The Wayang Kulit Takes To The Universe

By Mohd Fakri Awang Lah and Muhammad Ashraf Syafiq Mazlan TUMPAT (Kelantan, Malaysia), Oct 2 (Bernama) -- At the Wayang Kulit (shadow play) screen, for the first time space age characters - Sangkala Vedah (Darth Vader), Perantau Langit (Skywalker), Tuan Puteri Leia (Princess Leia Organa) and Si P Long (C-3PO) are to appear. These characters from the highly successful 'Star Wars' film series for once ended the shadow play's long standing domination of the mythical characters - Hanuman, Sri Rama, Sita Dewi, Maharaja Rawana and Laksamana - from the Indian epic of Ramayana. And this shadow play version of the sci-fi movie is made possible thanks to the foresight and efforts of animation firm owner Chuo Yuan Ping, 40, and renowned shadow play performer from Malaysia's east coast state of Kelantan, Muhammad Dain Othman, 61. Wayang Kulit, is a Malay shadow play art form using hand-crafted leather puppets with the story-telling accompanied by the traditional Gamelan orchestra. Chuo, who is also affectionately known as Tintoy told Bernama; "The idea is to give a fresh outlook for 'wayang kulit' by combining the traditional puppet show with modern elements to attract the young. ANIMATED CHARACTERS Pushing the boundaries of this highly conservative artform is never easy, yet Chuo and Muhammad Dain went on to combine the new and traditional elements without changing the character of the art form itself. On his attempt to transfer the sci-fi movie characters from the silver screen to shadow play, Chuo said he received help from two friends, an animation designer and a printing firm owner to design and print the characters in two dimension. "But problems arose in printing the characters in 2D format as there is no expertise in coming out with these puppets made from cow hide like done in the original shadow play. "However, a friend agreed to help out by printing both characters using plastic sheets at his factory but each puppet took some five hours to make," he said, adding that both characters received rave reviews from animation enthusiasts. Due to this warm response, Chuo voiced out his intention to the Official Star Wars Malaysia Fan Club. He later went to Tourism Malaysia's office in Kuala Lumpur to make some research on the art of shadow play before approaching Pak Dain (Muhammad Dain) for advice. WORK OF ARTISTS The undertaking took off with both holding regular discussions and finally they decided on the title 'Peperangan Bintang: Harapan Baharu', which is the Malay translation of the title of the latest Star Wars series - 'Star Wars: A New Hope'. They also created several of the characters, the storyline and the background music for the shadow play version of the sci-fi movie. The puppets were made from dried cow or goat hide while the accompanying music was from the combined sounds of the traditional drums and flutes. To date Chuo and Muhamad Dain have managed to create five characters -- Sangkala Vedah (Darth Vader), Perantau Langit (Skywalker), Tuan Puteri Leia (Princess Leia Organa), Si P Long (C-3PO), Hulubalang Empayar (Storm Troopers) as well as 'Kapal Angkasa Pemusnah Bintang (Star Destroyer Space Ship), with the duration of the shadow play is expected to take up some two hours. Muhammad Dain noted that bringing Star Wars into Wayang Kulit does not in anyway compromise the dominant elements in the traditional show. The play is to be recorded and the first 15-minute preview of the play will be staged at the Global Nusantara Entrepreneur Network on Oct 9 in Kuala Lumpur. In Malaysia, there are four types of shadow play - Wayang Kulit Melayu, Wayang Kulit Gedek, Wayang Kulit Purwa or Wayang Kulit Jawa and Wayang Kulit Kelantan or Wayang Kulit Siam. All four are unique to Peninsula. Nevertheless, the wayang kulit is being shunned by the younger generation, especially Gen Y, and it is hoped that Chuo and Pak Dain will take the shadow play into the digital format to win over the young and ensure the perpetuity of this traditional art form. --BERNAMA