After so much hype on the fairy tales ads by TV3 – one raya ads stand out above the rest.

As a former art director, I think this ads really deliver a right message to MAXIS customers as Aidilfitri greeting message - Hari Raya is a time when people return home to visit their family. In this ads, they show that family is forever, and that it transcends culture and race. Its follow a young Chinese woman as she journeys home to celebrate Hari Raya with her Malay family.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=n_Dw9C2qkBQ

May our bonds never break by MAXIS

But importantly in any marketing investment – what’s commercial message you want to deliver – and MAXIS got one – a subtle warning to their competitors, DiGi and Celcom.

Since the open market for mobile starts last year, any mobile customers can opt to change network providers and still keeping the numbers. Eventho you’re on 012 – you can be DiGi or Celcom customers and I’ve seen many of my friends who opt out – has return back to MAXIS.

From MAXIS to DiGi and Celcom – if you guys didn’t provide a great service to our previous customers – they will find their own way to return to us.

“No matter how far away you were – even you’re no longer with us – after all this years, we closer than ever – forever – will the ties that binds us never break”

So DiGi and Celcom, got it?

[Malay Version] Selagi hayat dikandung badan, tak kan putus tali persaudaraan, tak kan putus tali persaudaraan

*The music really sounds like the finale of LOST

**If you watch closely, you can see Xpax and Digi prepaid pass by and Hotlink just glance thru smiling…

Have you watch the new most memorable (*cough) Aidilfitri TV advertisement/iklan by Media Prima tv channel – TV3.

It’s like adaptation straight from a short story by Hans Christian Andersen – but slightly injected with 1Malaysia propaganda.

It’s just so wrong in many places.

[UPDATED] YouTube video has been removed by Grand Brilliance for copyright issue (hmmm I don’t think advertisement can be claim as copyright items)

Let go frame by frame (to understand the concept)

A boy (Look like Wendy Darling of Peter Pan) alone at home (very poor – coz the roof made of nipah – probably somewhere in Penang) reading a story book (in Jawi if you close up) on the eve of Hari Raya and suddenly the book magically turn the picture of ‘Beca’ into real life thing (Cinderella) and comes the Santa Claus with a kopiah gesturing the boy to join him (probably celebrate Aidilfitri at a better place).

Then the magical sleigh (beca) flying next and above the Penang Bridge, Menara Condong Teluk Intan, KLCC Twin Tower and Jalan Raja Chulan traffic junction – before that, they stop by a few houses and pick other childrens too (Peter Pan again).

Those landmark started to light up when the sleigh passes by – probably to show that ‘kegembiraan‘ celebrating Aidilfitri.

After that, you can see the famous tree of UPM next to the huge moon (It’s the ET scene) – they sort of going to a better place – (from Penang – to Perak – stop in KL – maybe Gunung Ledang?)

Suddenly out of the sky comes the majestic mosque on top of mountain – like the land of Arda of the Elves in the Lord of the Ring trilogy.

Above the hill, family members and the habitant of the land of ‘TV3′ gather together preparing for Hari Raya and there’s flying lotus with bahulu, lampu pelita, the magic ‘ketupat’ and ‘kacau-ing’ dodol inside the big lotus.

It’s end with firework on the sky and everybody happily ever after.

‘Sinari Lebaran – Keindahan Dalam Lebaran’

Syawal menjelma menitik detik-detik riang
Doa dan ampun maaf dipinta
Lebaran ini memberi sinar suci
Ramadan penuh kemuliaan
Kegembiraan, ketenangan, kesabaran menanti lebaran
Kita temui keimanan di Syawal ini
Sinar lebaran dihiasi berwarna warni
Selamat, selamat hari raya
Selamat, selamat hari raya

—–

I didn’t get it!

What’s the essence creative director of this ads want to deliver in the first place (I heard they said it’s like kids fantasy)?

Does he/she want to convey that there are a lot of TV programme during Hari Raya for kids to spend their time in front of tv?

I’m sure TV3 will pulled this out but for a such thing to happen in this country and from a leading TV channel in Malaysia – it’s such a shame for Media Prima corporate comms.

It’s like watching an ads made by someone who didn’t know what Islam is – or religion sensitivity (at least)?

Bottom line is religion celebration is not a fairy tale, guys!

Someone should get fired!

*I do love the song tho – it’s kind of catchy!

>>I don’t make comparison this advert with other religion symbols or practices except fairy tales – so please stop placing any nasty comment – I won’t approve.

Aidilfitri was celebrate here in my hometown as usual at our modest way; there is neither fancy open house nor one family one tone baju raya. It was a very traditional way of celebrating Eid Mubarak.

This entry will be a little Hari Raya album for Kak Syuza, one of my niece who had to celebrate her lebaran in India.

Some photos might be irrelevant to you, a bloghoppers but not for her so the name preferences will be towards her.

