Liver & Lung Productions, the Malaysian theatre company behind Sepet The Musical, is set to release their debut short film, Mahsuri (& Other Peculiar Tales), in December 2020. The musical short film has been selected as a finalist at the prestigious Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo. As an early-bird surprise, they are releasing a single from the film, In My Arms, on the 6th of November. Listeners can pre-save the track now by clicking here.
In My Arms is a folk-pop song that combines a unique contemporary sound with an authentically Malaysian story. Composed by Liver & Lung co-founder ShafeeqShajahan, it depicts the epic romance between Mahsuri & Wan Derus, the protagonists of one of Malaysia’s most famous legends.
The song features Badrish (co-composer of Sepet The Musical) and Irena Taib (from indie-band The Impatient Sisters) as primary vocalists.
“In My Arms is a song that means so much to me. It is romantic, soulful and, most importantly, inspired by the melodies my mother used to sing to me when I was younger. It will hopefully breathe new air into the incredible love affair between Mahsuri and her husband Wan Derus. I am so excited for you to hear it,” said Shafeeq Shajahan, who also directed the short film.
In My Arms is a song from Liver & Lung’s upcoming film Mahsuri (& Other Peculiar Tales). The film is an adaptation of Liver & Lung’s Cammie award-winning stage production that debuted in Kuala Lumpur in 2017. It is a contemporary retelling of the Asian legends and folklores that many Malaysians were brought up with.
“I’ve always believed in the importance of remembering our roots. The Malaysian identity is diverse and colourful and as a film and theatre-maker, I feel a responsibility to keep reintroducing Malaysian stories to new audiences in contemporary & exciting ways,” Shafeeq added.
Mahsuri (& Other Peculiar Tales) tells the story of Adam, an autistic boy who stumbles upon a mysterious book of legends that transports him and his friends into a magical world of music and wonder. In this instance, Adam is teleported to 18th century Langkawi, where he must help magical Mahsuri, wife of warrior Wan Derus, escape from the wrath of her mother-in-law, Mahura.
The film is set to launch in December and its full soundtrack will be released late-November. Watch a teaser for the film here.
After winning three awards at the Boh Cameronian Arts Awards this year, Liver & Lung has been committed to upholding the arts in what has been a difficult year. This release marks the beginning of their venture into digital music soundtracks.
Release: 6th November
Pre-Save Link: Spotify
Spotify Link: Link
Film Teaser: Link
Composer: Shafeeq Shajahan
Vocalists: Badrish & Irena Taib
