Nasi Lemak 2.0
Encyclopedia
Nasi Lemak 2.0is a film by Namewee
. The film had a low budget, since the government did not provide funding. Wee spent nearly a year applying for loans. As the National Film Company did not endorse the script, Wee was determined to meet the Prime Minister of Malaysia
, Najib Razak and stressed the movie effort was for the sake of the promotion of the 1Malaysia
spirit which was initiated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia
. Production took about 2 months including post-editing. It was handed to the National Censorship Board for the final nod and his film finally aired on September 8, 2011 in 60 cinemas throughout Malaysia. In an interview with AFP
, Co-producer Fred Chong said that the movie made more than RM1.5 million during the first four days of release.
announced that he was going to film a movie in a short media event. Since then, he filmed the whole progress of applying for the funds from the government to film the movie. After countless unsuccessful attempts, he vowed to meet the Prime Minister of Malaysia
. However, without any support from the government, he filmed the whole movie himself with a low budget and requested the government censorship board to approve the movie. On 26 June 2011, he announced that the movie will be in theatres on 8 September the same year. Soon after that, the official movie trailer was released on his official YouTube channel and it was premiered at Melbourne
on 31 August, which is also Malaysia's National Day.
The film's executive producer Fred Chong also said that the movie had the full support of the Minister from Prime Minister's office, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who had issued an official letter endorsing it as a "1 Malaysia film". However, there were people protesting about the film and its maker. He wrote on his Facebook page about being worried that the film will probably get banned in the country.
) struggles to get his restaurant business going. The reason his restaurants rarely gets customers is because he cannot adapt to the "localized" cooking his patrons are looking for. However, contradicting his unpopular cuisine, he is also well-known as "Hero Huang" in the local neighborhood where he carries out good deeds in helping the community (e.g: Filming videos and putting them on his Youtube account.) until he met Xiao K (played by Karen Kong
) who asked for his help. Xiao K's father, owner of a famous chinese restaurant, is fighting with her aunt for the ownership of the restaurant. After some complicated discussions, they decided to hold a contest to see who can cook the best chinese dish. Desperate to get his life and the restaurant business back on track, Chef Huang decided to help Xiao K. Huang seeks help from a mysterious hawker stall lady (played by Adibah Noor
), who summons him to embark on an extraordinary journey of his life. During this self-enlightening experience, he will also meet many "local heroes" each lending their support to help him re-discover his roots and the real hidden message of "Nasi Lemak".
Since its screening there has only been one protest against the movie, this protest took place in Ipoh by a group called Pertubuhan Gagasan Rakyat Didahulukan Negeri Perak. They protested outside the cinema and wanted the movie to be dropped from the cinema .So far, cinema operators have been unnerved by these groups
Nasi Lemak 2.0 is not without controversy. One of the strongest remark so far is from an article which was written by Fauziah Arof dated 21 September 2011 condemning Namewee's attitude on insulting the national anthem NEGARAKU
, Islam and Malay race as a whole. Namewee respond to this by scolding the author of the article through his YouTube channel. He cited that the author had passed an unfair judgement on his movie without looking at it has a whole and for not understanding what the underlying meaning of the movie was and also what the movie was meant to achieve which was unity throughout all the races in Malaysia .Namewee pleaded to the media to present an unbiased view of his movie to the public. Namewee’s YouTube response has angered many, many are pushing for Utusan Malaysia to lodge an official police report against him, till this day no such report has been made.
Nasi Lemak 2.0 has been a huge hit in Malaysia, fans of the movie and of Namewee himself have been reported to have watched the movie till up to 3 times a day. Fans have started campaigns through social network sites encouraging the public to watch the movie, the results of these campaigns have been successful The movie also has many musical numbers within it, these musical numbers have become very popular amongst youngsters in Malaysia as they can relate to the songs well.
The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia
(Finas) has declared that the movie is not entitled to a 20% tax rebate under its new incentive for local films because it did not qualify for mandatory screening status.
Wee Meng Chee
Wee Meng Chee or Namewee; is a Malaysian Chinese of Hainanese descent. He is fondly and widely known under his alias nickname Namewee, a bilingual pun on his Mandarin name , which sounds like the Mandarin term for name .Wee gained popularity after releasing a controversial song fused with the...
