Remembering Sandiwara, Long Before Michelle Yeoh

The internet is buzzing over the short film 'Sandiwara', written and directed by Sean Baker, starring Michelle Yeoh. The film is already being praised for its quiet intensity, elegant storytelling, and Yeoh’s magnetic presence. It’s set to premiere at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February, 2026 -- a perfect showcase for a work that proves how powerful simplicity and subtlety can be on screen.

But for me, the word sandiwara will always mean something else.

Long before streaming platforms and viral shorts, 'Sandiwara' was the name of a beloved Malay drama series on Singapore television that ran from the 1970s through the ’90s. While Malaysia had 'Drama Minggu Ini', Singapore had 'Sandiwara'. For many of us growing up in that era, it was appointment viewing -- the kind of show the whole family quietly gathered around after dinner.

One of the key figures behind the series was Bani Buang -- director, producer, and widely regarded as the father of Singapore Malay drama. His work shaped an entire generation of television storytelling, from family dramas to thrillers and the occasional supernatural tale. 

I don’t remember most of the episodes now, but one memory has stubbornly stayed with me. It was a horror-themed episode starring Osman Zailani. 

There was a scene with a rocking chair -- he had been sitting in it earlier, and after his character died, the chair kept rocking on its own. Simple, subtle… but absolutely terrifying to my young mind. For the longest time after that, I couldn’t look at a rocking chair without feeling uneasy. Funny how one old TV drama can leave a mark that lasts decades.