Ironing out details: First-time director Jumaatun Azmi and C.L. Hor, who is directing his first Malay feature, on the set of Haq The Movie.

KASEHDIA, a communication and consulting company, is known for creating and organising the World Halal Forum (WHF) but its founder and managing director Jumaatun Azmi, a 33-year-old mother-of-three, is now spreading her wings as a film producer and director. Her feature film debut, Haq The Movie, is set to hit Malaysian cinemas next year. The movie stars Nanu Baharudin, Zul Huzaimy, Adi Putra, Raja Farah and Fatimah Abu Bakar.

Members of the media were treated to snippets of the film and a brief behind-the-scenes look durIng a recent press conference at Carcosa Seri Negara in Kuala Lumpur. Haq is an action film concerning the struggle between good and evil. Haq (Zul) and Bad (Adi) are gifted with special powers. Bad, who was adopted by Haq’s family, has a deep-seated hatred for Haq. He uses his powers to tarnish Haq’s good name. Haq, however, refrains from using his powers to stop Bad until he finds himself cornered by the latter. Who will survive this crucial battle? Well, you’ll have to wait until the film hits the big screen.

Actress Nanu Baharudin is a co-producer for the movie.

The film features martial arts sequences in the battles between Haq and Bad and for that reason, film director C.L. Hor (Kinta) was brought in as co-director. The film also marks the first time Nanu, the star of such films as Congkak, Cinta and Waris Jari Hantu, served as a co-producer. “I believe in partnerships,” said director Jumaatun, before adding, “which is why I picked the best people to do the job. And when I met C.L. Hor for the first time, we clicked instantly. I know my limitations because this is the first time I’m making a film so I decided to surround myself with the right people.”

Working on a Malay film was an opportunity Hor did not want to miss. “This is the first time I’ve worked on a Malay film and it’s a big honour for me. I hope (my involvement) will introduce a new dimension to the film and Malay films in general. So I’m looking forward to working on the next Malay movie,” he said. The cost of making the film stands at RM2.5mil and is in the final stages of post-production. The film started principle photography in February this year and took a month to shoot. The film sees heavy use of CGI, which is why it took 10 months to complete. “It was nerve-wracking,” said Jumaatun candidly. “I didn’t sleep much.”

So what spurred her to become a film director and producer? “I started a communications and consultancy company which values Islamic philosophy and I believe film is a powerful and influential medium. A film has to be entertaining and put across a good message. There are Islamic values in my movie but it’s done very subtly,” she noted.

Raja Farah

Jumaatun revealed that she would like her film to hit the cinemas by the first half of next year (April, presumably) if possible. The first time director, who has no background in filmmaking, knows the risks involved in movie-making but is determined to make her mark. “Haq is my film school. It’s a RM2.5mil film school,” she said. “It is a risky business but it’s a stepping stone for me and I want to keep on doing it.”

Profil Berkaitan

 Fatimah Abu Bakar    Nanu    Zul Huzaimy     Raja Farah    Adyputra    Congkak    Cinta    Waris Jari Hantu