. The film had a low budget, since the government did not provide funding. Wee spent nearly a year applying for loans. As the National Film Company did not endorse the script, Wee was determined to meet the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
, Najib Razak and stressed the movie effort was for the sake of the promotion of the 1Malaysia
1Malaysia
1Malaysia is an on-going programme designed by Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Tun Razak on September 16, 2010, calling for the cabinet, government agencies, and civil servants to more strongly emphasize ethnic harmony, national unity, and efficient governance....
spirit which was initiated by the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
. Production took about 2 months including post-editing. It was handed to the National Censorship Board for the final nod and his film finally aired on September 8, 2011 in 60 cinemas throughout Malaysia. In an interview with AFP
Agence France-Presse
Agence France-Presse is a French news agency, the oldest one in the world, and one of the three largest with Associated Press and Reuters. It is also the largest French news agency. Currently, its CEO is Emmanuel Hoog and its news director Philippe Massonnet...
, Co-producer Fred Chong said that the movie made more than RM1.5 million during the first four days of release.
History
On 17 March 2010, NameweeWee Meng Chee
Wee Meng Chee or Namewee; is a Malaysian Chinese of Hainanese descent. He is fondly and widely known under his alias nickname Namewee, a bilingual pun on his Mandarin name , which sounds like the Mandarin term for name .Wee gained popularity after releasing a controversial song fused with the...
announced that he was going to film a movie in a short media event. Since then, he filmed the whole progress of applying for the funds from the government to film the movie. After countless unsuccessful attempts, he vowed to meet the Prime Minister of Malaysia
Prime Minister of Malaysia
The Prime Minister of Malaysia is the indirectly elected head of government of Malaysia. He is officially appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong, the head of state, who in HM's judgment is likely to command the confidence of the majority of the members of that House of Representatives , the...
. However, without any support from the government, he filmed the whole movie himself with a low budget and requested the government censorship board to approve the movie. On 26 June 2011, he announced that the movie will be in theatres on 8 September the same year. Soon after that, the official movie trailer was released on his official YouTube channel and it was premiered at Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
on 31 August, which is also Malaysia's National Day.
The film's executive producer Fred Chong also said that the movie had the full support of the Minister from Prime Minister's office, Datuk Seri Nazri Aziz, who had issued an official letter endorsing it as a "1 Malaysia film". However, there were people protesting about the film and its maker. He wrote on his Facebook page about being worried that the film will probably get banned in the country.
Plot
A young chef, Huang Da Xia (played by NameweeWee Meng Chee
Wee Meng Chee or Namewee; is a Malaysian Chinese of Hainanese descent. He is fondly and widely known under his alias nickname Namewee, a bilingual pun on his Mandarin name , which sounds like the Mandarin term for name .Wee gained popularity after releasing a controversial song fused with the...
) struggles to get his restaurant business going. The reason his restaurants rarely gets customers is because he cannot adapt to the "localized" cooking his patrons are looking for. However, contradicting his unpopular cuisine, he is also well-known as "Hero Huang" in the local neighborhood where he carries out good deeds in helping the community (e.g: Filming videos and putting them on his Youtube account.) until he met Xiao K (played by Karen Kong
Karen Kong
-Biography:Karen Kong is from Labuan Island, Malaysia. She was a student of S.M St Anne, Labuan, S.M.K Labuan, Tunku Abdul Rahman College and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. She was a participant in Malaysian Idol in 2004, but she was eliminated in the first round.Kong's debut single was launched...
) who asked for his help. Xiao K's father, owner of a famous chinese restaurant, is fighting with her aunt for the ownership of the restaurant. After some complicated discussions, they decided to hold a contest to see who can cook the best chinese dish. Desperate to get his life and the restaurant business back on track, Chef Huang decided to help Xiao K. Huang seeks help from a mysterious hawker stall lady (played by Adibah Noor
Adibah Noor
Adibah Noor is a Malaysian artiste. She is a singer, actress, emcee, voiceover and ad talent. She has been in showbiz for 13 years.- Film :*Sepet *Gubra *Mukhsin *Buli Balik*Talentime *Crayon *Nasi Lemak 2.0...
), who summons him to embark on an extraordinary journey of his life. During this self-enlightening experience, he will also meet many "local heroes" each lending their support to help him re-discover his roots and the real hidden message of "Nasi Lemak".
