NIANG re (nyonya) is the latest buzzword among drama fans in China following the premiere of a television series featuring stories of the Peranakan community.
“Do you know about niang re?” a Chinese friend asked me several weeks ago.
I was surprised by his question because although I knew the series recently aired on China Central Television (CCTV), I did not expect it to capture a large audience within a short period.
“I have been following it from the beginning.
“The food looks yummy and the costumes are beautiful,” my friend said.
The drama – Xiao Niang Re (The Little Nyonya) – is a remake of Singapore’s Mandarin series of the same name produced by MediaCorp in 2008.
Helmed by Chinese director Guo Jingyu with support from his Singaporean counterparts Chia Meng Yang and Wong Kuang Yong, it premiered on June 28.
The 45-episode drama, which was shot in Malaysia and China, also aired on two other Chinese streaming platforms.
It tells the story of a complex and rich Peranakan circle in Melaka and the struggle of an orphan nyonya.
The girl, named Yue Niang, suffered in silence while being abused and bullied by her relatives.
Although it featured many unknown artistes, the drama is gaining popularity and recorded an increase in viewership from 0.664% on June 28 to 1.591% on July 13, making it the third top programme on national TV.
But its rating on the Douban social network site was not impressive at all.
The China production only gained 5.1 out of 10 points and the low rating, according to netizens, was the slow pace and what they claimed was bad acting.
Some viewers said the story was unrealistic and that the personality of the lead female role was too good to be true.
Well, what did they expect?
The story’s background was set in the 1930s when women had no social status and in the story the little nyonya’s mother ran away from home to marry a Japanese photographer.
Netizens have compared the adaptation with the original version and felt that the previous one was too good to be surpassed.
If some felt the story was lame, many viewers were attracted to the culture, costumes and nyonya cuisine shown in the series.
Training consultant Guo Guodong was craving for nyonya food after watching the drama.
“I switched on the TV one day and the drama was on air.
“It was the part about one dying woman telling her next of kin that she wanted to eat nyonya food one last time before leaving the world.
“And I was like wow, this is a superb idea to promote food,” he added.
Guo said the scene triggered his craving for nyonya food.
The 50-year-old, who has been to Malaysia, is not a stranger to the Peranakan culture.
“I learned about it during my holiday in Malaysia and I am amazed how the Chinese culture was incorporated and turned into this wonderful style,” he added.
Guo planned to dine at the Nyonya Kitchen – a Malaysian restaurant in Beijing – soon and he was not the only one lured there by the drama.
Located at a shopping mall, those who walk into the restaurant are easily attracted to a huge portrait of a nyonya, dressed in traditional costume, on the wall decorated with colourful tiles of Peranakan patterns.
James Ong, a Malaysian restaurateur who runs the place, said some 15% of his current customers came after watching The Little Nyonya.
He also downloaded the TV series and played it at the premises as a gimmick to attract passers-by.
“They asked me to recommend some dishes for them and said they enjoyed watching the drama.
“Some also requested that I introduce more Peranakan culture,” he pointed out.
Asked if the customers knew if the restaurant was more of a place that serves Malaysian food instead of just nyonya dishes, he cheekily smiled and said “No.”
But of course, Peranakan cuisine such as pie tee, lobak, achar, as well as an assortment of kuih, were on the menu too.
Riding on the popularity of the baba and nyonya craze, Ong said he would launch more dishes of the Straits settlements soon to meet demand.
“Do you know about niang re?” a Chinese friend asked me several weeks ago.
I was surprised by his question because although I knew the series recently aired on China Central Television (CCTV), I did not expect it to capture a large audience within a short period.
“I have been following it from the beginning.
“The food looks yummy and the costumes are beautiful,” my friend said.
The drama – Xiao Niang Re (The Little Nyonya) – is a remake of Singapore’s Mandarin series of the same name produced by MediaCorp in 2008.
Helmed by Chinese director Guo Jingyu with support from his Singaporean counterparts Chia Meng Yang and Wong Kuang Yong, it premiered on June 28.
The 45-episode drama, which was shot in Malaysia and China, also aired on two other Chinese streaming platforms.
It tells the story of a complex and rich Peranakan circle in Melaka and the struggle of an orphan nyonya.
The girl, named Yue Niang, suffered in silence while being abused and bullied by her relatives.
Although it featured many unknown artistes, the drama is gaining popularity and recorded an increase in viewership from 0.664% on June 28 to 1.591% on July 13, making it the third top programme on national TV.
But its rating on the Douban social network site was not impressive at all.
The China production only gained 5.1 out of 10 points and the low rating, according to netizens, was the slow pace and what they claimed was bad acting.
Some viewers said the story was unrealistic and that the personality of the lead female role was too good to be true.
Well, what did they expect?
The story’s background was set in the 1930s when women had no social status and in the story the little nyonya’s mother ran away from home to marry a Japanese photographer.
Netizens have compared the adaptation with the original version and felt that the previous one was too good to be surpassed.
If some felt the story was lame, many viewers were attracted to the culture, costumes and nyonya cuisine shown in the series.
Training consultant Guo Guodong was craving for nyonya food after watching the drama.
“I switched on the TV one day and the drama was on air.
“It was the part about one dying woman telling her next of kin that she wanted to eat nyonya food one last time before leaving the world.
“And I was like wow, this is a superb idea to promote food,” he added.
Guo said the scene triggered his craving for nyonya food.
The 50-year-old, who has been to Malaysia, is not a stranger to the Peranakan culture.
“I learned about it during my holiday in Malaysia and I am amazed how the Chinese culture was incorporated and turned into this wonderful style,” he added.
Guo planned to dine at the Nyonya Kitchen – a Malaysian restaurant in Beijing – soon and he was not the only one lured there by the drama.
Located at a shopping mall, those who walk into the restaurant are easily attracted to a huge portrait of a nyonya, dressed in traditional costume, on the wall decorated with colourful tiles of Peranakan patterns.
James Ong, a Malaysian restaurateur who runs the place, said some 15% of his current customers came after watching The Little Nyonya.
He also downloaded the TV series and played it at the premises as a gimmick to attract passers-by.
“They asked me to recommend some dishes for them and said they enjoyed watching the drama.
“Some also requested that I introduce more Peranakan culture,” he pointed out.
Asked if the customers knew if the restaurant was more of a place that serves Malaysian food instead of just nyonya dishes, he cheekily smiled and said “No.”
But of course, Peranakan cuisine such as pie tee, lobak, achar, as well as an assortment of kuih, were on the menu too.
Riding on the popularity of the baba and nyonya craze, Ong said he would launch more dishes of the Straits settlements soon to meet demand.
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