Actor must portray Tunku as ‘happiest PM’
The Star – 26/3/2006
He was there not just to witness the event but to record it as a reporter as well. He still remembers the shouts of “Merdeka! Merdeka! Merdeka!”  
Now, Felix Abisheganaden is excited about a movie called 1957, which will re-enact Malaysia's road to independence and highlight the man behind it all –Tunku Abdul Rahman.  Abisheganaden covered the Tunku as a journalist from 1951 when the Tunku was elected Umno president until he retired in 1970.  He said the person who acted as the Tunku must portray a patient, caring and understanding character.  
“He must give the impression of being the happiest Prime Minister in the world.  
The Tunku, he said, had often proclaimed himself to be the happiest Prime Minister.  
“The Tunku was a charismatic leader,” added Abisheganaden, who is now senior partner of Prestige Communications.  A search is under way for an actor to play the Tunku for the movie which is set for release before next year's 50th national day celebrations. 1957 will be a docudrama that records the role of all races in the fight for independence.  
It will be directed by award-winner Suhaimi Baba and produced by Kavita Kaur and Nancy Yeoh with the support of the Selangor royalty and several prominent figures in the state.  
“The actor must be able to flash a mischievous smile, have a twinkle in his eye and project a firm, yet kindly tone of voice,” Abisheganaden said.  
He added that the Tunku showed humour even in very trying conditions.  
“In all of Tunku's actions, whether at home or abroad, he demonstrated that it is the common touch that pays.”  
“The right candidate for the role of the Tunku must be candid, not calculating and shrewd instead of smooth.”  Tunku's former private secretary Datuk Wan Mansor Abdullah believes that Tunku Ahmad Nerang, the Tunku's eldest son, would be ideal to play the part.  He said Tunku Ahmad Nerang, who is in his 50s, looked like his father in his younger days and also behaved like him.  
“The way he walks and his mannerisms are similar to those of his father,” Wan Mansor said.  “However, I wouldn’t know how keen he would be to play the part,” he added.  
Wan Mansor said he would like to see the film highlighting the Tunku’s efforts to gain independence for Malaya.  
Source: The Star | http://thestar.com.my

“What the film must show is the spirit of equal opportunity. The British told Tunku Abdul Rahman there would be no independence unless he was able to galvanise all the races in Malaya.  
“From there, he worked very hard to unite the people,” Wan Mansor said.