I wasn't feeling well when I arrived home. It's probably due to my immune system fighting against the dormant Hepatitis B virus that was administered to me via the Hepatitis B injection I received a few days earlier. But today, alhamdulillah. it seems that my immune system is strong enough to kick and punch those viruses! I am now up and about and ready to embrace this wonderful less than a week break at home with my family!
So today, I would like to talk about a telefilm I had watched for a total of 3 times so far. It's titled 'Melur vs Rajawali'. I found this by accident on youtube when I was searching for the Late Yasmin Ahmad's Mukhsin. Mukhsin is my most favourite out of all her films and perhaps one day, I shall write a blog post about my favourite Yasmin Ahmad movies (Mukhsin, Muallaf, Talentime)!
This movie was written and directed by al-Jafree Md Yusop and released in 2015, starring Syafie Naswip and Sharifah Amani as the main characters. These two are really good actors! So you know this would be a good film even before you watched it!
Melur vs Rajawali was made for television hence not everyone knows about the existence of this telefilm.
Based on a true experience by the scriptwriter and director himself, the story revolves around Azlan (played by Syafie Naswip), a new transfer student from USA who had to start a new life in Maktab Sains Nasional, of which he befriended a number of quirky, interesting characters (Malek, Shake, Todak) from his dormitory building- Asrama Rajawali there.
On his first day there, he chanced upon a list of 10 most beautiful girls at school which makes him feel curious to know about these supposedly beautiful girls. With the help of Malek, Azlan had eventually met all the girls from the 2nd till 10th place, but he still hasn't met the person who occupied the top spot; Hanna, which is played by Sharifah Amani (who looks really cute and youthful, and very pretty in this movie!).
The List, taken from Melur vs Rajawali Facebook Page
Hanna and Azlan
There are a number of funny incidents and scenarios that happened throughout this movie, leading to the highlight of the story, whereby Malek told of his plan to trespass the girls' dormitory- Blok Melur. Hence the title Melur vs Rajawali. This later leads to undesirable consequences.
I shall not tell you more about the movie or write any spoilers as you'll have to see it by yourself. However, I'm going to tell you about my thoughts regarding this movie, after watching it for 3 times (first by myself, then with my brother and lastly with my parents, all of whom seem to enjoy watching this).
1. I love Shake's character. The tough, gangster-like guy who likes to bully others is actually a really loyal friend.
2. Azlan keeps on holding to 'Panggil aku Kartini Saja', by Pramoedya Ananta Toer throughout the movie. I haven't ready any of his works (He is a famous Indonesian writer) but I do know that he has written more than just 'Panggil aku Kartini Saja'. At one scene, Azlan was about to finish the novel, and on the next scene, it seems like he started reading it from the beginning again. Perhaps he's actually re-reading the book? Is there any specific reason for this? For if there isn't any, the director should have introduced more of Pramoedya Ananta Toer's works in this movie.
3. Shake-Shah relationship. Shake seems to be greatly annoyed and irritated by Shah throughout the movie. And he keeps on bullying Shah in hilarious ways. Shah who looked so manly and macho in appearance is actually fearful of Shake!
4. The movie setting is in the early 1980s', specifically, 1983, as evident by the Takwim Sekolah in the Principal's office. But in some scenes, you could see the year 2014 written on the notice board, LOL.
4. I love the song that is used in the beginning of this movie- 'Here Comes Your Man' by Pixies, a rock band from the 80s;. Very catchy!
5. All the characters, which includes the teachers; they are so quirky! Orang Kiri Cikgu Besar, Cikgu Besar, the Add Maths teacher, the Penyelia Asrama, the Pakcik Guard. They remind me of the characters in Japanese dramas.
6. The depiction about the life of 'Budak Asrama' shown in this movie is rather interesting, since I had never attended any boarding schools.
