It’s team Mamat, Mawi for Ropie
Comedian Ropie tells Dennis Chua that working with Mamat Khalid and Mawi has truly challenged him
FOR years, funnyman Zahid Tajuddin has been known to fans as Ropie Cecupak, as a result of being part of a popular comedy troupe established by TV3. The troupe Cecupak which also included Ucop (Zaidi Mahmud) and Pian (Rafik Rahman) was formed in the mid-1990s by comedians who participated in the talent search Sinaran Pasport Kegemilangan, and lasted for a decade.
Today, Ropie is less associated with his former troupe, and more with director Mamat Khalid’s 2018 blockbuster horror comedy Hantu Kak Limah, which is one of Malaysia’s top-selling films.
In fact, the 51-year-old comedian from Kuala Kangsar, Perak (where the characters of Hantu Kak Limah live) was a showstealer, despite playing a mere supporting character, Nayan, an attendant at his village’s community clinic.
“It all boils down to one obscure advertisement jingle which I forgot, but re-discovered with a little help and coaching from Mamat,” said Ropie at the recent filming of Hari Raya comedy special Jawatankuasa
Kampung Kalut (JKK) Raya at Sri Pentas 2, Plaza Alam Sentral, Shah Alam.
That jingle was from an early 1980s television advertisement for the now defunct fruit drink brand Joy, and its catchy lyrics which Ropie sang in a scene from the film went “Joy oren, Joy epal, mangga dan jambu batu” (“Joy orange, Joy apple, mango and guava”).
“I do remember enjoying that brand of fruit juice when I was a schoolboy, but barely remembered the jingle. All that changed when Mamat showed me a YouTube video of that advertisement, and urged me to memorise and sing it.”
A singer in his own right, Ropie promptly mastered the jingle, and having helped Hantu Kak Limah rake in a whopping RM37 million at the box office with the rest of the cast, he is today known as the Joy Man to movie-goers.
“From time to time, youngsters meet me in supermarkets, cineplexes and grocery shops, and ask me to sing the Joy song. I readily oblige, for it’s a sweet and pleasant bit of my childhood which I ‘lost and found’.”
UNPREDICTABLE MAMAT
Mamat’s ability to unearth “gems from the past” and his “gold mine of knowledge” pertaining to Malaysian culture, has fascinated Ropie, and convinced him that he ought to be part of Team Mamat when it comes to filmmaking.
“Mamat is one of the most adventurous directors I’ve worked with. He does not look at things from a conventional viewpoint, and loves thinking out of the box.
“Even though his stories are rooted in contemporary culture, he soaks them in a universe of retro-pop culture to create masterpieces that are as Malay and Malaysian as it gets,” said Ropie, adding that Mamat was also open-minded and enjoyed “picking his brains”.
Ropie admits that Mamat can be “scary” on the set, even warning him not to crack jokes and laugh while filming pivotal scenes.
“He is serious as a director, just like a silat master training his students. But once shooting is wrapped up, he’s jovial and full of jokes, just like me.”
All these years, Ropie has played a typical sidekick who “loves clowning around”.
“My characters thus far have been mostly loud, motormouthed, bossy or domineering, but sometimes these tend to be repetitive or recycled,” he said.
“But when Mamat is around, you’ll never know what you’ll get on the set of your next film. From rehearsing an obscure jingle, to dressing up like ‘rock kapak’ stars of the 1980s, it’s so unpredictable, but great fun!”
A SERIOUS CHALLENGE
Another director Ropie has “fallen in love” with is Asmawi ‘Mawi’ Ani, whom he voted for in Akademi Fantasia 3 in 2005. He recently starred in Mawi’s directorial debut in a feature film, Tiada Tajuk.
“Mawi invited me to star in this comingof-age film which is loosely based on his life story. And he didn’t want me to be a funny man, but a very serious one,” he said.
“In fact, my character Imam Zahid is a total break from the norm. He is a sifu, friend and father figure to the three protagonists, played by Hazama, Along Cham and Joey Daud, and coaches them in singing nasyid.”
Ropie admits that it was “rather challenging” playing a serious person, for he was often easy-going while Mawi was just like Mamat on the set of his film.
“He did not want any of us to laugh and crack jokes, and insisted that we be in character as soon as we showed up for work daily.”
Ropie is glad that the late legends of comedy, Datuk Aziz Sattar and Zami Ismail, gave him a few useful tips on how to “get serious” on the set.
“Putting on a slightly grouchy, grumpy or angry face does the trick. You will soon get yourself into serious mode, and your work will be a lot easier.”
MORE PROJECTS
Ropie has since played a second serious character in the coming film Busut Bonang directed by Khalid Nadzri.
“We shot it two months ago and it is likely to be out early next year. My character is minor but significant, a wise old man who advises the protagonist on how to defeat the supernatural threat he faces.”
Playing serious characters, he said, was a good way of making himself more “visible” in television and film.
“If you are funny all the time, viewers may think you are ‘just another sidekick’ in films and sitcoms, and as a result they will take you for granted.
“However, if you play the occasional serious man, especially one who dies tragically in protecting and saving the hero, viewers will finally take notice of you, and want more,” said Ropie.
Ropie’s next project with Mamat is Zombi Kampung Pisang — The Series which will be completed after Hari Raya and screened on Astro Ria.
“I’ll still be playing Nayan, but there are many new characters here, and they are just as crazy and funny as the original cast,” he said.
“I’m also going to star in another Mamat film next year, and my co-star is Datuk Awie, my Zombi Kampung Pisang and Hantu Kak Limah protagonist.”