10/12/2025

LYFE WEDNESDAY | DEC 10, 2025 25 Flame of the Forest explores weight of family expectations

B MW Group Malaysia recently premiered Flame of the Forest , a BMW Shorties-funded project by Krityishaa Karunagaran, grand prize winner of the BMW Shorties competition in 2024, at the BMW Shorties Festival 2025. Flame of the Forest follows the story of a young nurse who, while meant to be caring for her grandmother, sneaks out for a brief taste of freedom, only to return to a loss that shatters her family’s delicate balance and her own sense of self. Set in the roots of the Malaysian Indian community in the small town of Kuala Terla, Cameron Highlands, the story explores generational expectations, cultural pride and the quiet longing for freedom beneath conservative family structures. Through this project, Krityishaa captures the emotional tension of a young woman navigating the space between personal desire and family expectations. Altogether, Flame of the Forest speaks to the deeply resonant struggle of defining oneself against the weight of tradition. “ Flame of the Forest began with a completely different storyline but the more our co-writer, Gogu and I

o BMW Shorties Festival sees premiere of short film by previous year’s winner, 20-year-old student bags top award with Anak Omputeh

work across films and commercials, drawing from the diverse experiences of Malaysians from all backgrounds. For its 19th edition, the BMW Shorties programme named its newest grand prize winner – Anak Omputeh by Darwish Syahmi from Multimedia University Cyberjaya (MMU). Darwish makes history as the first director to win both the grand prize and the Best Student Shorties Award in the same year, marking a milestone for student filmmaking and digital content creation in Malaysia. Inspired by his own childhood, Darwish’s Anak Omputeh tells the story of Lan, a young Malay boy who returns to his father’s kampung after growing up overseas for five years. Finding himself a fish out of water in this unfamiliar traditional setting, Lan struggles to connect with the local boys and navigate a culture that feels foreign to him. Through a series of comedic and heartwarming adventures, he finds himself slowly growing fond of the kampung life and his peers.

discussed the project, the more we shaped this story to what it is now and that this is the right story that is meant to be told, in this time and space. It is rewarding, confusing, exhausting and liberating all at once. The project does not just represent the stories of the women around us, but also the men, the people whom we co-exist with and the chaos that very often exists in our own minds. To have this story come to life has been humbling and empowering. It is a reminder of what storytelling can do – which is to help us see and be seen, in all our complexity,” said Krityishaa. With over seven years of experience as a director, writer and producer, Ipoh-born Krityishaa has shaped a distinctive voice as a Malaysian storyteller. After initially graduating in biotechnology, she pivoted to pursue her passion for creative storytelling, earning a degree in Digital Film and Television from Lim Kok Wing University. Her work has since earned recognition locally and internationally, with Tomorrow is Spring winning the BMW Shorties 2024 Grand Prize and the Malaysian Open Competition at SeaShorts Film Festival 2025, and has been screened at festivals across Vietnam, Indonesia, Brunei and Thailand. As she continues to hone her craft as a director and writer, Krityishaa is most drawn to grounded, emotionally resonant

Krityishaa has over seven years of experience as a director, writer and producer.

Hailing from MMU Cyberjaya’s Faculty of Cinematic Arts, Darwish developed a specialty for weaving comedic irony with hard-hitting reality, which he had honed from a very young age. His previous works include Kapak (2023), nominated at the 20th Mini Film Festival in Sarawak, the experimental film ForYou32GodSaveOurChildren (2023), nominated at Taylor’s University Film Festival 2024, and the mini-documentary Kintsugi (2024), which won first runner-up at Echo Film Fest: The Sequel.

The the experience of “third culture kids” with authenticity and fun, capturing the reality of cultural reintegration while celebrating the universal bonds of friendship and belonging. Anak Omputeh also won the hearts of the wider BMW Shorties community, earning it the celebrated People’s Choice Award after weeks of public voting came to an end. At just 20 years old, Darwish entered the BMW Shorties with an impressive creative foundation. story explores

Darwish (fourth from left), the

film’s cast and crew,

judges and BMW Group

Flame of the Forest is set in the town of Kuala Terla, Cameron Highlands.

Malaysia directors.

A scene from Flame of the Forest .

Joe Flizzow releases new single 501 after two-year hiatus Staying true to the confidence and lyrical strength that define the 46-year-old rapper, the single also signals an evolution in his artistic direction, placing greater emphasis on honesty, clarity and creative freedom rather than simply following trends. into a darker world filled with tension, conflict and deep emotion. “With bold visuals, a moody atmosphere and action-driven moments that raise questions, it appears that viewers are being invited to witness the full storyline through the screen,” the statement added. AFTER two years away from the entertainment scene, Malaysian hip-hop artiste Joe Flizzow returns with a more mature image through his latest single titled 501 . composed and produced by SonaOne and Gard, also marks the reunion of major names in the local music industry. “The collaboration among Joe, SonaOne and Gard plays a vital role in shaping the sound identity of 501 .

work that still stays true to his musical roots,” the statement said. The music video ends with a surprising “To Be Continued” card, clearly signalling that this is only the beginning of a larger narrative. Its cliffhanger ending also suggests that Joe’s next release may arrive soon, heightening fans’ anticipation even further. – Bernama

In a statement on Monday, Universal Music Malaysia said the song’s release marks Joe’s timely comeback after a hiatus marked by creative reassessment and personal growth.

“The story behind 501 goes beyond the music itself. The official music video offers only a glimpse

“The mix of contemporary production with Joe’s distinctive delivery creates a fresh piece of

The track, written by Joe, whose real name is Johan Ishak, while