won Popular Female Singer award at the Anugerah Bintang Popular BH, beating other popular senior singers such as Fauziah Latiff and Shima.
Amy, who was at the time still working as a flight stewardess with Malaysia Airlines, then resigned from the position she had held since 1989, from when she 18. She went on to record more studio albums, seven to date.
In 1999, fans started seeing a different side of her when the first movie she acted in, Kuala Lumpur Universiti, was released.
Other movies starring Amy were also released in the same year, including Puteri Impian. The film eventually earned her the Best Actress award at the 1999 Malaysian Film Festival. She also acted in several dramas and telemovies and was active in theatre.
LATEST DRAMA
Now at 45, the artiste is still actively singing and acting. For Amy, the reason is her fans, who have been supporting her since the beginning.
“I’ve been getting acting offers although there aren’t as many as before. But I’m alright with it. As long as there are still offers, that is good enough for me to ensure that I don’t ‘disappear’ completely from the scene,” Amy says with a laugh.
Fans of this cheerful petite artiste should be happy to catch her in the drama Jejak Karmila, currently airing on TV3.
“In this 13-episode drama, I play the character Sharifah Aniza. Besides me, the cast includes Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Fauziah Nawi and Azri Iskandar.”
SIMPLE YET MEANINGFUL
In music, Amy recently released the song Kalimah, composed by young songwriter Ardiv Jauhari, who is also the son of veteran composer Johari Teh.
“Kalimah is somewhat more mature than my previous, cheery and chirpy numbers, and it couldn’t have fallen on my lap at a more appropriate time,” said Amy, who now wears the hijab. She started wearing the headscarf in June 2015.
“I’m very happy with this song as it has been quite a while that I’ve been waiting for a tune which perfectly captures my current state of mind.
“No doubt it’s a simple song. But in its simplicity lies a deep and meaningful message. I hope listeners will enjoy the lyrics as much as I do,” says Amy.
“Actually, the song was recorded three years ago. At the time, I released the single Jom Menari... Lerr first, and kept this song. While Jom Menari... Lerr is like many other catchy numbers which I have done before, I think it’s perfect for me to release a ballad number now,” says the ever youthful singer.
Recently, a fan impersonated her on the radio, singing Amy’s popular Sha Na Na. That person happened to be none other than Malaysia’s No. 1 singer Datuk Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin, who recently had a stint as a radio announcer on her own special radio show on Hot FM to mark her 37th birthday.
When not engaged with work, Amy is happy playing housewife to husband Alvin Tham Suffian.
A doting mother to daughters Adriana, 15, and Adalia, 11, Amy says both have shown interest in the performing arts. “As a mother, I encourage them to pursue their passion.”