Pulang, from script to novel
While the norm is for a novel to be turned into a film, it is the reverse in the case of the yet-to-be-released film Pulang, writes Tahir Alhamzah
RIGHT after the script for the film Pulang had been completed, Datuk Ahmad Izham Omar knew that the story could be adapted into a novel. “So after Mira Mustafa had done her magic in writing the script for the film, it crossed my mind to develop it into a novel,” says Ahmad Izham, who is also chief executive officer of Primeworks Studios.
He admits: “The novel is perhaps the best platform to expand the content from digital, TV and film. I hope that the novel reaches a wider audience, one not penetrated by film alone.”
In February, while the film was in the midst of being edited, Penerbitan Karyaseni was engaged to turn the manuscript into a novel.
RESEARCH AND INTERVIEWS
“As this is our first project for an epic story, we felt that it was our responsibility to choose the best writer who could translate the manuscript into a book to a T,” says Karyaseni’s managing director Datuk Seri Wan Mohd Muzri Ramli. “We are targeting sales of 8,000 copies”.
The novel was launched last Friday at the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair at Putra World Trade Centre.
Karyaseni picked author Lily Haslina Nasir, who has written more than 30 novels, including Izinkan Aku Jadi Sayapmu and Lelaki Linkungan Cinta.
A week after Lily watched the preview of the movie, she received the script on March 8 and completed her task by April 4.
“When I was given this project, I panicked when I heard that this is a collaboration between prolific scriptwriter Mira Mustafa and her Mumbai-born husband, famed director Kabir Bhatia,” recounts Lily.
“As I was also working on another project at that time, I had to remind myself not to spoil the beautiful work of this talented duo,” says the writer, who researched by reading interviews given by Ahmad Izham on the movie project which began two years earlier.
The tale is based on the true story of Ahmad Izham’s grandfather, Othman, from circa 1940s until the present time. Lily also interviewed Ahmad Izham’s father, Omar, to find out more about his father.
Pulang tells the story of Othman, a fisherman-turned-sailor from Serkam, Melaka. Seeking better opportunities to provide for his wife, Che Thom, and their son Omar, he left his family. Neither Othtake man nor Che Thom expected it to 61 long years.
EMOTIONAL MEETING
Besides doing background research on th main characters, Lily also had to ‘translate’ Remy Ishak’s (who plays Othman in the film) chemistry with Puteri Aishah (Che Thom).
“It was a love story. But I cannot simply write it as a modern-day love story. I’m sure we’re all aware of how different romantic relationships in the 1940s were compared to current times. So I had to study that too,” says the author.
Lily also shares her emotional meeting with Omar.
“When he was telling me the story, I sensed the sadness he had felt waiting for his father who had left when he was still very young. When he shed tears, I could not help it but cry,” she says.
There’s no doubt this is a project Ahmad Izham holds dear and close to his heart.
“When I looked at Lily’s finished work, I was just amazed by how she had wonderfully enriched the story. It was an intricately beautiful piece of work adapted from the film’s manuscript,” says Ahmad Izham, who hopes that both the film and the book be well received.
“Of course, book and film are two different art forms.
“When you watch a movie, you reach the ending faster. But it may take you a little longer to finish a book. And there’s so much more, like in the details, which play in your mind,” says Ahmad Izham.