100 Years Of Malaysian Cinema traces history of filming industry

The exhibition is taking place at the National Museum, Kuala Lumpur until July 23.

JMM Exhibition and Development Division curator Juhazniza Musa said the exhibition was aimed at elevating the dignity and celebrating Malaysian film history that rose from its humble beginning in the early 1930s.

"This exhibition introduces the history of films in Malaysia from various aspects including the introduction of film cameras in Malaya in the early 1920s, the publication of the first silent feature film to the development of the exhibition and publishing industry.

"It also touches on the use of film technology, figures or individuals involved such as directors, producers, artistes from various races, blockbuster films including those that are considered evergreen and accepted by audiences through the ages," she told Bernama.

According to her, about 109 items related to local cinema are on display including the director's chair belonging to the late Tan Sri P Ramlee, film production equipment from the 1940s, various types of trophies won in the Asian Film Festival, movie posters from the 1980s to 1990s, various types of costumes as well as items from the personal collection of the late Datuk Aziz Sattar, the late Datuk Jamil Sulong and actress Datuk Rosnani Jamil.

She said JMM also borrowed display items from the collection of various agencies including the National Archives of Malaysia, the National Film Development Corporation (Finas), the World Cultural Organisation, SIAR (local streaming services of local films), and individual owners.

She said the department was highly committed to preserving and conserving national collections in line with its function as a curator of the country's history, cultural and natural heritage.

She called on the public to visit the exhibition and learn about the history of the country's film industry from its black-and-white era to its modernisation and digitalisation as well as experience an up, close and personal moment with rare and exclusive film-related collections that are on display.

At the same time, Juhazniza said the exhibition also aimed at encouraging the public to appreciate the cultural arts of various races, ethnicities and religions in this country.

Meanwhile, Rosnani or more affectionately known as Mak Nani, 87, said she hoped that such exhibitions can be improved in the future by also focusing on all film legacies.

"I saw that none of the pictures or items belonging to actors from the 1940s era such as Kasmah Booty, Datuk S Roomai Noor and Siput Sarawak who were among the first batch of artistes involved in the country's film industry in this country are on display.

"This is history. This exhibition is good but there is still room for improvement," she said.

Producer and director, Datuk Yusof Haslam, 69, said such an exhibition should be hosted every decade to provide more information to the new generation about the country's film history.