The late filmmaker Datuk Jamil Sulong
was known for his earnestness and compassion, writes Faridul Anwar Farinordin
“TIADA kata secantik bahasa, untuk ku puji adinda.”
(“There are no words beautiful enough to sing the praises of you, my dear”): The first line from Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s song Tiada Kata Secantik Bahasa (with lyrics by Datuk Jamil Sulong) captures the warmth, kindness, earnestness and compassion that many remembered Jamil for.
Jamil died of a stroke last Thursday at 88. He was buried at the Janda Baik Muslim Burial Ground in Bentong, Pahang last Friday. Affectionately known as Pak Jamil, he is survived by his wife, actress/director Datuk Rosnani Jamil (better known as Mak Nani) and four children Murniaty, Arjunaidi, Anwardi and Asnadi.
The legendary film-director, screenwriter, lyricist and writer was known for his poetic words in songs that speak of love, sacrifice and devotion such as Engkau Laksana Bulan, Merak Kayangan, Azizah and Berkorban Apa Saja.
A song without lyrics is like a flower void of its colours, he was quoted in the 2008 book (published by National Film Development Corporation or Finas) Tiada Kata Secantik Bahasa. It features 153 song lyrics from Jamil, including those originally released in films by Shaw Brothers in Singapore during the 1950s and 1960s.
Jamil made close to 30 films in different genres including the legendary epic Raja Bersiong (1968), comedy Tuan Badul (1979), historical drama Jasmin (1984) and Sumpah Mahsuri (1989) as well as Malay folklore, Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup (1959) and Dayang Senandong (1965).
He turned the pages of the popular novel Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan (as a director and screenwriter) into a poignant 1983 film that took home an award (Best Rural Story) at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in 1983. The heart-wrenching movie stars Datuk Sarimah Ahmad and Datuk Ahmad Mahmud as poverty-stricken paddy farmers Jeha and Lahuma respectively, with their seven girls.
Born in Parit Sulong, Batu Pahat in Aug 6, 1926, Jamil was appointed as director at Malay Film Productions in Singapore in 1958 and made his directorial debut Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup, based on a popular Malay folklore, a year later. He also wrote the screenplay for his last directorial work Raja Melewar, released in 1998.
EXEMPLARY CONDUCT
When contacted by New Straits Times, Sarimah said she remembers Jamil as a man with exemplary conduct. “I had known him for so many years and he conducted himself around people with great kindness and humility. He selected his words carefully and never hurt a single soul,” she said.
Recalling her experience filming Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan (which she co-produced together with Tan Sri Kamarul Ariffin), she said: “Filming that movie was so challenging due to the subject of poverty in the story. We had to work long hours and he had to put up with so many things but he was always calm.”
There were times when Jamil seemed exasperated during filming. “I could see that he was angry but he never raised his voice. Instead, he smiled and approached it in a gentle manner,” said Sarimah, adding that Jamil was “like a brother to me”.
As a director, Jamil was a man who was always willing to compromise. “He displayed great leadership during filming that was inspiring for the cast and crew. Looking at the way he handled things, we were determined to give our best despite the difficulties we faced,” she said.
One particular scene stood out. “It was raining that day while filming the scene in Baling, Kedah. As Jeha, I was required to walk barefoot in the paddy field. The moment I stepped in the watery paddy patch, leeches were coming at me. God only knows how frightened I was. I prayed so hard and I looked at him for mental strength and emotional support. It really helped me pull that scene together,” she said.
FATHER FIGURE
Actress Datin Marlia Musa, who was only 13 during the filming of Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan, remembers Jamil as a loving and compassionate man.
“He was like a father figure to me and other child actresses,” said Marlia, who refers to the director as “Uncle Jamil”.
“Filming took almost two months and I was missing home. I had no family members around during filming. Naturally, I looked up to Uncle Jamil as a father figure, my pillar of strength. He was soft-spoken, kind, loving and never raised his voice during the entire time we were there,” she said, adding that Jamil treated the cast members equally.
“He had just as much faith in the older cast members as much as the young ones. He treated everybody with respect and never criticised our performance. He would give his ideas when you seek his advice,” she said.
She recalled filming a night scene in the jungle. “It was so dark and scary. To calm my nerves, he would say funny things,” she said, adding that she would always go to Jamil first when she had problems.
“Being in a film set for such a long time, it was inevitable for the cast members to get involved in some personal squabbles. I would go to him and tried to get him to be on my side. He would smile and say ‘tak ada apa lah...’ (don’t worry about anything). He put an end to it quite effectively,” she said.
Marlia also remembers Jamil as a patient man. “There was a scene with Lahuma (played by the late Datuk Ahmad Mahmud) and his deteriorating foot which, at this stage of the story, was already infested with maggots (Lahuma accidentally stepped on a thorn which broke and was lodged in his foot).
“Make-up took hours to prepare the foot. Call time was 9am but we only managed to shoot after lunch time. Throughout the process, Uncle Jamil was calm. He never raised his voice or showed signs of stress,” she said.
KIND MAN
Also starring in Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan was Melissa Saila, who was 9 during filming.
“I remember Uncle Jamil for his kindness,” she said, adding that she had known Jamil before making the movie.
“I used to follow my mum (actress Mariani) on film shoots where I met Uncle Jamil. He was the same kind and gentle person I had known since I was a child,” she said.
Melissa remembers Jamil as a passionate and dedicated filmmaker. “Thinking back, making Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan was not easy. There were days when he had to endure long hours under the hot sun, for example. On top of that, he had to put up with a group of children,” she said.
One particular scene still haunted Melissa. “The crew put real leeches on our legs. I was so scared that I cried but Uncle Jamil made it all better. I can’t remember what he said but I knew we (the young cast members) all felt better after that,” she says, adding that another scene that left her squeamish involved the maggots that fed on Lahuma’s wounded foot.
“Uncle Jamil was always friendly. Although he was firm during filming, he was always gentle in his approach. Everybody liked working with him,” she said.
TEACHER AND MENTOR
Actor, director, screenwriter and producer Aziz M. Osman said Jamil was his teacher and mentor in filmmaking. “I wouldn’t be where I am today without his guidance and inspiration,” said Aziz, who played the lead role in the 1976 drama Sayang Anakku Sayang, directed by Jamil.
“From hundreds of people who attended the audition for the lead role in the movie, Uncle Jamil picked me. I am forever thankful to Uncle Jamil for paving the way for me to get into the industry,” says Aziz who first saw Jamil’s movie, the epic film, Raja Bersiong (1968), when he was 6.
Praising Jamil’s body of work for its cinematic excellence, he said: “Raja Bersiong was the first colour film by a Malay director. His other films such as Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan, Si Tanggang and Lela Manja were rich in cultural and artistic beauty, with such story-telling finesse. If we talked about authentic Malay films, Pak Jamil’s works were way up there.”
Aziz remembers Jamil for his tact and great diplomacy, especially with child actors.
“He was very gentle, kind and inspiring. He made me feel so comfortable in front of the camera that it was easy to look up to him and see him as my own father,” said Aziz whose performance in Sayang Anakku Sayang won him the Best Child Actor award at the 22nd Asia Film Festival in Seoul, South Korea.
“Under his direction and guidance, we had seen great performances from the late child actor, Bat Latiff, in Batu Belah Batu Bertangkup and Lela Manja. He also got the best out of his child actors in his movies Ranjau Sepanjang Jalan and Kecil Kecil Cili Padi (1995),” he said.