Othman Hafsham’s Six Decades, One Last Regret

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 (Bernama) — After more than six decades of devotion to the arts, Othman Hafsham’s name has long been synonymous with a string of iconic works that remain vivid in the memories of local film fans.

Yet behind his remarkable achievements lies a lingering regret — the unfulfilled dream of working alongside the legendary Tan Sri P. Ramlee, the artiste he had admired deeply since his early days in the industry.

In a calm tone, the 85-year-old, whose full name is Othman Shamsuddin, recalled his encounters with the late P. Ramlee while serving at Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM) in the 1960s.

“At that time, the late P. Ramlee often came to RTM to meet producer Zainuddin Nordin, and my office was just next to Zainuddin’s.

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“Each time he came by, we would chat… we even discussed producing a new programme together, but sadly, that plan never materialised because he passed away,” he said.

“I was looking forward to be with him, to act with him. But I didn’t achieve it. I only achieved his friendship. But I never got to share the screen with him — and that is my biggest regret,” he said.

Othman shared this during the Appreciation Session for Film Icons held under the Tribute: Penghargaan Kepada Tokoh-tokoh Perfileman Veteran Negara programme in conjunction with the 34th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM34) at the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (FINAS) recently.

The session also featured veteran actress Ruminah Sidek and TV personality Ahmad Fedtri Yahya as moderator, and was attended by FINAS Chairman Datuk Hans Isaac.

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Since becoming active in the arts in 1962, Othman has established himself as one of Malaysia’s most influential directors through works such as Adik Manja, Mekanik, Rahsia, Ujang, Driving School, and the beloved sitcom Pi Mai Pi Mai Tang Tu.

Although often perceived as a serious person, Othman revealed that comedy has always been close to his heart, as he believes the genre can both entertain and move people emotionally.

“I’m actually a serious person, but I love comedy because I enjoy entertaining people. That’s my secret to life,” said Othman, who received his formal film education at the London Film School and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.

Contrary to popular belief, Othman holds that success in comedy does not rely merely on spontaneous humour, but requires a deep understanding of timing, body language, and the essence of the script.

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For that reason, he prefers casting actors rather than comedians in his comedy productions, believing that actors value discipline and respect the written script.

“If I cast comedians, they tend to add their own lines because they’re used to improvising. But to me, that can ruin the original structure carefully crafted by the scriptwriter,” he said.

 Among the comedic actors he most admired were the late Zami Ismail and Ahmad Busu, whom he described as disciplined theatre performers with a deep understanding of comedic structure — including intonation and dialogue delivery.

“They were very serious actors, yet when it came to comedy, they were truly funny. My role was only to guide them in shaping their characters and refining their dialogue so the humour would land effectively,” he said.

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Although he has long stepped away from the film set, Othman’s passion for storytelling remains undimmed. However, he admits that age and health have begun to limit his abilities.

“The desire is still there. My mind says yes, but my body says no. Directing requires not only physical stamina but also mental strength — and I have less of both now,” he said.

His last film, Karipap Karipap Cinta, was released more than a decade ago.

When asked whether he would consider sharing his experience as a guest lecturer, Othman said he often received offers from higher education institutions but had to decline politely.

“I won’t accept them because I no longer have the strength. Many universities have approached me, but I just don’t think I can do it anymore. Even though I love teaching, I simply can’t,” he said.

— BERNAMA