Movies & ads by Yasmin Ahmad
Yasmin Ahmad was a renowned Malaysian film director and writer who popularly pushed boundaries. She’s widely known by local and international audiences for her touching, personal, and poignant films that explore themes of love, family, and social issues.
To celebrate the filmmaker’s life, we take a look back at all of Yasmin Ahmad’s movies and advertisements, which every Malaysian should watch at least once. Don’t forget your snacks and tissues, because you will go through a rollercoaster of emotions from watching these works.
– Movies –
1. Sepet (2004)
Video credit: Singapore International Film Festival
Sepet revolves around a Chinese boy, Jason, and a Malay girl, Orked. They both come from completely different backgrounds, but friendship and love connect them – Orked is from a well-off family and lives in the city, while Jason runs a pirated DVD stall to make ends meet.
The film looks into an inter-racial relationship set in Malaysia, the struggles faced by such couples, and the flaws of each race’s culture.
Sepet has won numerous awards abroad, including the Le Grand Prix du Jury at the 27th Creteil International Women’s Film Festival in France and Best Asian Film Award at the 18th Tokyo International Film Festival.
2. Gubra (2006)
Video credit: RememberYasminAhmad
In 2006, Yasmin surprised her followers with Gubra, a sequel to Sepet that was released 2 years later.
In this film, Orked is now married to a much older guy, Arif, who she seems to enjoy a seemingly perfect marriage with – think luxurious trips abroad, a life of comfort, and all that jazz.
But things take a turn when she discovers that Arif cheated on her. To seek comfort, she reconnects with a familiar face, forming a strong bond while reminiscing about Jason through his poetry and photos.
Similar to Sepet, the film was shot in Ipoh. The peaceful neighbourhood is a reflection of Malaysia’s diverse culture, where people live together harmoniously despite their different cultural backgrounds.
3. Muallaf (2008)
Video credit: RememberYasminAhmad
One of Yasmin’s most iconic films, Muallaf created quite a stir among Malaysians when it was released.
The movie revolves around siblings Rohani and Rohana. They embark a journey for a brighter future in the face of their father’s abusive nature and their late mother’s absence. The story powerfully expresses the emotions and challenges of familial bonds – both siblings run away from their father and befriend Brian, a Catholic school teacher grappling with his own family issues.
Yasmin’s earlier films typically began with the Islamic verse, “Bismillahirahmanirrahim”, which also translates to ‘In the name of God, the most Gracious and most Merciful’. However, Muallaf stands out from her other films – it starts with the verse recited in Chinese instead.
4. Mukhsin (2006)
Video credit: RememberYasminAhmad
Mukhsin is a film that Yasmin released alongside Sepet and Gubra, to complete the story of Orked. In this movie, Yasmin takes us on a trip down memory lane, journeying back to the age of innocence and first love – it’s the kind of fuzzy love story that’ll make you giggle to yourself in your room.
Set in the small town of Sekinchan, the film introduces us to Orked, a lively and somewhat rebellious girl. Brought up speaking English, she finds herself a fish out of water among her peers. She bumps into Naswip, a boy spending his holiday with his aunt nearby.
In the film, Sharifah Amani and her two siblings were casted as the leads, hence why their chemistry on camera is amazing despite them not acting as sisters in the movie. Yasmin managed to win five awards for the movie, both local and international.
5. Rabun (2003)
Image credit: Sinema.SG
Rabun is about an elderly couple who decide to swap their city life for the village, expecting a blissful countryside retirement. The couple believe that the kampung would be an ideal place for them to settle down, unlike in the city rampant with fraud and crime.
However, their dream shatters when a relative disrupts their peaceful retreat, turning it into a nightmare. Despite the chaos, the heart of the story rests in the charming relationship between Mak Inom and Pak Atam.
Rabun is Yasmin’s directorial debut. It’s a laid-back, slow-paced movie that pays tribute to her parents, hence why the emotions were so sensitively captured. The film also celebrates multiculturalism, with a soundtrack that’s quite the mix – ranging from Thai pop hits to classic P. Ramlee ballads.
– Ads –
Watching corporate holiday ads has become a tradition for us Malaysians whenever a major festival in Malaysia rolls around. Yasmin Ahmad’s ads has found their place among the unforgettable classics that stir up waves of nostalgia and emotion – helping keep her legacy alive.
6. Tan Hong Ming (2007)
Video credit: PETRONAS
Released 17 years ago during Malaysia’s Merdeka Day celebrations, Tan Hong Ming is a wholesome video that emphasises racial unity. It features an interview with a passionate schoolboy expressing his love for his best friend, Ummi Khazriena.
In just over a minute, the ad manages to capture children’s pure view of people.
For Malaysia’s 65th Independence Day, the two all grown-up kids in the ad, Ummi Khazriena and Tan Hong Ming, reunited for another commercial to pay tribute to Yasmin Ahmad.
Despite being an internationally acclaimed filmmaker, Yasmin never aimed for awards. This was shown when her husband, Abdullah Tan Yew Leong, accepted the prestigious Cannes Gold Lion for Tan Hong Ming on her behalf in France.
7. Aku Ingin Pulang (2006)
Video credit: Melayu TV
Aku Ingin Pulang is an emotional masterpiece and a yearly heartbreaker. The story follows a recently-discharged elderly grandpa who moves from the hospital to live with his daughter and her family. Unfortunately, the family give him the cold shoulder and treat him poorly, even asking him to have dinner at a separate table because of the quirks of ageing that he exhibits.
The ad perfectly portrays the elderly community’s yearning for warmth and acceptance from their family, and is a timeless classic that never fails to bring on the tears every year.
8. Ombak Jahat (2001)
Video credit: Melayu TV
Ombak Jahat by Yasmin Ahmad tells the tale of a fisherman who is working out at sea. While he’s away, his two kids eagerly await his return. Villagers would constantly see them waiting at the shore of the beach. The simple and short ad manages to highlight the themes of hope, patience, and the strong bond between children and their fathers.
9. Janda Anak Tujuh (2003)
Video credit: Iss Channel
In contrast to Yasmin’s other ads, Janda Anak Tujuh bursts with energy and humour.
The plot is simple yet hilarious. While preparing for Raya, seven siblings forget to buy the beef, spleen, and liver that their mum had reminded them about. They proceed to wander around the village to look for the meats, only to find out that every shop has sold out of them.
We won’t spoil it too much for you, but the hilarious twist at the end has netizens still talking and laughing about it.
The upbeat music of Apa Nak Jadi playing in the background adds a unique flair to the ad, making it an enjoyable and engaging watch.
10. Becaman (2002)
Video credit: PETRONAS
Becaman is a story about an elderly man, a Beca rider, that’s determined to earn a living despite his declining health. A day before Raya, he encounters a customer who happens to be his son’s former classmate. He is emotional as it has been years since his son left home without returning even once.
After all those years, he remains hopeful and eagerly awaits his son’s return.
Towards the end, P. Ramlee’s Tunggu Sekejap plays in the background, with the bittersweet ad concluding on a specific line in the song — “jangan mengenang orang jauh”, or ‘don’t reminisce about those who are distant’.
Reminiscing movies and ads by Yasmin Ahmad
Yasmin’s movies and ads do not appear to be connected on the surface but have a common thread running through them in the form similar roles, interconnected characters, and intertwining themes. So if you enjoy any of her works, you’re likely to appreciate others in her filmography.
Her cinematic art has certainly left a mark on Malaysians. And it is no wonder, as her legacy lies in her unique, sincere, and honest expression of her personal experience as an individual and as a Malaysian.
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Cover image adapted from: IMDb, IMDb & IMDb