‘Seribu Tahun aims to spark understanding, not promote LGBT culture'
LGBTQ+ themes are rarely portrayed in Malay television dramas, largely due to Malaysia's deep-rooted religious beliefs and cultural sensitivities. But this year, a drama titled Seribu Tahun has stirred debate, reigniting conversations about representation, empathy, and the boundaries of creative storytelling.
Since its release, Seribu Tahun has received mixed reactions from viewers. While some praised the show for its bold attempt to humanise difficult issues, others criticised it for allegedly normalising LGBT narratives, sparking heated discussions on social media.
At the heart of the debate is actor Nazrief Nazri, who plays Dr Zahar in the series. He clarified that the drama was never about promoting LGBT culture, but about shedding light on the hidden struggles faced by some individuals in society.
'We're not pushing any agenda. The director, Shahrulezad, and the scriptwriter wanted to show that not everyone in the LGBT community has the same story,' he said when contacted recently.
'Some struggle quietly, pray for change, and feel trapped in identities they didn't choose. The message here is not to support their actions, but to guide them with compassion rather than condemnation,' Nazrief added.
He further highlighted that the aim is not to promote any particular lifestyle, but to encourage thoughtful conversation. Nazrief added that while the drama begins with controversial elements, its true message becomes clearer towards the end.
'It's not about glorifying or normalising anything,' he said.
Nazrief Nazri with his Seribu Tahun co-star, Zarif Ghazzi
He stated that the message is about raising awareness of a subject often seen as taboo in society, stressing that without open dialogue, these social issues risk being overlooked, and solutions remain out of reach.
He also shared that the overall response to the drama has been overwhelmingly positive, with several viewers expressing that the storyline resonated with their own personal experiences.
According to Nazrief, only a small minority, around 2 or 3 per cent, reacted negatively.
'I don't blame them. If this issue is not relatable to them, it's harder to understand. But those who've experienced it first-hand, especially within families, were more accepting,' he added.
Nazrief hopes Seribu Tahun will be viewed with an open mind, emphasising that it is a drama for everyone, regardless of background.
He urged audiences to focus on understanding the message it conveys. He also expressed his hope that members of the LGBTQ+ community can find meaningful lessons in Dr Zahar's journey.
'In my 13 years of acting, I've always looked for roles that leave an impact,' Nazrief shared.
He also shared that after taking a break to focus on raising his child, Seribu Tahun felt like the right project for his return to acting.
Set in contemporary Malaysia, Seribu Tahun tells two intertwining stories of love, identity, and emotional resilience.
One storyline centres around Syukri and his wife Nur, whose marriage is tested by the arrival of Puteri Imaan Suhana, a seemingly perfect woman determined to win Syukri's affection. Despite Nur's limitations, she is intellectually delayed and unable to conceive due to Turner Syndrome, Syukri's love remains unwavering.
The drama explores themes of loyalty, inner strength, and the destructive nature of envy, as Imaan, fuelled by jealousy and unresolved trauma with her mother, attempts to disrupt their marriage.
Parallel to this is the emotional and spiritual journey of Dr Zahar, a respected medical professional grappling with his identity, faith, and the stigma surrounding sexuality in a conservative society.
The story highlights the isolation, conflict, and quiet suffering faced by individuals navigating these deeply personal issues.
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Sinar Daily
6 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
‘Seribu Tahun aims to spark understanding, not promote LGBT culture'
LGBTQ+ themes are rarely portrayed in Malay television dramas, largely due to Malaysia's deep-rooted religious beliefs and cultural sensitivities. But this year, a drama titled Seribu Tahun has stirred debate, reigniting conversations about representation, empathy, and the boundaries of creative storytelling. Since its release, Seribu Tahun has received mixed reactions from viewers. While some praised the show for its bold attempt to humanise difficult issues, others criticised it for allegedly normalising LGBT narratives, sparking heated discussions on social media. At the heart of the debate is actor Nazrief Nazri, who plays Dr Zahar in the series. He clarified that the drama was never about promoting LGBT culture, but about shedding light on the hidden struggles faced by some individuals in society. 'We're not pushing any agenda. The director, Shahrulezad, and the scriptwriter wanted to show that not everyone in the LGBT community has the same story,' he said when contacted recently. 'Some struggle quietly, pray for change, and feel trapped in identities they didn't choose. The message here is not to support their actions, but to guide them with compassion rather than condemnation,' Nazrief added. He further highlighted that the aim is not to promote any particular lifestyle, but to encourage thoughtful conversation. Nazrief added that while the drama begins with controversial elements, its true message becomes clearer towards the end. 'It's not about glorifying or normalising anything,' he said. Nazrief Nazri with his Seribu Tahun co-star, Zarif Ghazzi He stated that the message is about raising awareness of a subject often seen as taboo in society, stressing that without open dialogue, these social issues risk being overlooked, and solutions remain out of reach. He also shared that the overall response to the drama has been overwhelmingly positive, with several viewers expressing that the storyline resonated with their own personal experiences. According to Nazrief, only a small minority, around 2 or 3 per cent, reacted negatively. 'I don't blame them. If this issue is not relatable to them, it's harder to understand. But those who've experienced it first-hand, especially within families, were more accepting,' he added. Nazrief hopes Seribu Tahun will be viewed with an open mind, emphasising that it is a drama for everyone, regardless of background. He urged audiences to focus on understanding the message it conveys. He also expressed his hope that members of the LGBTQ+ community can find meaningful lessons in Dr Zahar's journey. 'In my 13 years of acting, I've always looked for roles that leave an impact,' Nazrief shared. He also shared that after taking a break to focus on raising his child, Seribu Tahun felt like the right project for his return to acting. Set in contemporary Malaysia, Seribu Tahun tells two intertwining stories of love, identity, and emotional resilience. One storyline centres around Syukri and his wife Nur, whose marriage is tested by the arrival of Puteri Imaan Suhana, a seemingly perfect woman determined to win Syukri's affection. Despite Nur's limitations, she is intellectually delayed and unable to conceive due to Turner Syndrome, Syukri's love remains unwavering. The drama explores themes of loyalty, inner strength, and the destructive nature of envy, as Imaan, fuelled by jealousy and unresolved trauma with her mother, attempts to disrupt their marriage. Parallel to this is the emotional and spiritual journey of Dr Zahar, a respected medical professional grappling with his identity, faith, and the stigma surrounding sexuality in a conservative society. The story highlights the isolation, conflict, and quiet suffering faced by individuals navigating these deeply personal issues.
