Dear Editor,

KUDOS to KRU Capital Sdn Bhd for producing Duyung. Not only is the movie refreshing, it could also help revitalise the Malaysian film industry.

Before this, local audiences have always been served the same local fare — melancholic Malay films.

All the stories revolved around love, to the point where one couldn’t help but conclude that filmmakers in Malaysia have simply run out of ideas.

There is nothing wrong with producing love stories, but the audience needs some variety to observe things from a different perspective.

If we want to compete with moviemakers abroad, we must produce a diverse body of outstanding work so that the world will notice.

Though romantic movies attract attention, the elements must be balanced.

I believe many film devotees do not want foreign filmmakers to view our local directors as being predictable and bereft of ideas.

It is time that we prove we can produce great movies without aping others.

In the case of Duyung, films about mermaids have been made many times before, but this one is different.

It highlights the theme of friendship and at the same time, educates us to be more concerned about the environment. Although the ‘love’ theme is present to commercialise the film, there is still a balance struck.

It is important to educate the youth of today as they are impressionable.

We don’t want them becoming overexposed to themes of ‘love’ and nothing else.

It is important that we create something intellectually stimulating so that our youth can develop mature ways of thinking that can one day prove beneficial to Malaysia.

Kudos also to directors U-Wei Shaari, Yasmin Ahmad, Amir Muhammad and many more for making a difference in our filming industry. Their works stand out from the rest of the pack and they should be lauded.

To make others salute and appreciate our movies, we must produce something that can open their minds and eyes.

I have always admired Tan Sri P. Ramlee as there is no one out there today who can match the power of his works and the timelessness of his masterpieces.

My message for all Malaysian filmmakers is: be united. Sit together and produce something that can make great leaps in the Malaysian film industry.

Source: Malay Mail – March 12, 2008