RUFFEDGE singer Zain Hamid admits he is sometimes called Azlan Iskandar by fans.
No, they do not mistake him for his namesake squash player, but followers of popular sitcom Keluarga Iskandar love the goofy character he plays.
“I guess Azlan is my most memorable acting role, and it’s a compliment because I easily identify with him.
“He may be clumsy and gullible, but he wears his heart on his sleeve and is kind to his siblings, their spouses and their children.
“Best of all, he is his mother’s favourite child,” said Zain at the launch of Keluarga Iskandar The Movie at MM2 Cineplex, E-Curve, Mutiara Damansara, recently.
Veteran actress Kismah Johar, who plays the family comedy’s wise yet scheming matriarch Mak Jah, also credits it with making her a household name.
“I’ve been acting for about two decades now, and this series is my most enjoyable experience, since it’s light-hearted fun laced with timely lessons relevant to urban families,” she said.
“As for being a matriarch, my character is thoroughly modern too. She is hardly authoritarian or judgemental, and incredibly open-minded. I love Mak Jah!”
Actress Anita Baharom, 35, describes Keluarga Iskandar as a series close to her heart.
Not only does it promote family values, it also marks the debut of her 7-year-old son Iskandar Ismadi on the small screen.
“Not many mother-and-son teams are found on TV and in the cinema, and I’m honoured that Iskandar and I are part of this enjoyable family comedy,” said Anita who began her acting career 14 years ago.
Anita, who first found fame in the comedy series Dunia Baru, said her son’s character, also known as Iskandar, was Keluarga Iskandar’s narrator who always summed up each weekly episode’s lessons before the end credits emerged.
“It’s rare for a pre-teen to have a sitcom named after him, and Iskandar will always be thankful to the producers for making him a TV star.”
Anita plays Mak Jah’s eldest daughter Azura, who is a domineering wife to her unemployed husband.
Director Wan Hasliza Wan Zainuddin said Keluarga Iskandar The Movie was planned two years ago, and her company KL Motion Pictures initially attempted to raise funds with online sales of T-shirts and bags.
“We wanted to raise RM500,000, but only managed to collect RM30,000 at the end of last year. Fortunately, we had a Plan B, seeking various corporate sponsors and this worked out well,” she said.
“My business partners and I also forked out our own savings for the new film. The cast and crew have just begun filming around Johor Baru and Iskandar Puteri, and we’ll wrap up on March 15.”
Wan Hasliza, who hails from Johor Baru, conceptualised the series a decade ago to promote the attractions of Johor’s Iskandar Development Region which comprises the municipalities of Johor Baru, Iskandar Puteri, Pasir Gudang and Kulai.
“Most comedies and dramas tend to focus on the Klang Valley. Keluarga Iskandar takes a different approach, highlighting the Iskandar family that lives in Iskandar Puteri,” she said.
“The Iskandars are a typical urban family, who face similar challenges as Klang Valley folk, but they are very Johorean in culture. Their humour, habits and favourite foods are unique to their home state.”
The sitcom, which is supported by the Iskandar Regional Development Authority (IRDA), was screened on Astro Prima in 2012 and Astro Warna two years later.
It tells the story of widowed Mak Jah and her five children, all of whom are successful in their careers, but constantly competing to please her.
Both seasons of Keluarga Iskandar won Best Comedy Series in Anugerah Lawak Warna Astro.
Keluarga Iskandar The Movie is the series’ third and final chapter, which takes place five years after the events of the second season in 2014.
Besides Kismah, Zain and Anita, it stars the series’ regular actors Hilal Azman, Sobri Anuar, Hiera Hassan, Azhar Sulaiman, Iz Ilham, Khaireesya Kemal, Wan Rania Humairah, Mustaqim Mohamed and Wan Adam Danish.
Comedian Ajak of Shiro and actress Zara Zya will be making guest appearances in the new film which will be screened in September, while Raja Ema plays Azlan’s latest love interest Huzairah.
For more information on the film, visit www.keluargaiskandar.com.