The Star
8 hours ago
- The Star
MPO steps up its efforts to elevate Malay heritage music
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Sinar Daily
11 hours ago
- Sinar Daily
Seribu Tahun opens dialogue, not agendas, on LGBTQ+ themes in Malay-Muslim storytelling
For many Malaysians who tuned into Seribu Tahun, the show's exploration of LGBTQ+ themes might appear bold, even unexpected. But to those who have closely followed the trajectory of its creators, this narrative choice felt like an earnest effort to grapple with the realities on our social periphery. Through heightened emotion, layered storytelling and a cultural lens rooted in local sensibilities, it dares to engage with contemporary issues often whispered but rarely explored in mainstream media. A deliberate and responsible narrative approach Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) Faculty of Film, Theatre and Animation lecturer, Ts Mastura Muhammad believes this approach is far from haphazard. It is, in fact, grounded in deep cultural reflection and narrative responsibility. 'I approach Seribu Tahun with a critical awareness of its narrative ambition and the socio-cultural realities it seeks to engage. Having followed the director and production team's earlier works, it is clear they consistently produce high-quality content grounded in Malay-Muslim sociocultural contexts. 'Within this framework, the inclusion of LGBT themes in Seribu Tahun does not come across as an imposed agenda, but rather as a deliberate, reflective engagement with pressing contemporary issues. 'This thematic direction suggests a responsible and courageous attempt to expose, educate and interrogate societal anxieties; often through narrative exaggeration or heightened emotion to ensure audience engagement,' she said in an interview with Sinar Daily. Mastura pointed out that the series is not merely provocative for provocation's sake, but instead strives to expose, educate and interrogate societal anxieties, often through narrative exaggeration or heightened emotion to ensure audience engagement. But how does this creative risk play out within Malaysia's complex cultural and religious tapestry? To understand that, Mastura suggests we shift our view of media from mirror to lens. 'In the Malaysian context, the common saying 'art imitates life' may oversimplify the role of media. A more fitting interpretation might be that art represents life; filtered through cultural, political and narrative conventions. 'Since genres like science fiction are still developing in our local television landscape, most Malaysian dramas remain rooted in social realism, thereby serving as platforms for social commentary. Within this genre, directors often use heightened storytelling elements to maintain emotional engagement. 'It is essential, however, to view a drama series in its entirety rather than focusing on isolated scenes. Often, controversial moments are juxtaposed with scenes that offer resolution or contextual balance. 'This dialectical structure - tension followed by resolution - is central to storytelling. Thus, even representations of LGBT identities that may provoke discomfort can spark necessary dialogue within Malaysia's multicultural and multi-religious society,' she added. Seribu Tahun's narrative sparks dialogue, not agendas, on LGBT themes in Malay-Muslim storytelling. Photo: Facebook The importance of media literacy and audience interpretation Of course, any depiction of marginalised communities - particularly in a conservative society - risks misinterpretation. But here, media literacy plays a crucial role. Mastura highlighted the shift away from outdated assumptions of how media influences audiences. 'From a media studies lens, it is important to recognise that audience reception is neither passive nor homogenous. Viewers interpret content through a range of filters -cultural background, religious belief, education and socio-political context. 'The once-dominant 'hypodermic needle' theory of media influence has long given way to more nuanced models like encoding or decoding, which recognise varied audience interpretations. 'The fear that media representation directly shapes youth behaviour is often exaggerated and not strongly supported by empirical evidence. On the contrary, when stories involving marginalised identities are told with cultural sensitivity and narrative depth, they can foster empathy, understanding and critical reflection,' she said. It is within this space - 'between provocation and pedagogy, representation and restraint,' as Mastura puts it - that Seribu Tahun finds its power and perhaps, its purpose.
