The next step for Mawi
The popular singer-actor marks his big-screen directorial debut with a ‘nameless’ homage to his favourite films, writes Dennis Chua
WHEN Asmawi “Mawi” Ani burst onto the entertainment scene 14 years ago, he fulfilled one of his three career dreams. Winning Akademi Fantasia 3 (AF3) in 2005 set him on the road to become a popular recording artiste, and four years later, he became an actor, appearing in two comedies and a thriller.
Mawi, 38, has now become a director and producer, and his big-screen directorial debut with the title Tiada Tajuk (Untitled) is now in cinemas.
“It’s a funny story about friendship, dreams and never giving up,” he said at the launch of the movie in Sogo Shopping Centre, Jalan Tuanku Abdul Rahman last month.
“And it’s got a lot to do with my life story, how I started off as a nasyid singer in school, a radio announcer and finally a reality talent show winner.”
BUDDY MOVIE
Mawi said Tiada Tajuk was largely inspired by “buddy movies” especially those made by his idol Tan Sri P. Ramlee — the Bujang
Lapok and DoReMi movie series.
“I grew up enjoying them, and still watch them repeatedly.
“But Tiada Tajuk is set in the present day and takes a jab at issues of public interest affecting young Malaysians, including myself.
“It also parodies some of our best known Malaysian movies, including those which I’ve starred in.
“As for my experience as a student-contestant in AF3, I’ve also based some characters on my teachers there, and how they scolded and guided me!”
Mawi had roped in a close friend and fellow AF winner, Hazama Azmi, as one of the main stars in Tiada Tajuk.
“The biggest irony in this film is our hairstyles. Tiada Tajuk shows me with long, wavy hair as Hazama and I have now.
“But back in my reality show days, I had a spiky, kiwifruit hairstyle which my friends called the Mawi World look.
“And in the film, Hazama’s character has it, not mine!”
Mawi said that Hazama, Raja Lawak comedian Along Cham (Nizamuddin Ahmad) and comedian Joey Daud play best friends who want to make it big in showbiz.
“They’re Johoreans or Melakans in the story, who move to Kuala Lumpur to find fame as singers and actors.
“Along the way, they encounter colourful individuals whose eccentricities both annoy and enlighten them, and make them wiser persons. I play one such person!
“The characters also get into trouble because each is naive and gullible. Even their friendship gets strained as a result.
“But at the end of the day, they are there for each other, and they support each other in achieving their dreams,” said Mawi.
SUCCESSFUL EXPANSION
Tiada Tajuk is an expansion of a 2014 Astro Ria telemovie Rock Sangkut directed by Mawi.
Hazama, 34, who won AF9 in 2011 said the supporting cast of Tiada Tajuk was starstudded.
They include veteran actor Kamarool Yusoff, Hantu Kak Limah star Ropie, Gerak
Khas’ Din Maideen, Johan As’ari, AF 2013’s Amira Othman, and singer-songwriter Faizal Tahir’s younger brother Anas Tahir.
“When Mawi invited me to star in Tiada Tajuk, I was overjoyed. I’ve always wanted to be in a film with him since we both made it big in reality shows and depended on pure talent to win our respective seasons,” said Hazama.
“Working with him, Joey and Along is a blast, because he is a director who always ‘picks our brains’ for ideas.
“Mawi is not a ‘master and commander’ on the set. He discusses the plot with us, and our feedback helps enrich it.”
Along, 36, had known Mawi prior to AF as both were radio announcers in Johor Baru before they found fame.
“Mawi is an old friend and we both auditioned for AF. He made it to the top 20 hopefuls while I didn’t.
“Later, with his encouragement, I auditioned for Raja Lawak 2 in 2008, and as part of the comedy troupe Cham, I finished second,” he said.
Along added that while Tiada Tajuk was not a musical, some of Mawi’s well-known songs were performed by the heroes in certain scenes.
These songs include Lagu Jiwa Lagu Cinta, Al Nuraa and Aduh Saliha.
“While our characters are partly based on us, we all have outrageous hairstyles that literally stand out.
“On my part, I have a giant pompadour!”
FEEL GOOD EXPERIENCE
Mawi credits Edry Abdul Halim of KRU and Syamsul Yusof with showing him the ropes in filmmaking.
“My film debut Jin Notti was produced by KRU’s Datuk Norman, Yusry and Edry while Edry directed my second film Magika.
“Edry showed me that becoming a director was not about giving orders to actors, but discussing character development with the cast and getting good feedback from them,” he said.
Ma wi also said th a tS yamsul who directed and starred in Munafik 2 last year, had a similar approach to filmmaking.
“Syamsul gave me my first serious film, Munafik 2. He has a great eye for detail and he worked extra hard to make his thriller as graphic as possible.”
If given a choice between serious dramas and comedies, Mawi would always choose comedies first.
“I’m a funnyman at heart. I may have my serious moments, but I always love humour.
“Furthermore, comedies carry universal messages and bring people together through laughter.”
Mawi hopes as many of his AF friends will catch the film.
“I haven’t kept in touch with many of them, especially those from East Malaysia, and it’ll be great to reunite and catch up with the class of 2005.
“We all had a great time learning to sing, act and dance together. We got punished and rewarded, we laughed and cried. “I’ll always treasure those moments.” Joey, 46, said while Tiada Tajuk was a comedy, Mawi did not want it to be slapstick and also insisted that everyone be serious on the set.
“We were told to tone down our jokes on location, and let our characters’ lines do the talking. Mawi wanted us to be our characters and minimise traces of our loud and crazy selves in them.”
Johan, 32, said he played a young Ustaz in Tiada Tajuk.
“My character is spiritual and humble, and he’s one of the strongest supporters of Joey, Hazama and Along on their journey.
“What I love about Tiada Tajuk is that it talks about issues facing young Malaysians in a non-judgemental way.
“Among others, the film talks about youths’ obsession with social media, their over-reliance on media celebrities, and the importance of remembering one’s roots.
“It’s a feel good story, with lots of endearing characters, whom we all can relate to.”
Tiada Tajuk was filmed in the Klang Valley, Seremban and Melaka from Jan 15 to Feb 15 last year.
It is produced by Mawi’s own production company Mawi World Entertainment, based on a three-year-old idea developed by Mawi.
The film is screened in 77 cinemas around the country, eight in Singapore and one in Brunei.