ANUGERAH PERSURATAN 2017

Anugerah Persuratan 2017 
​ Awards Presentation

28th October 2017
​Four Seasons Hotel 
Orchard Boulevard

​Shall write this down while it is still clear in my mind. On the abovementioned day, I attended the awards ceremony for Anugerah Persuratan 2017. Anugerah Persuratan is the highest level Malay Literary Award organised by the Malay Language Council of Singapore,  supported by the National Arts Council and MCCY. This year is the 13th edition of the biannual event.

Anugerah Persuratan aims to commemorate and honour individual and works that contribute to Singapore’s Malay Literary scene. Awards are offered to writings such as poems, short stories and drama scripts. 3 special awards are also given out. The Anugerah Tun Sri Lanang is the highest award conferred to outstanding individuals who has contributed significantly to the literary arts, The Anugerah Anumerta Tun Sri Lanang is conferred to individuals who have passed and the Anugerah Harapan for individuals below 40 years of age that shows promise in the scene. 
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I first sent my scripts for the previous 2015 edition. I sent 5 scripts. None of them gained any award.

For this year’s edition I sent in 4 scripts.

The (Assumed) Vicious Cycle of a (Melayu) Youth [TVCY]
Siapa Curi Tudung Neelofa
Tahyul
​Claustrophobia

These plays were written for Republic Polytechnic’s Malay drama group, Pentas Karyawan’s productions.

(Photos below are linked to facebook album)

TVCY was about 4 individuals and their rite of passage being a Malay youth. The play begins when they were born until the day they receive their newborn. The play juxtaposes randai movements that are also played using a theatre in a round concept so it fits nicely to the idea of a vicious cycle.

Siapa Curi Tudung Neelofa was a play about Neelofa opening up her Muslim apparels business. One day she realised that a box of Neelofa brand headscarves were missing. She then engaged a private investigator to look for them. A series of investigations then happened to look for the culprit. This play aims to look at the values of a headscarf worn by Malay Muslim women in Singapore though it is set in a fictitious setting.

TAHYUL was about a bunch of beings living in an uninhabited house trying to scare away potential land developers from demolishing their dwelling. Malay superstitions are explored in this play. It also juxtaposes the art form of Tari Saman into the play.

CLAUSTROPHOBIA is about 6 Malay individuals trapped in a room. They believe that they are trapped because they are Malays as they believe that other races have it easy in life. They were given questions to justify their Malayness. If they manage to answer the questions correctly, they will be allowed to leave the room. If not, the room will get smaller as time goes by. Malay poetry of syair and pantun, Malay dance and music were the highlights of this play along with monologue play.

I always like writing Malay plays. (I do write English plays too) I think they are dynamic and has much room to explore. There are cliche plays around. Successful ones too but I still believe there is so much to explore. There were hits and misses throughout my writing days all these years and I am more confident of what I am writing now.

I am pleasantly surprised that after many years of writing, one of my play actually wins an award

TVCY was announced as the best drama (theatre) script for 2017 Anugerah Persuratan. I am even pleasantly surprised and happy when I found out that the top 2 fight for the award is also another script of mine, “Siapa Curi Tudung Neelofa”. This is particularly exciting as the other plays in competition are all written by more senior and well known writers.

Though it may just be another event for others, it is a big thing for me. I have been looking forward for some kind of recognition and I am being very honest about this. Many times I was told that art works come from the heart and for the art. You don’t do it for awards and recognition or even monetary rewards. 

Yes that is true to a certain extent. But I too have bills to pay, ambitions to achieve. I need to eat too. Currently the scene (I won’t call it the industry) is very competitive. Every job openings require a diploma or degree in theatre which I do not have. Or they will ask for awards won which I have none too. Until today. This is a real problem. I am very honest about it that this is something I really need.

I would like to express my gratitude most definitely to Republic Polytechnic, The Republic Cultural Centre who has been supporting me and Pentas Karyawan in our effort to justify and present good quality Malay drama. Thank you Adviser Nipuna Perera and TRCC Staff Ganesh Kalyanam, Kavitha Krishnan, Zaini Tahir, Jeremy Leow, Florence, Liwern, Terence, Adilla, Debra for their support in creating these plays. TRCC Technical staff Mr Hassan, Mr Rahmat, Wan, Yan, Han, Lan for all their support in helping us staging the plays. 

I can’t say thank you enough to all of them. RP has given me the platform and support for my art works. Best thing is, there are no copyright issues and my scripts are still mine.

I can’t choose for anything better and I really look forward to more years in RP. On my part, the award definitely showed me that I am going the right path. I will continue writing better works for RP definitely and others if you need my service. 

Oooh and I also hope, more people will come and watch my plays after this, especially Pentas Karyawan’s performances. 

Please do like our facebook pages for updates on our activities

Anwar Hadi Ramli
https://www.facebook.com/anwarhadiramli/

RP Pentas Karyawan
https://www.facebook.com/pentaskaryawan/

​Thank you.