Aisha, Mila bring fresh life to PGL role

SHAH ALAM - After creating a phenomenon in Malaysia’s theatre scene more than 15 years ago, Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical (PGLTM) is set to return with a fresh face, featuring Aisha Retno and Mila Mohsin as Puteri Gunung Ledang, taking on the responsibility of bringing the iconic character back to life.

For Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, the producer and director of PGLTM, both actresses were selected after a careful evaluation process, with each possessing distinct strengths to portray the legendary character.

According to Tiara, Aisha Retno, whose full name is Sharifah Aisha Retno Sayed Sipulijam, 26, stood out through her vocal strength and natural ability to express emotions on stage.

"She can really sing, the moment she opens her mouth, it is captivating. Aisha has very raw emotions. Even though she is not an actress, whenever I give her direction, she delivers exceptionally well.

"We even had to ask Aisha to tone it down a little so we can save some of that emotion for the actual theatre performance later. She has also shown tremendous dedication throughout rehearsals and strong commitment in carrying the role of Puteri Gunung Ledang,” she said.

At the same time, Tiara also praised the work discipline of Mila, whose real name is Hani Karmila Hani Mohsin, describing her as hardworking, determined and mature in carrying out the responsibilities entrusted to her.

"She is incredibly hardworking in ways people do not see. I witnessed it myself and thought, wow, I really respect this girl. Although she is still young, she is very mature in both her thinking and her work, besides having grown up with this character,” she said, adding that every actor involved undergoes six months of intensive training to understand the character’s mindset, emotions and cultural background before the production begins.

Besides Aisha and Mila, PGLTM will also feature Aqasha as Hang Tuah, Yusof Hashim as Gusti Adipati and Lokman Hafiz as Sultan Mahmud Shah, while the role of Bayan will be played by Nadia Aqilah and Mimi Fly.

The Best Actress winner at the 2005 Asia-Pacific Film Festival said this latest staging retains the original storyline and iconic songs, but has been enhanced with new musical arrangements and a deeper storytelling approach.

"This experience will be more immersive, and that is what will differentiate the current production from the previous one. The storyline remains the same, the songs remain the same, but the musical arrangements are slightly different.

"We will place special emphasis on Javanese culture through a deeper exploration to ensure the production feels more authentic and soulful, God willing,” she said.

She added that 30 actors, including the supporting cast, also attended special workshops conducted by instructors from Keraton Mangkunegaran to better understand Javanese philosophy, customs and dance.

"This time, I brought people from the Keraton (Keraton Mangkunegaran) to teach all 30 cast members together. Everyone learned about Javanese philosophy and dance from individuals who actually work at Keraton Mangkunegaran in Solo, Indonesia,” she said.

Meanwhile, Tiara admitted she was surprised by the overwhelming response from fans following the cast announcement, with many closely following the production’s progress and creating creative content on social media.

She said the excitement proves that PGL still holds a special place among longtime fans while also attracting a new generation eager to discover the work.

"Right now, those who want to watch PGL are the people who watched it 17 years ago. Back then, they were students or young adults, and now they have families and children. Based on the comments I have received, they want to come and watch it again while bringing their children along,” she said.

This latest staging of Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical will be held at the Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre, which is equipped with the latest technology and has a seating capacity of about 1,200, beginning Oct 31 for a three-week run. - BERNAMA