24/04/2025

LYFE THURSDAY | APR 24, 2025

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Malaysian short film makes Cannes history

Ananth said his filmmaking-style has always been about questioning the norm. “My filmmaking has always been about peeling back the layers of tradition, questioning why things are the way they are, and finding humour and heartache in the process. Now that Bleat! is in Semaine de la Critique , I hope it resonates with other minority kids who have felt that same inner conflict, offering a little comfort in knowing they are not alone. More than anything, this film is a love letter to the strength and resilience of my people.” International collaboration with regional pride “ Bleat! is the fifth short film Ananth and I have made together. When he first shared the script with me, I was immediately drawn to its absurdity, warmth and cultural specificity. The mix of music, humour and a suburban Tamil backdrop created a cinematic language that felt unmistakably Malaysian. We worked meticulously through each phase of development and I am incredibly proud of the emotional depth and playful spirit this film brings to the screen,” said Choo. “This is Southeast Asian storytelling at its most specific and universal. Bleat! reflects our region’s diversity, wit and layered humanity,” Liew added. From France, Welinski commented: “The voice Ananth brings is refreshingly distinct and we are proud to see this story take its place at Cannes, where bold new cinema belongs.” Bleat! follows Malaysia’s growing international film presence. In 2023, director Amanda Nell Eu’s Tiger Stripes won the Critics’ Week Grand Prize for a feature film. Bleat! continues this momentum – this time, making history in the short film category.

Jackson Wang drops GBAD remix JACKSON WANG has joined hands with Japanese trio group Number_i for a remix of the artiste’s latest drop GBAD (Number_i Remix), which is a fresher take on city-pop sounds – think synths and pounding bass. The track features a new verse from Wang, in which he explores the idea of his success being purposeless and perhaps, he may have missed something along the road. This opens a new narrative for the “I do not care” vibe that the song carries throughout and another rabbit hole for the fans to plunge themselves into as they break down GBAD (Number_i Remix) . Number_i adds another layer to a rather laid back track as the synths give it a J-pop feel. Like strolling down Tokyo’s streets on a rainy night. Produced by Dem Jointz, Wang and Justin Tecson, the track stands apart from the original with prominent synths. The collaboration came about after the 2024 Coachella Music Festival, following Wang and Number_i’s joint performance of GOAT . This partnership signals the beginning of a powerful new cross-cultural partnership. The artistes, who share similar artistic visions, forged a bond that led to this collaboration, blending their distinct styles into a vibrant new sound for the fans. GBAD was released last month as a prelude to Wang’s upcoming album Magic Man 2 , which is set for release this year. After its release, GBAD was well received by fans and casual listeners alike as the music video surpassed 31 million views on YouTube. The song dropped after Wang released his single High Alone earlier this year. The track Authentic Malaysian-Tamil story Set in a suburban Malaysian-Tamil community, Bleat! is about an elderly Malaysian Tamil couple who discovers their male goat, set for ceremonial slaughter, is pregnant. Torn between faith and the expectations of their A NANTH Subramaniam’s Bleat! , a Malaysian Tamil-language film, will compete at the 64th edition of Critics’ Week ( La Semaine de la Critique ), running from May 14 to 22, alongside the 78th Cannes Film Festival. Founded in 1962 by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics, Critics’ Week is the Cannes Film Festival’s most selective sidebar programme, renowned for spotlighting breakthrough filmmakers such as Wong Kar Wai, Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu and Julia Ducournau. The selection marks a milestone for Malaysian cinema as Bleat! becomes the first Malaysian short film selected for Cannes across all sections. Prior to this, only four Malaysian feature films have been selected: Tiger Stripes (2023), The Tiger Factory (2010), Karaoke (2009) and Kaki Bakar (1995). Bleat! is an international co-production led by Choo Mun Bel of Sixtymac Pictures (Malaysia), Bradley Liew of Epicmedia Productions (the Philippines) and Dominique Welinski (France), with international sales managed by Belgium-based Hors Du Bocal. o Tamil-language tale Bleat! among those selected for Critics’ Week

Writer-director Ananth says the film is a love letter to the strength and resilience of his people. community, they struggle to decide whether to slaughter it or face the wrath of the gods. The film stars Tharmasegaran MS Maniam, Pannerselvam Evarani and Big Boy the goat. Film writer and director Ananth said: “I have always had an inescapable feeling about my Malaysian Tamil culture. Growing up, especially during those awkward puberty years, I wrestled with questions about who I was and where I fit in. The expectations felt heavy, sometimes impossible and my community always seemed to be in a constant state of change. So, I turned myself into a goat and threw myself into the middle of all that inevitability – and somehow, that became a film about what makes being Malaysian Tamil so special.

Ruin My Life is available for streaming.

EaJ releases new single KOREAN-AMERICAN artiste EaJ has dropped his new single Ruin My Life , following his last EP When The Rain Stopped Following Me in 2024. After vowing audience who rocked up to Imagine Dragons’s tour, EaJ is presenting a bolder and wiser side for his fans to decode as he dives in headfirst into the chaos of love and heartbreak. Ruin My Life is a daring reintroduction to EaJ’s ever-evolving sound as an artiste. Layered with glitchy, futuristic melody, Ruin My Life is a sonic paradox that will not leave your comfort playlist. The layered track reveals an emotional turbulence shielded underneath notes of euphoria as it explores the tension between desire and self-preservation. Ruin My Life strikes a chord with fans that knows all to well about the reckless thrill of holding onto someone who will be the very reason of your ruin. A love story painted in neon lights and warning signs, Ruin My Life is an anthem for the lovers, hopeless romantics and adrenaline chasers. For the artiste himself, Ruin My Life is not just another add to his discography but a statement of taking leaps and reinventing oneself. 2025 may just be the 32-year-old most ambitious year, as he takes the rein to write the perfect musical for his journey. A former member of Day6, EaJ has established himself as a solo artiste in Los Angeles, US. Typically known for his indie, alternative and R&B music such as Car Crash and Typical Story , EaJ continues to renew his sound while building a dedicated fanbase across Asia, as his songs have clenched a spot in the Spotify Viral 50 charts in the Phillipines and Taiwan. The artiste has also headlined multiple festivals across Asia, including 88rising’s Head in the Clouds in Jakarta and Manila. His growing fanbase in Asia also allowed him to embark on an Asian tour last year, with sold-out stops in Manila, Jakarta, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok. Ruin My Life can be streamed on all music platforms.

GBAD (Number_i Remix) adds prominent synths to the bass heavy song.

quickly rose to number one on Apple Music in 22 countries and regions, solidifying Wang’s position as an international and versatile artiste. After a successful couple of years, fans have

been excited to delve deeper into the Magic Man lore as Wang explores different facets of this persona. GBAD (Number_i Remix) can be streamed on all music platforms.