Cover The all-star cast of Melur the Musical
The all-star cast of Melur the Musical
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Tatler speaks to Shafeeq Shajahan, founder of Liver and Lung, and cast members Kai Chalmers and Mila Mohsin on 'Melur the Musical', a theatrical treat for both musical and horror fans
The vampire is a creature feature classic in popular culture.
From the jiang shi (僵尸; a hopping reanimated corpse) in Chinese folklore, the jubokko (树木子; a blood-sucking tree) in Japanese legend, the manannanggal (a mythical vampiric creature that severs its upper body to fly at night and feasts on mainly pregnant women and their unborn child) in the Philippines, to of course, Dracula, which was introduced into popular culture by author Bram Stoker in Europe.
Related: Editor’s Pick—favourite horror movie characters
In Malaysia, the pontianak (or kuntilanak in Indonesian folklore) is described as a woman of otherworldly beauty with long black hair and red eyes wearing a white dress smeared with blood. A vengeful spirit who died during childbirth, or at the hands of men, the pontianak takes on a ghoulish or bestial form with sharp talons for nails and grotesquely elongated teeth when feasting on her prey. Believed to only appear under the full moon, legends say that one can detect its presence with these indicators:
- The sudden cry of an infant, or feminine laughter where no one else is present
- A floral fragrance of frangipanni flowers, followed by the stench of a decaying corpse
There are many local superstitions said to keep the pontianak at bay; for instance, never leave your laundry outside overnight to prevent the monster from smelling your laundry and locating you. Other have also warned against wandering near banana trees at night as they are said to be where her spirit resides.
Read more: Netflix and Thrill—5 Most Watched Horror Films in Southeast Asia
The poster for the 1957 film, 'Pontianak', directed by Balakrishna Narayana Rao (Image: Cathay-Keris Film Productions/National Archives Singapore)
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For Shafeeq Shajahan, founder of Liver and Lung Productions, the pontianak is so much more than a scary story. He attempts to bring this to light through a new musical called Melur the Musical, which he wrote and directed. Starring Tria Aziz, Kai Chalmers, Mila Mohsin and Anwar Rusdini, the musical will be staged at the Petaling Jaya Performance Arts Centre from February 16-26.
Set during the Malayan Emergency in the 1950s, it depicts the lives of Melur (played by Tria) and Cempaka (Mila), two women who married men whose beliefs and alliances are directly opposed with each other at a time fraught with violence and fear. A tale of tragedy, romance, and horror, Tatler gets an inside scoop on Melur the Musical's Pontianak different from popular culture.
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Tria Aziz, a three-time BOH Cameronian recipient, plays Melur
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Before we get to the juicy details about Melur the Musical, tell us about the most unsettling horror movie or book you've ever come across.
Mila Mohsin (MM): Hereditary! The imagery was so vivid—even when I close my eyes, I would see glimpses of it. Another unforgettable one is an Indonesian production called Pengabdi Setan starring Bront Palarae because of how visually gorgeous it was. For books, Fever Dream by Samantha Schweblin is amazing. It's a dystopian novel that had me up at night and made my skin crawl.
Kai Chalmers (KC): For me, it would have to be Radio PTSD by Masaki Nakayama and God's Child by Nishioka Kyoudai, which are two mangas that are pretty disturbing. Nakayama's story about creating Radio PTSD was weirdly unsettling because whenever he tried to finish the story, strange things would happen to him; for instance, his jaw would suddenly swell, or his assistants would quit on him and never be heard from ever again.
Shafeeq Shajahan (SS): It's the Babadook for me—I love horror that examines the human condition.
ICYMI: Bront Palarae on acting, awards and an adventure in the jungles of Borneo
Above The pontianak in 'Melur the Musical' (Image: courtesy of Liver and Lung Productions)
The pontianak in 'Melur the Musical' (Image: courtesy of Liver and Lung Productions)
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Why did you choose the pontianak as the muse for your upcoming musical?
SS: Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam (2004) is such an iconic film. It is a considerable part of the Malaysian cultural zeitgeist, and who can forget that incredible song? There is something so special about Southeast Asian horror that I have always wanted to explore further. I tend to reject the idea that feminism, as a civil rights concept, is Western-conceived.
I see the pontianak as a proto-feminist symbol. I believe there’s something quite telling about the legend’s focus on women who have died in childbirth and motherhood and I believe it’s a reflection of the cultural anxieties surrounding women’s fertility and maternal roles.
So how does the pontianak here differ from the one that know?
SS: Melur The Musical isn't just a horror story. It’s a haunting retelling of our country’s history and the complexities that our ancestors had to suffer during the Malayan Emergency. Set in Colonial Malaya, it’s as haunting as it is tragic, as romantic as it is political, as educational as it is moving.
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Above Kai Chalmers and Mila Mohsin as Sir Wilson and Cempaka
Kai Chalmers and Mila Mohsin as Sir Wilson and Cempaka
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Kai, you play Sir Wilson, the British High Commissioner. Is it safe to say that he's the antagonist in the musical?
KC: Yes! And playing an antagonist is extremely fun, in the sense that you get to explore the trope of being a villain. The important thing to remember is that he is not a two-dimensional character. At the core, he is human, and his motivations aren't always black and white. This makes it interesting and challenging for me as an actor because you get to try different approaches to the character, just to see what happens.
Mila, this is your debut in a local theatre production. What is it like playing her?
MM: When Shafeeq approached me about Cempaka, I fell in love with her instantly because I felt like I identified with her in many ways. I don't want to give away too much, but while Cempaka is a very driven character who is witty, fun and bright-eyed, there's an unexpected cunning to her. Everything she says has a purpose, and the words she uses have weight to them. [As an actor], you draw inspiration from the people around you whenever you get into character. I know many women whose personalities are similar to Cempaka's or are in her position in life. And in a way, there's a personal stake as well because her character tells the story about the small sacrifices that women make that go unacknowledged.
Read more: Help us find the people championing the progress of women for our first Front & Female Awards
Above The cast of 'Melur the Musical'
The cast of 'Melur the Musical'
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This production was six years in the making. Has anything changed since then?
SS: Other than having evolved as a theatre-maker over the past six years, Melur the Musical has also changed alongside me. Originally, the show was just 20-minutes long and was part of a bigger anthology. It initially had a very black-and-white view on how Malaysians—particularly women—experienced colonisation. This time, we present a more nuanced view on colonisation. Now, Melur the Musical is bigger, scarier and way more ambitious. I’ve never put something like this on stage before! What's more, we have a huge surprise for you because what we're about to do with the second act is going to be game-changing. I wish I could tell you more!
To avoid further spoilers, what are some words you can use to describe the musical?
KC: Come ready!
SS: Sequins.
M: Dangerous.
Lastly, any exciting projects down the pipeline?
SS: I made a promise to my two beautiful nieces to create a children's musical. I'm thinking of doing something about Sang Kancil for 2024.
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For tickets, go to onetix.com.my/events/melur-the-musical/127. For more information, visit Liver and Lung's official website.
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Photography: Daniel Adams
Usually found at home and one with her couch, Koy Yi would either crack open a good book or game in her spare time to wind down after a long day. She also loves to scour art conventions and book fairs alike when she's able, collecting art books of all regions to gain inspiration for her own illustrations. With a keen interest in people and the stories they tell, she enjoys a good talk and a good laugh (preferably over food). Follow her on her Instagram @peiyi57.
