'Malam Takdir' opera draws inspiration from Mahabharata's story of sacred duty


Hilyati Ramli plays the blind king in the opera 'Malam Takdir', inspired by the 'Mahabharata'. This production is a new opera in Bahasa Melayu by Johan Othman. It will be presented with English surtitles. Photo: Eric Chow

It starts with a song – the voice of the soprano echoes through with a bright vocal timbre. She sings of poison and the universe as actors gather behind her. They begin to breathe in unison; every inhalation is weighted, deep.

Every move is intentionally choreographed to allude to a struggle, a groaning and the impending birth of war and grief.

Play, subscribe and stand a chance to win prizes worth over RM39,000! T&C applies.

Monthly Plan

RM 13.90/month

RM 11.12/month

Billed as RM 11.12 for the 1st month, RM 13.90 thereafter.

Best Value

Annual Plan

RM 12.33/month

RM 9.87/month

Billed as RM 118.40 for the 1st year, RM 148 thereafter.

Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Next In Culture

In Ireland, a unique income scheme offers creative communities a lifeline
Author Heather Morris returns to WWII with 'The Piano Teacher of Montparnasse'
Frida Kahlo works to return home to Mexico in 2028 following upset
'The Fault in Our Stars' author John Green is writing his first novel for adults
Archaeologists forced by Middle East war to cut short Iraq digs
Director Lin-Manuel Miranda will make musical ‘Octet’ into movie
The old-guard thinking behind New Museum’s expansion in New York
Weekend for the arts: Alya Hatta exhibition, 'Architecture Of Devotion' collection
Exploring the many dualities of Art Basel Hong Kong 2026
In Mumbai, an iconic Indian painting sells for record US$17.9mil

Others Also Read