Give Talented New Actors A Chance, Not Just Those Who Are Popular – Qi Razali

By Marfika Adnan Haris Fadzilah

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 (Bernama) -- Local film directors and producers should be bolder in giving opportunities to actors who possess qualities such as honesty, discipline and passion, instead of relying solely on popularity.

Actor Qi Razali, 48, whose real name is Qushairi Mohammed Razali, said it is time to give opportunities to new talents who bring freshness and authenticity to every film they work in, rather than continuing to depend only on established stars.

“Don’t be afraid to work with actors who are genuine, hardworking and disciplined. It doesn’t always have to be the popular ones because what makes them popular is often the right film and script,” he told reporters after being named Best Actor at the 34th Malaysia Film Festival (FFM34) for his performance in ‘Babah’ on Saturday.

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Commenting on his win, Qi described it as an unexpected blessing and a meaningful recognition for the entire production team.

Although he did not set any expectations, Qi said he believed that the honesty in portraying a heartfelt father–child relationship was the strength of the film.

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The other nominees for the Best Actor award were Aeril Zafrel (‘Laknat’), Beto Kusyairy (‘Reversi’), Sharnaaz Ahmad (‘Blood Brothers: Bara Naga’) and Tony Eusoff (‘Mencari Ramlee’).

To prepare for his role as a deaf father, Qi took sign language classes for three weeks and trained on set with instructors to better understand the communication methods of the hearing-impaired community.

“The role was challenging because I had to communicate without using my voice, while conveying the emotions of a father who has lost his child. I only did two takes for that emotional scene and trusted the director’s vision for the rest,” he said.

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Meanwhile, rising star Sweet Qismina regarded her first win as Best Actress at FFM34 (for the film ‘Babah’) as an unexpected blessing and dedicated it to her mother, who has supported her throughout her artistic journey.

“I never imagined this. My journey is still long, and there’s so much more for me to learn. This victory isn’t just mine... it’s for my mama,” she said.

Sweet Qismina, whose full name is Farhanna Qismina Supandi, said her win was not only a recognition of her acting but also a tribute to the collective effort of the production team in bringing to life her character named Maya, a patient battling Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) who faces both physical and emotional challenges.

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To portray the role authentically, she had to lose weight within a month and learn sign language to achieve a more realistic performance.

“Maya’s character was very challenging but deeply personal to me because ‘Babah’ is what I used to call my late father,” she said tearfully.

Despite her win, Sweet Qismina remained humble and expressed admiration for her fellow nominees, including Nabila Huda, describing her as one of Malaysia’s finest actresses.

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“I watched all the nominated films not to judge, but to learn. Their performances were exceptional, so when my name was announced, I was truly shocked,” she said.

Sweet Qismina triumphed over Khatijah Tan (‘Jangan Pandang Belakang 2: Aku Tahu Asal Usulmu’), Maya Karin (‘Telaga Suriram’), Nabila Huda (‘Telaga Suriram’) and Sofia Jane (‘Mencari Ramlee’).

‘Babah’, meanwhile, took home trophies for Best Screenplay and Best Original Story, and Most Promising Director for Mohd Shah Faizul Ibrahim.

-- BERNAMA