Farah stands tall on the shoulders of giants
Farah Ahmad shines in gritty roles, and is proud to walk in the shadows of her loved ones. Dennis Chua has the details
THE name Farah Ahmad was seldom heard of prior to her critically acclaimed portrayal of a nurturing Kadazan-Dusun priestess in Tombiruo , and a single mother whose family suffers a series of hauntings in Roh.
Farah’s portrayals of gritty and longstruggling women have gradually made her an actress to watch, and Roh’s good reception at international film festivals, as well as its big win in last year’s Malaysian Film Festival, have brightly shined the spotlight on her.
MODEST ABOUT SUCCESS
The Kuala Lumpur-born actress, who graduated from Kolej Tun Abdul Razak with a computer science diploma, is modest about her cinematic success, and always credits the “loves of her life” for raising her up in show business.
Farah, 45, is grateful to her late husband, director Firdaus “Pitt” Haniff, and her mother-in-law, veteran actress Fauziah Nawi, for introducing her to the big screen.
In fact, she first found fame starring in theatre productions with Fauziah as director and actress, most notably 2002’s Dari Bintang Ke Bintang, based on the play of the same name created by Datuk Dr Usman Awang.
“When people mention my name, they often link me to Pitt and Ibu (Fauziah). I’m okay with that, because they are the wind beneath my wings, as Bette Midler’s famous song goes,” she said in a recent interview.
CRASHING DOWN
Losing her husband in a boating accident in October 2019 was a cruel blow to Farah and her three daughters — Dhia, 19, Mhia, 17 and Thia, 10.
Fishing enthusiast Pitt drowned during an expedition to Kuala Lipis, Pahang, and Farah felt that her world had come crashing down as soon as she learnt about the tragic news.
“Though I was devastated to lose my best friend and soulmate, I had to stay strong for my mother-in-law and daughters,” said Farah.
“Pitt was his mum’s pride and joy, and she found it difficult to accept that he was gone, while Dhia, Mhia and Thia
lost their most jovial and sporting dad.”
SOLDIERING ON
Constant prayer, hanging out with her mother-in-law, and collaborating in dramas with her two older girls helped heal the big hole in Farah’s heart.
“By quietly ‘talking’ to him at night and reassuring him that I will soldier on and fulfil his plans, I gradually healed that emotional wound,” said Farah.
“And by chatting with Ibu Fauziah and my daughters, on and off the film sets, I helped them heal as well.”
SCENE-STEALERS
As a star with a theatre background, Farah is more at home playing long-suffering mothers, ruthless villainesses and unattractive scene-stealers than heroines and “glamour girls”.
“It’s not that I don’t like playing attractive or sophisticated women. Such characters are always in our TV dramas, so it’s best to go for roles that are the opposite,” she said, adding that there was a greater appreciation of such characters today.
“In Hollywood, the gritty roles are raking in the awards.”
BAD OVER GOOD
Farah would choose a “baddie” role over a “goody” one as “villainy sells”.
“In many films, the villains outshine the heroes and heroines. Even in Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s days we had nasty villains and villainesses such as Salleh Kamil and Mak Dara, who continue to be remembered till today.”
COMPLETE STUDIES FIRST
When asked if she encouraged Dhia and Mhia to follow in her footsteps, Farah said that she and her husband initially said “no”.
“We didn’t think that they should act until they completed their studies. But Ibu felt that we should let them since they possessed natural talent and were serious on the stage and set,” said Farah.
Farah added that Dhia’s performance as a singer and dancer in the P. Ramlee biographical film, Showtime 1958, last year impressed her, likewise Mhia’s performance as her daughter in Roh.
“If they have the talent, it’s good to make full use of it. However, they have also promised me that they would pursue university degrees and graduate with flying colours,” said Farah, adding that Dhia was now studying film in Universiti Teknologi Mara.
EFFECTIVE ACTING
Besides her mother-in-law, Farah counts her old friends with a theatre background, Shahili Abdan a.k.a. Namron, and his wife Junainah Lojong, who both played shamans in Roh, as her favourite film stars.
“I’ve learnt a lot about acting from them. They’re brilliant, humble, friendly and sharing, and I’m so glad they roped me in for Roh.”
WEATHERING STORMS
When asked about her coming film and television projects, Farah said she would star in the film Karisma Agung directed by Taza Al Jafree.
“This is a political satire that is set in the 1940s, during the struggle against the Malayan Union.”
One film Farah is looking forward to is Mat Kilau directed by award-winning Syamsul Yusof, which is based on the story of Pahang’s legendary anti-colonial warrior.
“I can’t wait for its premiere. It’s a milestone for me as it’s my first non-fiction role, I play the wife of Mat Kilau, and it’s also the first time I’m co-starring with my favourite Singaporean actor Adi Putra, who plays Mat Kilau,” said Farah.
Mat Kilau, which was completed last year, took two years to film, and most of the scenes were shot in Pahang and Perak.
“I didn’t have to learn silat, but it was great watching Adi’s martial arts moves. He is fantastic.”
ROMANTIC COMEDIES
Marking her 25 years in show business this year, Farah admitted that she was “sporting” enough to star in romantic comedies and gameshows.
“No harm in doing mainstream stuff. As an actress it is good to be a jack of all trades. Versatility and unpredictability are good,” she said.
“Even though my forte is playing women who are dark, unattractive or morally ambiguous, I never rule out girl-next-door roles because I like diversity.”
OPTIMISTIC FUTURE
Farah aims to produce or direct dramas and films someday, in the footsteps of her husband and mother-in-law.
“It’s a challenge I’m willing to take up. After all, it’s good to have more female producers and directors, and that’ll make Ibu proud of me.”
Farah is optimistic about the future of Malaysian films, particularly after some of them made great strides in international film festivals in recent years.
“The success of Namron and Bront Palarae in One Two Jaga, and Dain Said and Shaheizy Sam in Interchange, as well as Hairul Azreen and Adrian Teh in Paskal ,is proof that our films can go global,” she said.
She also advised budding artistes to branch out from Malay films into English, Chinese and Tamil ones to be accepted by moviegoers.
“Acting in films of various languages, like Ibu Fauziah does, makes you a truly Keluarga Malaysia star.”
dchua@nst.com.my