Datuk Norman Abdul Halim is stepping into the director's chair for the first time with the upcoming animated feature, Zan Orangutan.
The KRU Entertainment co-founder has produced more than 20 films over the years, including Cicak-Man movies, 29 Februari, Ribbit, Wheely and Magika. For his directorial debut, Norman said he wanted to work with actors whom he personally admires and respects.
Among them is actor Sathiya Periasamy, best known for playing Ravi in the popular 1990s sitcom Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu. Norman previously worked with him on Cicak-Man 3.
“Sathiya was chosen because we wanted to highlight characters from different ethnic backgrounds. In the previous Wheely film, we incorporated a Chinese dialect. This time, for Zan Orangutan, I wanted to showcase an Indian dialect through the character Roti.
“For me, Sathiya was the only person who was truly suitable for the role,” Norman told a Malay media.
Sathiya, 62, faced a major health scare earlier this year. In March, he was hospitalised after experiencing dizziness, vomiting and yellowing of the eyes. Reports said doctors later discovered a severe bacterial infection, resulting in the amputation of his left leg above the knee.
During a recent visit to Sathiya's home, Norman found the actor in good spirits despite having spent six months recovering from the surgery.
Speaking about his role, Sathiya described Roti as an unusual character.
“He is a small monkey, so I had to adjust my voice accordingly.
“He is a friend of Zan Orangutan, but whether he's good or bad, you have to watch the movie to find out.”
Zan Orangutan is expected to arrive in cinemas either later this year or early next year.
