The 90-year-old, real name Rosnani Ludin, said filmmaking in the 1980s was a male-dominated field, which motivated her to prove that women too were capable of producing high-quality movies.
With the encouragement of her late husband Jamil Sulong, as well as her children, Mak Nani – as she is affectionately known – resolved to face the challenges of an industry long regarded as a “man’s domain”.
“Mawar Merah”, which she directed, became one of the highest-grossing Malay films of its time, earning RM371,000 at the box office.
“There’s no longer any question about whether women can be directors. I believe we have earned our place in the history of Malay cinema because there are now many talented female directors,” Rosnani said.
“I’m grateful to see our successors – and I’m proud of you all.”
She was speaking during a veteran appreciation session held in conjunction with the 34th Malaysian Film Festival recently.
Rosnani, who began her career at 17, noted that the number of female directors today reflects a positive change in the local film industry, which has become more open to recognising talent and ability regardless of gender.
She further shared that her journey as a director had been marked with more hardships than triumphs.
“When I first became a director, many actors were afraid to work under me. Even after ‘Mawar Merah’ became a hit, some still couldn’t believe I directed it. They thought it was my husband’s work.
“That was painful, but I pressed on to prove my ability,” said the scriptwriter and producer.
Rosnani also directed several other films, including “Antara Dua Hati”, “Pak Tam Duda”, “Memori”, “Amelia”, “Bicara Hati”, and her final work “Mawar Putih” in 2016, before retiring from the entertainment scene.
Her artistic career began as a waitress and joget dancer at the Happy World club, where her talent was discovered by legendary director L Krishnan, who offered her a role in the film “Lupa Daratan”.
She went on to star in dozens of movies, including “Sederah”, “Miskin”, “Ayer Mata”, “Gelora Hidup”, “Hang Jebat”, “Anakku Sazali”, “Sumpahan Mahsuri”, “Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2”, and “Kerja Kahwin”.
As a seasoned performer, Mak Nani advises the younger generation of actors to embody their roles with discipline and depth – qualities she believes are essential to building a lasting career – rather than being preoccupied with being the hero or heroine on screen.
She also said filmmaking is a team effort: “You need the hero, the supporting cast, the director, and a strong story. Only then will the work leave a lasting impact on the audience.”
Having spent over 70 years in the entertainment industry, Rosnani expressed that she is content with all she has achieved.
“I’ve experienced it all – acting, scriptwriting, producing and directing. I’ve achieved every dream I had. If I were to leave this world tomorrow, I could close my eyes peacefully,” she added.