#SHOWBIZ: Stories of kinship sweeps awards

IF there is a letter in the alphabet that was rejoicing all night in the 34th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM 34), it had to be ‘B’.

That is because, two blockbuster movies beginning with ‘B’ ended up winning big in the annual awards show, broadcast live on TV2 from Angkasapuri last Saturday.

First, ‘Babah’, a moving family story about a deaf father and his paralysed daughter, won Best Film and earned its production company Nads Media Entertainment received a Creative Content Fund (DKK) grant worth RM1 million.

‘Babah’ also created history for two talented household names, Qushairi ‘Qi’ Razali and Farhana ‘Sweet’ Qismina Supandi who took home the coveted Best Actor and Best Actress prizes respectively.

Best known as the titular character of 8TV sitcom ‘Blogger Boy’, Qi gave a heartfelt performance as the deaf parent Isyak who developed a special way of communicating with his only child.

Sweet, who played one of statesman Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman’s children in the historical drama ‘Tanda Putera’, was outstanding as Maya, Isyak’s seriously ill daughter who overcomes one health crisis after another thanks to her father’s love.

‘Babah’ also won the Most Promising Director award for Mohd Shah Faizul, Best Screenplay and Best Original Story.

Second, the action-packed ‘Blood Brothers: Bara Naga’ which is arguably the most talked-about Malaysian movie for 2025.

A poignant story about brotherhood and loyalty co-produced by Skop Productions and Primeworks Studios, and directed by Syafiq Yusof and Abhilash Chandra, it also took home six awards.

Syafiq and Abhilash were honoured with the Best Director title, and the film also won awards for Best Supporting Actors (Syazwan Zulkifly and Syafiq Kyle), Best Theme Song, Best Stunt Direction, Best Cinematography and the Special Box Office Award.

An elated Qi and Sweet said upon winning their awards that it was their “best night ever” since it marked their very first wins for leading roles on the silver screen.

“Competition was very, very stiff and Reversi’s Beto Kusyairy gave me a very good fight,” said Qi.

“I love Isyak, he’s the kind of daddy I’d aspire to be.”

Sweet said: “Playing Maya really took me far out of my girl-next-door comfort zone. I love her, how she’s so strong beyond her years, and what a good daughter she is.”

She added that her biggest competitor was Nabila Huda who played a long-suffering young villager accused of black magic in the Osman Ali horror ‘Telaga Suriram’.

“I was up against a fantastic actress, and I don’t believe I won!”

Syafiq and Abhilash said that even though their movie did not win all of the 13 awards it was nominated for, they were happy that it took home most of them.

Abhilash said: “I want to thank everyone in our wonderful team, who worked so hard and gave performances that were pure gold.”

Syafiq said: ” ‘Blood Brothers: Bara Naga’, at its heart, is a story of brotherhood, and it’s so heartwarming that our two blood brothers of the story played by Syafiq Kyle and Syazwan shared the Best Supporting Actor prize. They truly gave their all!”

Syafiq added that he was also delighted to see his other movie ‘Soloz: Game Of Life’ win.

“This is my first biopic of a great man, and gaming master Soloz is a role model for all young Malaysians.”

Ellie Suriaty Omar’s powerful role in ‘Telaga Suriram’ secured her the Best Supporting Actress award.

She said: “My character Tijah is a long-suffering medicine woman who is always viewed negatively by her fellow villagers. I love playing gritty and complex characters, who may not be goody good, but they are certainly not baddies!”

Amir Ahnaf was named Most Promising Actor for ‘Kahar: Kapla High Council’, and Michelle Lungan took home the Most Promising Actress award for her role in ‘Tegkang’.

Amir said: “Kahar has established himself as a memorable anti-hero, a 21st century bad boy whose story is all too human.”

Michelle, a Kelabit actress from Kuching, said that she was overjoyed to get her first trophy in her acting debut.

Young actress Puteri Rafasya won Best Child Actress for ‘Telaga Suriram’.

“I’m happy to have given my all to the role of Suriram, and hope to play more resilient characters.”

Puteri Rafasya is recovering from a hip injury sustained on the set of a drama series in 2023.

‘Babah’ producer Wan Rafiq said that he wanted to create a family story which resonated with all Malaysians, and the best way to do so was to come up with a parent-child story involving two generations with health issues, who loved unconditionally.

Veteran actor Datuk Ahmad Tarmimi Siregar was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the film industry, and the country’s Father of Animation Hassan Muthalib was awarded the Special Artiste Award for his services to Malaysian animation.

The star-studded event, hosted by producer, director and actor Datuk Afdlin Shauki and television host and actress Che Puan Sarimah Ibrahim, featured performances by prominent Malaysian singers and musicians, including Tony Eusoff, Nadia Aqilah, MK, Noki, Shila Amzah, Zizi Kirana, Mohar, Man Bai and Misha Omar.

Tony and Nadia were excellent with their medley of Tan Sri P. Ramlee and Puan Sri Saloma songs ‘Gelora’ and ‘Bila Mama Pakai Celana’, and coincidentally they acted well together in the final season of Enfiniti Productions’ ‘P. Ramlee The Musical’ at Istana Budaya a decade ago.

Below is the list of FFM34 award winners:

Best Film: Babah (Nads Media Entertainment Sdn Bhd)

Best Director: Syafiq Yusof & Abhilash Chandra (Blood Brothers: Bara Naga)

Most Promising Director: Shah Faizal (Babah)

Best Original Story: Nadia Nadzri (Babah)

Best Screenplay: Wan Rafiq (Babah)

Best Actor: Qi Razali (Babah)

Best Actress: Sweet Qismina (Babah)

Best Supporting Actor: Syafiq Kyle & Syazwan Zulkifly (Blood Brothers: Bara Naga)

Best Supporting Actress: Ellie Suriaty (Telaga Suriram)

Most Promising Actor: Amir Ahnaf (Kahar: Kapla High Council)

Most Promising Actress: Michelle Lungan (Tegkang)

Best Child Actor: Puteri Rafasya (Telaga Suriram)

Special Jury Award 1: Ejen Ali The Movie 2

Special Jury Award 2: Takluk: Lahad Datu

Special Artiste Award: Hassan Muthalib

Lifetime Achievement Award: Datuk Ahmad Tarmimi Siregar

Best Stunt Direction: Defenderz Action Team (Blood Brothers: Bara Naga)

Best Editing: Ariff Aiman Azahar, Nazifdin Nasrudin & Syafiq Yusof (Soloz: Game Of Life)

Best Cinematography: Nicholas Chin (Blood Brothers: Bara Naga)

Best Production Design: Wan Zulkifli Wan Salleh (Kulit Wayang)

Best Sound: Mohsin Othman & Technica Studios (Soloz: Game Of Life)

Best Theme Song: Bara Jiwa (Blood Brothers: Bara Naga)

Best Music (Original Score): Skor Muzik Asal Terbaik: Soloz: Game Of Life

Best Visual Effects: Jehcob & Sam (Soloz: Game Of Life)

Best Poster: Arst (Tegkang)

Best Costume: Farah Syaliq (Mencari Ramlee)

Best Make Up: Ella Sandera (Takluk: Lahad Datu)

Best Short Film: Rastech Worldwide Sdn Bhd (Saranghae)

Best Documentary: Media Prima Berhad (Rindu Tak Berpenghujung)

Special Box Office Award: Bara Jiwa (Blood Brothers: Bara Naga)

© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd

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