Over 200 students from the Diploma in Mass Communication and Diploma in Digital Media programmes at INTI International College Subang attended a film engagement session with the cast and production team of Mencari Ramlee. Organised by INTI’s School of Business and Communication, the session featured director and lead actor Megat Shahrizal, actors Tony Eusoff and Mimi Lana, producer Syahid Johan, and cinematographer Hafiz Rashid.
Held ahead of the film’s nationwide release, the event included a preview of the opening 10 minutes and a discussion on the production process. Mencari Ramlee follows Zakaria (played by Tony Eusoff), a struggling P. Ramlee impersonator who becomes entangled in a dangerous scheme. Tasked with convincing Zaiton, the amnesiac sister of a 1950s-obsessed gangster, that he is the late screen legend, Zakaria must maintain the act or face the consequences. The film premiered on 19 June 2025.
Students, clearly intrigued, eagerly lined up at the microphone, excited to ask questions to the Mencari Ramlee team during the engaging Q&A session.
Tony, a veteran of the Malaysian film industry, shared his unconventional start in acting. “I actually graduated with an architecture degree from University Malaya, but working as an assistant architect in Kuala Lumpur in the early 2000s was challenging, so I started exploring other ways to earn an income,” he explained. His transition from architecture to flight attendant to commercial work eventually led him into film, offering students a realistic view of how careers can shift.
The students were particularly interested to find out that their lecturer, Awang Masrin, had composed the film’s original score. As a member of the indie band Pitahati and part of INTI’s faculty, his involvement brought the project a little closer to home.
“This film is more than fiction,” said Megat Shahrizal. “It’s a tribute to the struggles of Malaysian artists, past and present. P. Ramlee was a 1950s trendsetter, and we want his legacy to inspire today’s filmmakers.”
Mimi Lana spoke about what drew her to the role of Yasmin. “I stepped into the role because there were no female film directors in Malaysia in the 70s, and Yasmin is who I wish had existed,” she said. She and the team also spoke briefly about the importance of creating space for more women to lead, both on screen and behind the camera.
Students cheered, asked questions, and reacted with genuine interest as the session moved between light moments and honest talk about the industry’s demands.
The session provided more than behind-the-scenes anecdotes. It unpacked the challenges and realities of filmmaking, offering students insight into the working mechanics of the industry, from casting and storytelling to budget constraints and creative decisions.
Megat Shahrizal, director and actor of the film, shares insights on how the cast and production team overcame challenges during the shoot despite a limited budget.