TRADITIONAL performing arts should always be kept alive for future generations. A telemovie based on that theme will air tomorrow on TV1 at 10.30am.
Titled Transmisi Kampung, the drama is about a tok dalang (shadow puppet master) who struggles to keep the traditional art form alive.
Featuring artistes such as Namron, Mohd. Kamarulbahri, Nurul Fateha, Kian Yap and Jayden Sow, the telemovie is directed by Imri.
Set in the early 1970s, Pak Din, a tok dalang apprentice, is chided by his father-in-law for altering the traditional art form. So Pak Din moves to another village and continues to practise his “altered form” of wayang kulit.
His daughter, Zaiton, takes a liking to his performance. Although he has dared to transform wayang kulit, Pak Din still believes that women should not be tok dalang. He keeps reminding Zaiton that she can watch but should not aspire to be a tok dalang.
However, when Ah Lim instals a television set in his coffee shop, the villagers begin to lose interest in shadow plays and spend more time at the coffee shop instead.
Angry and disappointed, Pak Din quarrels with Ah Lim and even tries to destroy the TV set.
Meanwhile, a TV documentary producer comes to the village, looking for cultural arts materials. The meeting delights Pak Din and his musician troupe, since this is a chance to appear on TV.
As time passes by, Zaiton grows up to be an educator who teaches the traditional art form of shadow play to others.
Viewers can also catch Transmisi Kampung via the online portal Myklik (myklik.rtm.gov.my).
The programme can also be viewed via the RTM mobile app, which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play.