7. No unnecessary lawak bodoh whatsoever. Which is good!
8. I kind of have a crush on Azlan, who seems like such a nice kid, LOL. Though he had spent a part of his life in the US, he's really good in adapting with his new environment in Malaysia and in making new friends! My parents said he looks like a young Jins Shamsuddin (I was puzzled at first as in my mind, I was thinking of S. Shamsuddin, LOL).
9. Biology Form 4 Textbook that is shown in the film is the new textbook currently used in the secondary school syllabus, not the one that is supposed to be used in the 1980s. Plus, did they learn Biology and Additional Mathematics in English back then?
10. The actors and actresses keep on wearing the same clothes haha. Perhaps they shot those separate scenes on the same day.
11. I don't understand the jargons used by those boys. Cedok? What does it mean? Ambil kesempatan terhadap pelajar perempuan? What did they actually mean? Not understanding this seemingly sexual connotation made me shudder. Plus Malek seems like a pervert who keeps on thinking about girls and how to get into the girls' dormitory. I don't like Malek.
12. The present-day adult Azlan looked nothing like the smartly and neatly dressed teenager Azlan. But why? Azlan was a very smart kid at school (he scored 100% in Add. Math hahaha) so I had expected him to become someone respectable in the future, you know, someone who has a good job, dresses nicely and all. But my dad said perhaps something happened to him over the years. Someone who excelled academically at school might not end up becoming someone successful. This is a possibility.
13. The Pakcik Guard does not age a bit from the year 1980's till the present day. In fact, he looks better than the present-day Azlan. HAHA.
14. Most of all, I love the camaraderie and friendship shown by this group of friends.
15. I just wish the director could show us what actually happened to Shake and the rest. Just like the ending credits of the movie 'Goodbye Boys;. That would make it really meaningful.
I am excited to find out that there is a plan to make a sequel to this entertaining movie. They're just waiting for the sponsors to fund this movie. Hopefully, this movie will be released at the cinema!
Final thoughts: This movie might evoke memories of those who had studied in boarding schools and of those who lived in the 80s'. I don't actually feel like I was transported back to the 80s' when I watched this movie, as the characters looked so modern in appearances. But considering this film was produced with a limited budget, it is good enough for me.
I've always had a soft spot for dramas or movies about school life. I did not really enjoy my school days, to tell the truth. I was so focused on things like co-curricular, how to actually pass my Add Math papers (LOL), tuition classes and on getting straight A1s for SPM that I didn't actually enjoy the process of learning new things, having fun with my friends, actually enjoying my youth. I wasn't exposed to the great Japanese Dramas about school life.
When I watched Nobuta wo Produce, I realized how much I had been missing throughout my 5 years of secondary school. Not to say that I had a terrible time there, not really. My closest friends till now are those whom I met when we were 13, and I love the whole memories of the year 2005- Form 3, PMR year but somehow, I know I should have done more, like creating more fond memories.
Anyway, I make up for that by really enjoying my CFS and University years, juggling between my studies and my social life. 😊
And I should do the same now. When I'm old, I don't want to look back at my career years and remember only bad things about it, like, my PRP year, for example. LOL. I think I had slowly learned to let go of the bad memories of that particular year. I must keep moving forward!
Like I said in my previous post, as important as it is to let go of the past, it is also important to make good memories in the present, and possibly in the future.
Let's create more memories!
When I watched Nobuta wo Produce, I realized how much I had been missing throughout my 5 years of secondary school. Not to say that I had a terrible time there, not really. My closest friends till now are those whom I met when we were 13, and I love the whole memories of the year 2005- Form 3, PMR year but somehow, I know I should have done more, like creating more fond memories.
Anyway, I make up for that by really enjoying my CFS and University years, juggling between my studies and my social life. 😊
And I should do the same now. When I'm old, I don't want to look back at my career years and remember only bad things about it, like, my PRP year, for example. LOL. I think I had slowly learned to let go of the bad memories of that particular year. I must keep moving forward!
Like I said in my previous post, as important as it is to let go of the past, it is also important to make good memories in the present, and possibly in the future.
Let's create more memories!
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