High school hijinks
In a new drama series, singer-songwriter Daiyan Trisha leads a bunch of students who cheat in their exams. Behind their errant ways, however, are touching backstories, writes Dennis Chua
SECONDARYschooldaysarehardly boring times, with students capable of all sorts of pranks including cheating in examinations. Directors Razaisyam Rashid and Anwari Ashraf, in their latest project on Astro, explore the misadventures of a group of students in the eight-episode comedy-drama series Projek: Anchor SPM.
Premiering on Monday over Astro Citra (108 HD and 128 SD), the cast is headed by singer-songwriter and Busker star Daiyan Trisha and Oh My English! lead Aedy Ashraf.
The series also features Sabahan singer Chubb-E, newcomers Shasha Abedul and Nadhir Nasar, and veterans Adlin Aman Ramlie, Hasnul Rahmat, Susan Lankester and Tony Eusoff.
ELITE BOARDING SCHOOL
In a recent interview, Anwari said Projek: Anchor SPM was his “longtime idea, a secondary school story specially for young viewers”.
“I took my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia examination back in 2006 while at a boarding school. There was a rumoured leak then in some subjects but thank goodness, it was untrue.
“A story involving students and their hijinks makes good entertainment and will appeal to young viewers.
“Better yet, I’ve set it in 2003, the year I entered secondary school,” he said.
Anwari, the screenwriter of action movie Paskal, added that none of the characters were based on real people.
“Even the secondary school is fictitious. The story is set in Sekolah Tengku Isa Anuar or STIA, an elite boarding school in Tanah Rata, Cameron Highlands. The man after whom it is named does not exist. I even designed the school logo!”
Anwari and Razaisyam, who filmed Projek: Anchor SPM in Tanah Rata and Kuala Lumpur last year, went out of their way to create backstories for the main characters.
“They are not two-dimensional villains. Young viewers will easily relate to them and what they are going through in this comingof-age story.”
PENS AND PAPER
Razaisyam, who directed the horror films Pusaka and Sembilan, said filming was done shortly after the first Movement Control Order ended.
He described the students in the film as complex characters with no clear-cut heroes or villains.
“While the students cheat in the examination, they have their reasons for doing so, including family problems, peer pressure or issues with certain teachers,” he said.
The series is also set in the past so that young parents can share with their children how they experienced school life in the 2000s.
“Social media was in its infancy then. Students still communicated with each other using pen and paper, plus lots of secret codes,” said Razaisyam.
The series also paid tribute to famous local and Hollywood films by incorporating certain dialogue and through parody.
“In one scene, the students recite a famous poem from the late Robin Williams movie Dead Poets’ Society.
“I included it to encourage young viewers to watch that great film, where Williams played an English teacher who was unorthodox but inspirational to his students,” said Razaisyam.
TAILOR-MADE CHARACTER
Daiyan, who plays the protagonist Aaidaa Zubir, said her character is the school’s “it girl”, a high achiever who is admired and envied.
“Aaidaa seems to have everything but is actually lonely and unhappy. Her father always pressures her to score straight As and as a result, she spends most of her time studying and hardly socialises with her peers,” she said.
Describing Aaidaa as a “girl-next-door” who is good at hiding her problems, Daiyan said the character was tailor-made for her.
“I strongly identify with Aaidaa and her problems though I’m no straight-A student,” she said.
ALPHA MALE AND HALF-SISTERS
Aedy, who plays the male lead Aizat Abdullah, said playing his character was more challenging than Shafiq in Oh My English!
“Aizat may be the school’s alpha male but he also has a secret and has a disciplinary problem,” said Aedy.
Shasha, who is making her debut in a drama series, said her character Jaja is an under-achiever.
“Jaja is Aaidaa’s half-sister. While they are close, Jaja struggles with her studies and always gets on Aaidaa’s nerves.”
YIN AND YANG
Chubb-E, whose real name is Muhammad Sharul Aslyn Awang Ashrul Affandy, plays Aizat’s best friend Botol.
“Unlike the hot-headed Aizat, Botol is cool and calm. He is often the peacemaker whenever his pal gets into trouble.
“Aizat and Botol are like the yin and yang of each other. Where Aizat is aggressive, Botol is passive. Where Aizat is reserved, Botol is talkative.”
SERIOUS TO A FAULT
Popular actor Adlin who plays STIA’s nononsense headmaster Awang, described his character as “super-strict”.
“He’s your typical Cikgu Garang. The role suits me because I do look kind of fierce!” he said.
But there is another side to Awang which his students were not aware of, though eventually they come to realise why he is “nasty” towards them.
“Teachers who are the most cruel are actually the kindest,” said Adlin.
CHEATING DOES NOT PAY
Astro Shaw and Nusantara head Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said Projek: Anchor SPM is a comedy-drama with conflicts and crises involving secondary students.
“It takes a nostalgic look at the best years of our life. It touches on issues which teenagers face then and now. These include parental and peer pressure, the lack of communication between teachers and students, and the challenges of hostel life.”
Raja Jastina added that the series brings home the message that “cheating does not pay” and that “honesty is the best policy”.
She revealed that Daiyan contributed a song, Beban Dunia, for the series’ soundtrack while Chubb-E who performed the theme song Bintang.
“Projek: Anchor SPM is part of our Astro Originals brand. We hope to produce more original stories that focus on young Malaysians and the important lessons they learn in and out of classrooms.”