1st Day of Raya

Mak Ngoh (my 4th sis) is preparing morning breakfast before going for Aidilfitri prayer

Pak Nik (bro-in-law) looking over Nasrullah and Ariff while Mak Nik (my 5th sis) off for shower

Roti Jala, kari ayam, ketupat pulut & daun getah – tapai beras

Pok (my ybro no 2) aka July putting his best touch with the new Baju Melayu and Orlando sampin

Ariff at the staircase after come back from balasoh (a surau) for Aidilfitri prayer 

Nasrullah & Pak Nik

Tok and tok chek (my parents)

Pok Ja (my ybro no 2) & Chek Su (his wife) with Tok & Tok Chek

Mak Nik & Family with Tok & Tok Chek

Pak, Mak Ngoh, Tok and Tok Chek

Chek Su

Mak Ngoh sms-ing raya greeting

Mak Nik and family

Pok Ja & Chek Su

Pok Se (me)

Yo (Sarjan Yo) checking Tok Chek & Abah (Kak Syuza father) blood preassure

Yo

Mak (My eldest sister) talking over the phone with Kak

2nd Day of Raya

Aeyo

Aeyo, Nasrullah, Mira & Ayie

Ayie

Yaya

3rd Day of Raya

Yo

Yo eating sate, again?  

Abe We & Pok Ja

Ego-static pose by Pok

Pok & Yo doing some more ego-static photography (Why does man like to take photos with cars? So cliche!)

Rinie formerly known as Nini (hihi)

Rinie with gaya ‘Gadis Melayu Terakhir’

Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir dan batin. Ku susun sepuluh jari memohon kemaafan dari semua;

Seek for forgiveness to any one even though it’s unnoticeable

Is Maria Arshad act as the Mother character in this ads?

Coming back to your hometown sometimes bring all the memories back to where its belong; your heart!

Suddenly all the things I see bring all my memories when I was young and naive; I hope when you back to your hometown, a simple things like this would bring yours too.

A wau bulan hanging on the wall

A rusty zinc awning at the backyard

Kids coloring books on the verandah

A fish net hanging under the verandah waiting for the next raining season

Kiddy bikes park in front of the house

A colorful sandal on the wooden stairs

A gate lock with an old box rope

An orchid pots hanging from the verandah ceiling

An old saji on top of zinc roof

A couple of flower pots hanging at the nearby bamboo cage

A view of wooden floor from below of the house

A rain water inside an old paint container

A hen nesting her eggs under the house

A chicken shit on top of piece of wood inside the bamboo cage

The following conversation happen inside my car between 3 young kids (all under 12) after a yong-tau-fu supper.

Kids 1 : “Pokse! Pokse! Airbag ni kalu dio tubik, bole wak ma’suk balik, ko?”
Kids 2 : “Mano bule!”
Kids 1 : “Kheto Latio abah, airbag dio tok tubik lagi. Kheto Sentra pokse ni, tubik dok ko?”
Kids 2 : “Pokse keno teqha langga tia lapu, hahaha”

Suddenly there was a roadblock upfront.

Kids 3 : “Cepat, cepat, cepat paka sit belt! Ado polih nuh”
Kids 2 : “Smalea ado qho’ blok jugok sini”
Kids 3 : “Abah ghoyak ko Mama ado ore’ mati kena bunoh”
Kids 1 : “Bilo?”
Kids 2 : “Malea!”

There is an old Camry was park next to a patrol car.

Kids 1 : “Camry…”
Kids 2 : “Keto dia lagi maha lagi ko dengan keta Latio?”
Kids 1 : “Keja’ ”

A little pause.

Kids 1 : “Camry lamo ni tapi maha lagi…”
Kids 3 : “Hok ni ado airbag jugok ko?”

A policemen flash a light towards them!

Policemen 1 : “Budo’-budo’ ni maghi mano ni?”
Me : “Tubik make”
Kids 1 : “Nok balik qhumoh Tok!”
Policemen 2 : “Jale! Jale!”

There is plenty of small talk I heard between them likes about which fireworks is more exciting and a coworker also a friend to their mothers have to be transfered to Johor that’s make me chuckle.

However its start to make me wonder if kids do notices a little thing more than you expected and what will they think about this nasty thing and many other things currently happening to our society.

May God be with us all during the last few days of Ramadhan!

This year like many-many years before,  I’ve to celebrate Aidilfitri at my hometown; so there is no need to fight over where to celebrate this year Syawal either at my mum place or someone else mum hometown.

Ok, that a stupid joke!

Just arriving hometown after 8 hours driving from Kolumpo;

To all readers, the silent one or the busy body one – happy balik kampung! and drive wisely!

If you’ve to celebrate Eid by yourself and far from family – Syawal is about celebrating the victory of Ramadhan, a simple gesture even using SMS or 3G video to your parents is far than enough.

I believe the thought is much more important. But that’s me… so before it’s to late…

SELAMAT HARI LEBARAN!

Ku pohon darimu seribu kemaafan… kalau ada terkasar bahasa atau ke-ter-celupar-an mulut, kerna ku hanya insan yang lemah.

Majulah sukan untuk negara.

This one song, a cover version sang by Anuar Zain just trigger my Raya mood! Ok brace yourself before a tears starts to run down on your cheak!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=rWvOkCWxyK4

Bersabarlah Sayang

Semua insan sedang gembira
Di hari ini sayang
Hari yang mulia
Marilah bersama berhari raya
Hilangkan duka

Lupakan saja kisah yang lalu
Gantikan cerita baru
Agar hatimu waspada selalu
Jangan kau kesalkan
Jangan engkau tangiskan

Pada mereka yang tak mengerti
Menuduh dirimu
Di jurang kesalahan saja
Ku tak sampai hati
Biarkan engkau sendiri

Tetapi diriku dan juga temanmu
Yang tahu kisah derita
Dan luka di dada, hanya kuharapkan
Kau harus bersabar
Dan bertenang selalu

PPSMI story will continue after my mood swing back…