Sultan attends preview of ‘1957, Hati Malaya’

KUALA LUMPUR: It was a right royal event last night at the Carcosa Seri Negara, complete with red carpet glitz and a “who's who” in entertainment in attendance. 

The Royal Showcase Gala evening, attended by the Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, was dedicated to a sneak preview of the movie 1957, Hati Malaya – a cinematic local interpretation of how Malaya gained independence from the British. He is the film's royal patron. 

The movie, created in memory of Tunku Abdul Rahman and other heroes of Merdeka, will hit the big screens in October.  

The movie cast members – Maya Karin, Rusdi Ramli, Adlin Aman Ramli, Sharifah Amani, Kavita Sidhu, Ida Nerina, Kamarulzaman Taib and Douglas Lim – later cut a cake with Sultan Sharafuddin in an early celebration of the movie's release and in honour of the coming 50th Merdeka celebrations.  

Royal interest: Sultan Sharafuddin looking at the posters of the movie with Maya Karin(left) and film director Shuhaimi Baba (on Sultan Sharafuddin’s left) in Kuala Lumpur lastnight.

The movie depicts four young Malaysians assigned to do a picture book of '1957'. Along the way, they are immersed in the characters and emotional moments, at the same time identifying with and finding meaning in the struggle for Independence.  

Maya Karin, who portrays dual roles in the movie, said she had a much deeper appreciation of Merdeka since joining the cast.  

Sharifah Amani said the movie allowed her to understand “the people who gave us freedom”.  

Also present were Tunku's children Tunku Ahmad Nerang and Tunku Khatijah, former Deputy Prime Minister Tun Dr Ismail Abdul Rahman's son Tawfik, Tun Tan Cheng Lock's granddaughters Siok Choo and Siok Lee, and former MIC president Tun V.T. Sambanthan's daughter Deva Kunjari.