Talentime

Talentime
Directed by Yasmin Ahmad
Produced by Ahmad Puad Onah
Written by Yasmin Ahmad
Starring Mahesh Jugal Kishor
Pamela Chong
Ida Nerina
Adibah Noor
Jaclyn Victor
Music by Pete Teo
Cinematography Keong Low
Edited by Raja Affandy
Affandi Jamaludin
Production
company
Grand Brilliance
Distributed by Cathay-Keris Films
Grand Brilliance
Release dates
  • 25 March 2009 (2009-03-25) (Hong Kong)
  • 26 March 2009 (2009-03-26) (Malaysia)
Running time
 120 minutes
Country Malaysia
Language English, Malay, Cantonese, Mandarin, Tamil, Hindi
Budget RM 1.3 million
Box office RM 420,000

Talentime is a 2009 Malaysian drama film written and directed by Yasmin Ahmad. Yasmin, in her blog, has described it "as a story full of joy and pain, hope and despair, a host of beautifully-written songs, and rich, rich characters". A Hindu open cremation and a scene reminiscent of the 2001 Kampung Medan riots are included in the film.[1]

The film was released on 26 March 2009 in Malaysia and marks Yasmin's last feature film prior to her death on 25 July 2009.[2]

Plot

"A music teacher, who is herself a great performer is organising an inter-school talentime. Through the days of auditions, rehearsals and preparations, running up to the big day of the contest, the characters get embroiled in a world of heightened emotions - ambition, jealousy, human comedy, romance, heartbreak - all of which culminate in a day of great music and performances. Yasmin also mentioned that the idea behind Talentime was that as humans, we have to go through a lot of pain and some measure of suffering before we can reach greater heights.[3]

A talent search competition has matched two hearts - that of Melur, a Malay-mixed girl and an Indian male student, Mahesh. Melur, with her melodious voice, singing whilst playing the piano is one of the seven finalists of the Talentime competition of her school organised by Cikgu Adibah. Likewise Hafiz, enthralling with his vocalist talent while playing the guitar, dividing his time between school and mother, who is hospitalised for brain tumor.

It all started after Mahesh, amongst the students assigned to get the finalists to school for practice, delivered the notice of successful audition to Melur's house. His handsome looks attracted the girl. Early on of their relationship, tragedy struck Mahesh's family when his uncle Ganesh who had been the care-taker of the family since the loss of Mahesh's father, was stabbed to death on his wedding day. Melur thinking that Mahesh's silence was due to his grief over the tragedy became furious when she was continuously ignored. She regretted it however after Hafiz revealed Mahesh's situation.

That changed Melur's perception of Mahesh. Likewise Mahesh, who grew comfortable with the presence of the girl who often quotes beautiful poetry. Mahesh, realising that the relationship will be opposed, kept it hidden from his mother, still grieving over the death of Ganesh. Alas, the secret was exposed and Mahesh was assaulted before Melur's very eyes. Just a day before the competition, is Melur resilient enough to sing the poetic lyrics of her song when her heart is tormented by the thoughts of Mahesh? What about Mahesh who has found his first love? On Talentime night, everything unfolds.

Cast

Sharifah Amani was supposed to be cast as Melur in the film. However, due to clash of schedules, she was replaced by Pamela Chong.[4] She did, however, play a role as the 3rd Assistant Director for the film. This would probably mark the first time that Sharifah Amani has played a behind-the-scene role in Yasmin Ahmad's films.

Music

Film score by Pete Teo. Songs include:

Original soundtrack album released by Universal Music includes Malay language versions of many of the principal songs in the film including 'Pergi' [I Go], Angel and Itulah Dirimu [Just One Boy]. The song "Ore Piya" was taken from the Bollywood movie, Aaja Nachle. Available online and in shops all over Malaysia.

Screening

As in all of Yasmin's previous works, Talentime opens with the Islamic verse Bismillahirahmanirrahim (In the name of God, the most Gracious and most Merciful). Like Muallaf, the verse is displayed in a script different from Arabic in Talentime, i.e. in Tamil - பிஸ்மில்லாஹிர்ரஹ்மானிர்ரஹீம்

Awards and nominations

22nd Malaysian Film Festival
23rd Song Champion Awards of Malaysia

References

  1. ↑ Yasmin Ahmad (26 March 2008). "So now they've met.". The Storyteller.
  2. ↑ Anwar Farinordin (5 August 2009). "COVER STORY: TALENT TIME". NST Online.
  3. ↑ Yasmin Ahmad (15 October 2007). ""Talentime". My new film in the making.". The Storyteller.
  4. ↑ Yasmin Ahmad (15 June 2008). "Who will play the lead girl in "Talentime"?". The Storyteller.

External links

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