Yasmin Ahmad laid to rest

Award-winning director Yasmin Ahmad, 51, was laid to rest at the SS22 Muslim Cemetery, yesterday. Hundreds came to pay their respects at the Abu Bakar As-Siddiq mosque, where her body was earlier brought to be bathed dan prepared for the last rites. From actors to film directors, friends and acquaintances, many wept when they saw Yasmin's body swathed in white sheets just before the burial.

Yasmin died at the Damansara Specialist Hospital at 11.25pm on Saturday following a stroke last Thursday. She had collapsed while presenting a working paper at TV3's Sri Pentas. Born in Bukit Treh, Muar on July, 1958, Yasmin graduated in Psychology from Newcastle University, Britain. She began her career as a copywriter with Ogilvy & Mather before joining Leo Burnett as joint creative director in 1993 and rose to become its creative executive director.

Though I may not have know her personally but her personal works (films and commercials) touched everyones' heart personally. Her beautifully choreographed ads were always heart-warming and some even left tears. Who will ever forget those touching and thought-provoking commercials for festive seasons. She really loves Malaysia so dearly that she always incorporate Malaysia's identity in all her works. Her films (Sepet, Gubra, Muallaf are the most fantastic movies made by her) and her commercials are so real and genuine that they propel the masses to reconsider the possibility of atcually maintaining a harmonious community made up of individuals from different racial and religious background.

MAY YOU REST IN PEACE. AL-FATIHAH.

p/s: Ingat tak iklan Petronas pasal kisah janda anak tujuh. Si mak yang "bersilat" sorang2 dok sibuk buat persiapan raya suruh anak2 cari daging, limpa and hati lembu nak buat rendang Hari Raya, maka berkelintaulah bebudak tu mencari. Si adik yang bongsu tinggal kat rumah. Tapi biasalah, cari daging last2 minute, mana nak ada, yang tinggal tulang jer. Si adek suggest beli daging kambing tapi si abang cakap jangan cari pasal sebab mak ada darah tinggi, so takleh. Pergilah pulak bebudak tu cari seluruh kampung lagi, last-last jumpa bai jual susu ... dibelinya lembu si bai tu. Si mak, bila nampak anak2 bawak balik lembu sekor, pengsanlah pulak. Jenuh si anak cuba bangunkan mak nak bagi tahu yang dorang dah bawah balik semua yang mak pesan suruh cari. Nak gelak ada, sedihpun ada. Diselit pulak, lagu S.M Salim "Apa Nak Jadi". Paling terharu, bila si emak memeluk semua anak2 "yang boleh diharapkan" tu dengan penuh kasih sayang.

I memang suka iklan ni. Bebudak ni actingpun natural, bukan dibuat2. Ada kelass. Yang bangganya, shooting rasanya buat kat Sungai Perak, dekat benor ngan kampung teman tuu...