Sobri Anuar Draws Inspiration From Austistic Man For ‘Bahalol’

PUTRAJAYA, Oct 28 (Bernama) – Rather than relying solely on the script to capture the character of Bilal in the drama Bahalol, Sobri Anuar immersed himself deeply in the role of a young man with autism, drawing inspiration from the real-life experiences of a Chinese man who lives with the condition.

Inspired by the 40-year-old who successfully manages his own life, Sobri used him as a reference to bring authenticity to his portrayal, ultimately winning the Best Male TV Drama Actor award at the Malam Kemuncak Anugerah Seri Angkasa 2024 (ASA2024) last Saturday.

Sobri, whose full name is Mohd Sobri Anuar Mohd Tarmizi, 48, shared that the role required extensive research and reading to fully understand autism.

“Autism is usually portrayed in children, but what happens when they reach adulthood? I finally found an adult Chinese man with autism who, through his parents’ guidance, has learned to live independently. He became my inspiration for this character.

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“For this reason, early awareness of autism is crucial, as it empowers them to thrive, while parents can provide a nurturing environment to support their child’s growth,” he said at the event last Saturday.

Grateful for the achievement, Sobri Anuar expressed appreciation for the trust placed in him by Bahalol's director, Que Haidar, dedicating his win to his late father, Mohd Tarmizi, who passed away a year ago.

"I am very thankful to Que Haidar because this role was originally meant for him. I feel fortunate to have this opportunity. Alhamdulillah. This is the first awards ceremony I’ve attended in my 35-year career.

"My father was my biggest supporter, and Bahalol was the last drama he watched before he passed away.  He rarely watched my work, but he saw this one to the end, and my mother told me he cried while watching it," Sobri said.

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Sharing similar sentiments, actress Liza Othman, 63, who won the Best Female TV Drama Actress award for Bahalol, admitted she reconsidered her plans to retire after accepting Que Haidar’s offer.

"I’ve tried to step away from acting many times, but I always come back, partly because of invitations from old friends and partly due to compelling scripts. That said, I only take on roles in dramas that don’t require too much time,” Liza said.

"I wanted to quit due to exhaustion and because I had started painting, as I now own a gallery. At the same time, my siblings and I are still caring for our parents, so there isn’t much time left for acting," she said.

The Rahsia film actress described her win as particularly meaningful, as it marks her first award after nearly 40 years in the industry.

"I’m so happy. This was a small production, but everyone worked hard and gave their best. Throughout my career, I never thought about winning awards; I don’t act for recognition," she shared.

Bahalol tells the story of Bilal, a young man in his 40s with autism, who lives with his mother, Rokiah, who constantly strives to ensure her son can live independently like any typical individual.

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Directed and created by Que Haidar, and produced by Gambo TV, the drama was also awarded Best TV Drama, taking home a cash prize of RM5,000, a trophy, and a Creative Content Fund (DKK) worth RM200,000.

Que Haidar, whose real name is Tengku Iskhan Sha Tengku Haidar, 45, described his debut directorial drama as something very close to his heart.

“I conceived the idea for this drama two years before filming, inspired by my desire to act alongside actress Liza. I’ve wanted to work with her for a long time because of her remarkable talent.

“Originally, the role of Bilal was meant for me, but after meeting Sobri, I realised he was the perfect fit for the role. We ultimately decided to swap roles," Que shared. He also won the Best Supporting Actor award for a TV Drama at ASA 2024 for his performance in Lebai Sampan.

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Despite not featuring popular faces, the drama’s producer, Mohd Azrai Fahmi Mohd Zain, believed in the strength of the script and story, which aired on TV Okey in 2022.

"For any story, the foundation is a strong script. So, when given the chance, we all gave our best. Alhamdulillah. I believe in the potential of trained actors - those with acting knowledge - because they deliver valuable results with their emotional intelligence (EQ) and high discipline," he said.

Mohd Azrai Fahmi also described the DKK funding as a “lifeline” for producing more creative and enduring works.

 “Funding is the biggest challenge for producers, especially after COVID-19. When disasters strike, our industry is the first to shut down and the last to reopen. We often feel marginalised, so any financial assistance helps to ease the burden," he explained.

-- BERNAMA