Yem Jaafar

A period drama with Malay symbolisms, myth and folklore, the title Chuchu Datok Merah points to the mental image Malays have of themselves as descendants of Hang Tuah, the legendary Malay warrior of Malacca. Awang Janggut is very much a pseudo-warrior. Instead of a “keris”, a warrior’s weapon, he owns a prize-winning rooster. His battlefield is the cock fight arena. Home is a big but empty house inherited from his ancestor, and prefers living in poverty to working. The closest he comes to the high life of a warrior is when a rich businessman employs him as a bodyguard after he prevents hooligans from taunting the latter’s daughter Siti. Despite knowing Awang is married, Siti continues to flirt with him, causing him to leave his pregnant wife alone. She eventually falls sick and has a miscarriage. The film is a social criticism of people who rest on their laurels and ancestry instead of working for themselves. It is also one of the finest examples of the anti-hero in Malay cinema.

A period drama with Malay symbolisms, myth and folklore, the title Chuchu Datok Merah points to the mental image Malays have of themselves as descendants of Hang Tuah, the legendary Malay warrior of Malacca. Awang Janggut is very much a pseudo-warrior. Instead of a “keris”, a warrior’s weapon, he owns a prize-winning rooster. His battlefield is the cock fight arena. Home is a big but empty house inherited from his ancestor, and prefers living in poverty to working. The closest he comes to the high life of a warrior is when a rich businessman employs him as a bodyguard after he prevents hooligans from taunting the latter’s daughter Siti. Despite knowing Awang is married, Siti continues to flirt with him, causing him to leave his pregnant wife alone. She eventually falls sick and has a miscarriage. The film is a social criticism of people who rest on their laurels and ancestry instead of working for themselves. It is also one of the finest examples of the anti-hero in Malay cinema.

It tells the story about the adventures of Taj and his friend Mubarak in search of the Bakawali Flower to cure the eyes of the King who suddenly went blind when he saw Taj's face. He went through many trials and temptations during the adventure including from a charismatic witch (Princess Jenuh Hati). Finally he met the Bakawali Flower which can only be found in the forbidden garden belonging to Princess Saharazad which is strictly controlled by the fierce Jinn