'Gelora Di Hati Sarah'

Last night was the first episode of a Malay drama entitled 'Gelora Di Hati Sarah' on RTM1. The main casts were Fauziah Latiff, Rosyam Nor, Datuk Rahim Razali, Aida Rahim and Liza Othman. I came across a write-up on this drama in one of the local newspapers the day before and what caught my interest to watch it was of course Fauziah Latiff...

Fauziah Latiff is a singer and although I might not be her biggest fan but I kinda grew up listening to her songs since I was in primary school. Her songs are mostly pop ballads and amongst my favourites are Teratai Layu Di Tasik Madu, Setia Ku Korbankan, Enggan and many others. Those were the times when I was in melancholic mood and these songs became my comfort...

I also watched her in theatre - Rubiah - few years back where she acted as the lead role in the play. Not bad at all and I could still remember vividly the act where she had to recite the Quran and her voice was so soft and sweet.

Ok, Fauziah Latiff might not known as a star in acting but recently, she has started to appear acting in local dramas especially with Rosyam Nor's production house. It has been quite some time since I last saw Fauziah Latiff in action either singing or acting. So, when I read that the drama would make its debut, there I was, sitting in front of the colourful box (tv la...).

The drama started with a scene in KLIA Arrival Hall where Rosyam Nor (Azrul) and Fauziah Latiff (Sarah) were pushing the luggage trolley towards the exit door. Azrul was walking in front of Sarah. Both of them looked solemn and they were not talking to each other at all as if they were total strangers even though the audience could sense that they knew each other. Then, outside the hall, they stopped and waited for something but they often looked at each other. They were restless, the audience could tell this by watching their body language at this point. And then, a 4-wheel drive arrived and Datuk Rahim Razali (I forgot his name in this drama but he's a Datuk too) and Aida Rahim who happened to be Azrul's mom and dad. They were really happy to see one another after 12 years because Azrul studied abroad and that explained his thick leather jacket.....

At this time, Azrul kept on looking at Sarah and his mother seemed to notice his behaviour and asked him what was he looking at. He simply ignored his mother's query and quickly jumped into the car. And Sarah followed Azrul with sad looking eyes.

The same night, Azrul's parents held a party for him and apparently, Azrul was nowhere to be seen. The maid quickly went to look for him and knocked on his bedroom door. She found that Azrul was on the phone talking to someone. She asked him to end his conversation and told him that his parents were waiting for him downstairs.

When he came down, there were two honourable guests talking to his parents. Apparently, the uncle was a Tengku and he brought along his daughter who was obviously trying to get Azrul's attention. But Azrul acted normal and he tried to get away from the Tengku girl. But he was asked to send her back home after the party.

In the car, the Tengku girl (I forgot her name in the drama too) asked Azrul to open the door for her, "Mesti awak tak pernah bukakan pintu kereta untuk girlfriend awak kan?" And Azrul brilliantly answered, "Girlfriend saya seorang yang berdikari. Dia tak mintak orang bukakan pintu untuk dia". And with long face, the Tengku girl opened the door herself and Azrul just smiled away.

Azrul then arrived at a double-storey house and knocked on the door. When the door opened, there stood Sarah smiling happily looking at Azrul. Azrul apologised for being late. Suddenly, Sarah's mother (Liza Othman) appeared from the stairs and she looked annoyed. Now, the truth was, Azrul and Sarah got married overseas and Azrul didn't want his family to know about his marriage because his mother was suffering from a severe heart problem. What an excuse!!!

Sarah's mother was angry because she didn't like what Azrul was doing to Sarah (keeping their marriage a secret) and she wanted Azrul to face the fact and tell his family that he already married Sarah. But Azrul said that there were a lot of things to consider and he promised that everything would be out in the open when the perfect time comes. Only God knows when....

In their bedroom, Sarah asked Azrul to stay overnight but Azrul refused to because he knew that his mother must be looking for him. But Sarah urged him to just stay for a while, "Ini malam pertama kita kat sini, tidur sini ya, sekejap jer..."

The next morning, Azrul quickly woke up and realised that he had overslept and he walked out of the bedroom quietly and left. Sarah's mother was watching him from the balcony and she was totally annoyed.

In the meantime, Azrul's mother was talking to her husband asking where could Azrul be because it's already morning. She suspected that Azrul might have spent the whole night catching up stories with the Tengku girl. But his father quickly brushed off the thought by saying that Azrul might have spent the whole with his friends because he had many friends around. Then, her mother was saying that she couldn't wait for Azrul to get married with the Tengku girl. But his father said that Azrul might not like the Tengku girl because during the party, Azrul didn't seem to show any interest on her. And his mother, being a normal mother, insisted on having the Tengku girl as her future daughter in law.

And the story was to be continued next Tuesday.

Frankly, I am not a fan of Malay dramas but this one must be a special case since there is an urge in me that keeps on pestering me to switch on to RTM1 that night.....and I can sense that I'm going to be a loyal follower of 'Gelora Di Hati Sarah'.......

To my darling heroes at home,
Please have some mercy on me and allow me to watch this drama peacefully every Tuesday till Thursday at 10.30pm, ok.....as a trade, I'll cook all your favourite food sedap-sedap....