Social Impact from Nasi Lemak 2.0
There has been much talk about this movie, since its inaugural screening on the 8th of September 2011. This is the very first film in Malaysia that portrays all its 3 major races in an ensemble manner, the response from critics and fans alike have been mixed. This is the first time in Malaysia that there has been no specification of which of its 3 races would prefer to watch the movie. A survey conducted by major bloggers and entertainment tabloids found out that most movie goers love the style of acting, the reason being that the style is unique to Malaysia itself and audiences can instantly relate to the characters and the script. There was something in the movie that every Malaysian could relate to whatever their race.Since its screening there has only been one protest against the movie, this protest took place in Ipoh by a group called Pertubuhan Gagasan Rakyat Didahulukan Negeri Perak. They protested outside the cinema and wanted the movie to be dropped from the cinema .So far, cinema operators have been unnerved by these groups
Nasi Lemak 2.0 is not without controversy. One of the strongest remark so far is from an article which was written by Fauziah Arof dated 21 September 2011 condemning Namewee's attitude on insulting the national anthem NEGARAKU
Negaraku
"Negaraku" is the national anthem of Malaysia. "Negaraku" was selected as a national anthem at the time of the Federation of Malaya's independence from Britain in 1957. The tune was originally used as the state anthem of Perak, which was adopted from a popular French melody titled "La Rosalie"...
, Islam and Malay race as a whole. Namewee respond to this by scolding the author of the article through his YouTube channel. He cited that the author had passed an unfair judgement on his movie without looking at it has a whole and for not understanding what the underlying meaning of the movie was and also what the movie was meant to achieve which was unity throughout all the races in Malaysia .Namewee pleaded to the media to present an unbiased view of his movie to the public. Namewee’s YouTube response has angered many, many are pushing for Utusan Malaysia to lodge an official police report against him, till this day no such report has been made.
Nasi Lemak 2.0 has been a huge hit in Malaysia, fans of the movie and of Namewee himself have been reported to have watched the movie till up to 3 times a day. Fans have started campaigns through social network sites encouraging the public to watch the movie, the results of these campaigns have been successful The movie also has many musical numbers within it, these musical numbers have become very popular amongst youngsters in Malaysia as they can relate to the songs well.
The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia
National Film Development Corporation Malaysia
The National Film Development Corporation Malaysia is the central government agency for the film industry of Malaysia. FINAS is similar to the Motion Picture Association of America in the United States.-External links:*...
(Finas) has declared that the movie is not entitled to a 20% tax rebate under its new incentive for local films because it did not qualify for mandatory screening status.
Cast
- NameweeWee Meng CheeWee Meng Chee or Namewee; is a Malaysian Chinese of Hainanese descent. He is fondly and widely known under his alias nickname Namewee, a bilingual pun on his Mandarin name , which sounds like the Mandarin term for name .Wee gained popularity after releasing a controversial song fused with the...
as Chef Huang - Karen KongKaren Kong-Biography:Karen Kong is from Labuan Island, Malaysia. She was a student of S.M St Anne, Labuan, S.M.K Labuan, Tunku Abdul Rahman College and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman. She was a participant in Malaysian Idol in 2004, but she was eliminated in the first round.Kong's debut single was launched...
as Xiao K - Adibah NoorAdibah NoorAdibah Noor is a Malaysian artiste. She is a singer, actress, emcee, voiceover and ad talent. She has been in showbiz for 13 years.- Film :*Sepet *Gubra *Mukhsin *Buli Balik*Talentime *Crayon *Nasi Lemak 2.0...
as Nor - David ArumugamDavid ArumugamDavid Arumugam is a Malaysian singer who is one of the founding members of the band called Alleycats. He is the elder brother of Loganathan Arumugam. On the 12th of February 2009, David Arumugam was conferred the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang award which carries the title of “Datuk” in conjunction...
as Curry Master - Afdlin ShaukiAfdlin ShaukiAfdlin Shauki, also known as Chief Kodok to his fans, is a Malaysian writer, director, stage and screen actor, comedian, singer, songwriter and presenter.-Music career:...
as Fisherman - Kenny & Chee as Nyonya & Baba
- Dennis Lau as Lan Qiao
- ReshmonuReshmonuHiresh Haridas , better known by his stage name Reshmonu, is a singer-songwriter from Malaysia who does mostly English songs. He is known for songs such as "Walk Away", "Cintaku Pergi", "Hey Waley" and "Superfine", as well as for his hairstyles...
as Hang Tu Ya - Nadine Ann Thomas as Curry Daughter
- Nur Fathia as Fisherman 2nd Wife