"Syif Malam Raya" actor Sharif Zero wants a movie about his comedy group

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"Syif Malam Raya" actor Sharif Zero wants a movie about his comedy group

Writer: Ashraf Nasser

Sharif says he and his members are open to the idea if a producer approaches
them for a movie or drama series based on Zero.

Sharif Kadir Doli Sharif (Sharif) started his entertainment career in 2012 along with his brothers Mohd Syaiful Doli Sharif (Syaiful) and Sharif Kunal Doli Sharif (Atu), as the group called Zero on the sixth season of the competition show, "Raja Lawak".

Since then, the popularity of the comedic trio from the Land Below the Wind, Sabah, rose rapidly, leading to their continuous participation in the "Maharaja Lawak Mega" (MLM) competition for four seasons, from 2012 to 2018.

Being popular comedians has opened the doors for them to dabble in acting next. Sharif made his debut on the big screen in 2016 movie, "Lu Mafia Gua Gangster".

Now after four years, Sharif returns with a new movie called "Syif Malam Raya", a horror comedy that also features his younger brother, Atu Zero.

The movie, which recently premiered on the on-demand channel Astro First, was met with an unexpected reaction, as it made RM3 million within 10 days of airing.

Directed by Profesor Dato' Dr. A Razak Mohaideen, the movie follows Hisyam and Zaid who are disappointed when their Raya leaves are not approved, because they have been tasked with delivering a dead body to Ipoh. On the way, they give a ride to two siblings Mera and Yoh. However, strange things begin to happen.

Aside from Sharif and Atu, the movie also stars Reen Rahim, Saiful Apek, Azlee Senario, Sheila Mambo and more.

Recently, Cinema Online had the chance to reach out to Sharif to ask him about his experience filming "Syif Malam Raya".

So, let's take a look at our interview with Sharif Zero below.

One of the scenes in "Syif Malam Raya" featuring Atu, Reen Rahim and Sharif.

Cinema Online: Can you tell us about your character in "Syif Malam Raya"?

Sharif: In this movie, I play the character Hisyam, who is Zaid's friend, and both of us work as funeral van drivers for a hospital. The way that I play this character Hisyam is a bit different because Hisyam is an arrogant man and often talks big, which is very different from his co-worker who is a quiet and shy person.

What made you agree to act in the movie?

My main reason for accepting the offer for "Syif Malam Raya" is because of the director, Razak Mohaideen. I've always wanted to work under his direction and finally it's come true. I was nervous at first, after seeing that the director seems to be very serious, but my perception changed after I got on set because Razak Mohaideen turned out to be a very friendly director.

In fact, he was very generous with sharing his ideas throughout the filming and this made the atmosphere on set very harmonious.

What were the challenges that you faced during filming?

I didn't face any tough challenges at all when it comes to my own acting, since I already knew what to do. But acting with a YouTube celebrity and looking for jokes to throw at him was quite challenging, but Alhamdulillah everything went well.

How was your experience working with "otai" comedians in this movie?

I feel lucky because I got the chance to work with "otai" (a Malay slang for someone who is an expert in a certain field) comedians. It's a very valuable experience for me. Even though they are veterans in the comedy world, they're very humble and often share their knowledge, making me respect them a lot.

Working with them was also very easy because we would discuss the script before the camera started rolling. So any dialogue or joke changes we would discuss so that it not only made our job easier, but also the whole production's job.

What are your thoughts after finding out that "Syif Malam Raya" was premiering on Astro First instead of in cinemas?

I was quite disappointed because the movie was made for theatrical release but, what to do, because our country right now is facing the COVID-19 pandemic. Plus, the movie couldn't be delayed since it is themed Hari Raya. I hope that the movie would receive a good reception from audiences since it's been so long since we were treated to a Raya-themed movie.

Have you ever thought about making a movie or drama series about your group, Zero?

Yes, Syaiful, Atu and I talked about this before but for now, it's only talks. But if there is a production who wants to make a biographical movie about our career, of course we would gladly do it. However, for now that is not our priority. If there's rezeki then Alhamdulillah. If no, it's okay.

What are your future projects?

I actually have a few new projects but everything is halted for now due to the Movement Control Order (MCO) that was enforced since last March, so I can't reveal any further info about the projects but I myself don't know whether they will be resumed or not. I will announce it when I have the confirmation.

Cinema Online, 10 June 2020