Prior to the official launch of “Mahsuri (& Other Peculiar Tales)” next
month, a single from the upcoming short film will first be released this
Friday.
Called “In My Arms”, it is described as a folk-pop song that combines
a unique contemporary sound with an authentically Malaysian story, depicting the
epic romance between Mahsuri and Wan Derus, the protagonists of one of the most
famous legends in Malaysia.
“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
Liver & Lung co-founder Shafeeq Shajahan, who composed the song as well as
directed the short film.
“I’ve always believed in the importance of remembering our roots,” Shafeeq
added. “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.”
Badrish, co-composer of “Sepet The Musical”, and Irena Taib from indie-band
The Impatient Sisters are featured as primary vocalists in the song.
“In My Arms” will be released this 6 November. Pre-save links are available at
https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/liverandlungandbadrishandirenataib/in-my-arms
The full soundtrack of “Mahsuri (& Other Peculiar Tales)” will be released
later this month.
Meanwhile, the short film itself, which has been selected as a finalist at the
prestigious Short Shorts Film Festival in Tokyo, is set to launch this
December.
Adapted from Liver & Lung’s Cammie award-winning stage production that
debuted in Kuala Lumpur in 2017, the first musical short film from Liver &
Lung follows 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.