LANKY funnyman Nasir “Achey” Hamzah first found fame after winning TV3 comedian search Bintang Mencari Bintang (BMB) in 2013, guided by veteran Harun Salim Bachik.
They subsequently appeared together in several comedy programmes and co-hosted their own called Kintang Kintung from 2014 to 2015.
But the partnership did not last as Harun died suddenly at age 56 in March 2015, leaving Achey devastated and “orphaned”.
Nevertheless, Segamat-born Achey, 31, soldiered on with moral support from fellow BMB graduates Fad (Fadzlie Nizam) and Abam (Syed Umar Mokhtar Syed Redzuan) of Bocik, as well as Harun’s wife Suriati Mohamad Noor and children Syafiq, Danial and Ikram.
His perseverance has paid off handsomely, and Achey is promoting his first leading role in a movie, a goal he promised Harun he would meet in five years.
Achey is the star of director Ahmad Idham Ahmad Nadzri’s horror comedy Hantu Wangan, in which he plays a racer who accidentally kills a pedestrian and is haunted by her spirit.
He admits it is a “bittersweet” reward, as Harun is no longer around to be his co-star. But Harun’s family is delighted with his achievement.
“While we were filming Hantu Wangan in October last year, I couldn’t help but think of Harun since my character seeks treatment from a psychiatrist as well as a bomoh.
“Harun played both roles in different movies — as a psychiatrist in Kil and a bomoh in Tolong, Awek Aku Pontianak,” says Achey, adding that he visits his mentor’s family regularly.
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS
Last month, Achey had two pleasant dreams about meeting Harun, and in both, the late comedian wished his protégé well, and advised him to keep up the good work.
“I ‘met’ him in Mid Valley Megamall. He liked to shop there, and so do I. He was his chirpy and jovial self, the same Harun who spent hours coaching me during BMB.”
Not long after, Achey spotted a man who bore an uncanny resemblance to Harun in the mall.
“I was with my wife at that time, and was stunned. Without hesitating, I walked closer to the stranger, but when I saw his face, I realised he was a different man.”
When he shared this experience with Harun’s sons, they told him it was a sign that their father was “with him in spirit”.
“Meeting him in spirit has invigorated me and I’m determined to complete his mission to boost Malaysian comedy standards and in finding new talents.”
One new comedian he has discovered is his younger sister Tasha Hamzah who participated in Gegar Lawak last January.
“She may not have made it to the finals but she’s got a good following since her participation in Gegar Lawak. As a girl, she was pretty shy but she’s always wanted to follow in my footsteps and I’ve coached her.”
COMEDY ON BIG AND SMALL SCREENS
Achey has invited Tasha to appear in his new comedy talk show Bocey And Friends which is screened on Astro Warna (132) at 10pm on Fridays.
This show, which began last week, is co-hosted by Achey, Abam and Fad (collectively the comedy trio Bocey). It showcases promising comedians as well as popular actors and singers.
On his character in Hantu Wangan, Achey says he is named Kintang Kintung after the talk show which he and Harun co-hosted.
“There won’t be another Kintang Kintung show now that Harun has left, so I told Ahmad Idham to bestow that name on my first film hero,” he says, adding that the character will appear in future comedy dramas directed by Ahmad Idham.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Idham says he has roped in Achey for the long-awaited sequel to Impak Maksima, Impak Maksima 2 which is likely to be screened next year.
“Achey will be a supporting actor, and like his character in Hantu Wangan, he will get to race a lot,” he says, adding that Impak Maksima stars Awal Ashaari, Cat Farish and Datuk Eizlan Yusof will reprise their roles.
“We’ll be using the same theme song, Marabahaya by Pop Shuvit, but new characters will be introduced to complement the main characters. As for the plot, it will focus on social issues confronting Malaysian youths today,” he says, adding that the film will feature better special effects than Impak Maksima.
Impak Maksima was screened in 2007 and collected RM2 million at the box office. It was also made into a musical at Istana Budaya in 2009.
Besides Achey, Hantu Wangan also stars Risteena Munim, Farish, Suffian Shafri, Zulaidil Zainal Abidin, Syanie Aida, Anis Shahfri, Ruminah Sidek and Nor Albaniah.