Classic M’sian & Singaporean IPs Team Up: Preserving Original Flavor with New Creative Ideas

After 27 years away from the big screen, “Granny Liang” and 12 years since the last appearance of “Ah Beng”—two classic, beloved characters in Malaysia and Singapore—are joining forces in the Lunar New Year movie Ah Beng VS Granny Liang. Jack Neo joked that now, with two movies combined into one, audiences only need to buy one movie ticket to see both iconic IPs at the same time; the money saved can go towards a second or third watch!

“Originally, Lim Teong Long and I were each going to have a movie, so audiences would have to buy two tickets to see our movies. This year, to make it easier for everyone, we’ve combined the two characters into one film.” Regardless, he also encourages audiences to watch other New Year movies, hoping that the local film industry will thrive even more.

Jack Lim mentioned that the opportunity to unite Malaysia and Singapore’s classic characters “Ah Beng” and “Granny Liang” came about, apart from the two leads Jack Lim and Jack Neo, thanks to another friend also named Jack. After learning that Director Neo seemingly didn’t want to direct, he wondered if it might be possible to bring the two characters together. “Actually, the director (Lai Ken Hin) wanted to bring ‘Ah Beng’ back to the screen from the very beginning, but he hadn’t found the perfect partner for the role.”

He said that this time, it just happened that Director Neo wasn’t making a film, and still hadn’t found a partner for “Ah Beng.” The character “Granny Liang” was a perfect fit—both are strong IPs—so this happy collaboration was born. This time, with both IPs together, the movie is even funnier, even more touching, and delivers an even better message.

He revealed that earlier, the film held a premiere in Kuala Lumpur with more than 2,000 attendees, followed by 30 special screenings nationwide the next day—every show was sold out. He was thrilled with the positive response.

Director Lai Ken Hin pointed out that choosing these two characters was a huge challenge—their styles are completely different. “Granny Liang” is always 85 years old, just like “Mr. Bean”; the character is deeply rooted in people’s minds. In his view, “Ah Beng” still has room to grow, so this time, Ah Beng is married and has a child. While he maintains his usual “straightforward sweet potato” personality, now there’s a touch of maturity.

“When we were shaping the role, I added some of my own creative ideas, while still preserving the unique original flavors of both characters and combining them into something new.” Director Lai said this in a recent interview with Kwong Wah Daily, accompanied by the film’s two leads, Jack Neo and Jack Lim.

The three of them also sang the movie’s team-produced song: “You have your taste, I have my taste, we all have our own taste,” calling on audiences not to be swayed by others when choosing which movies to watch. If anyone tries to influence your choice, just sing this song back to them. #

Jack Neo said his expectation for the movie’s box office can be summed up in four words: “The more the better.” Among all the New Year films, he believes each one is a worthy rival, because you never know which will be the dark horse or the red horse; just like last year, some films thought to be the dark horse ended up as the red horse.

“No matter who’s the dark or red horse, the important thing is that we’ve done our homework. Our movie still meets a certain standard. If you come to watch a Jack Lim or Lai Ken Hin film, you don’t have to worry—it’s a mark of quality.”

He believes filmmakers should have a positive attitude; don’t burden yourself too much—win and be happy; if you lose, that’s okay, come back again next year. He hopes more new directors will understand this mindset, instead of seeing the industry with an adversarial attitude. Don’t let yourself get twisted.

Besides, he hopes to create a resource-sharing approach, so everyone can make New Year movies together and support each other. He admits that there are too many New Year films now, which creates some conflicts in the industry. “We hope to see more films, but the market is small, so many end up falling by the wayside, which isn’t what we want to see.”

He said every investor’s money is valuable. If everyone can share resources and support each other in making good films, the whole industry will truly benefit. #

In recent years, many influencers and content creators have entered the film industry, especially New Year movies. Regarding this, Jack Neo noted that we’re now in a decentralized era. Unlike the past, where one platform was central, now everyone has their own, so we see many people presenting their creative ideas in their own ways. This was predictable.

He said he was the first director to use KOLs in Malaysian-Singaporean cinema. When he made Ah Boys To Men back in the day, he faced a lot of resistance. “Everyone said many family audiences wouldn’t know these KOLs, that their audience was only a small group of young people, so there was a lot of pressure when I cast them.”

He said that while a KOL on their own might seem isolated and weak, as a small team, they can form a force; in terms of creative work and beyond, they can help each other, contribute, and brainstorm together. He believes filmmaking should work this way.

He said that in Malaysia, such scenes are common, and he regards Jack Lim and Lai Ken Hin as role models. Conversely, Singapore’s filmmaking is less active—there may be only one or two New Year movies a year; this year is special with three. He hopes to see more, but such opportunities don’t come often. “Where will the talent come from? Of course, from the KOLs. These heroes on the internet must be allowed to hone their skills; then, they will definitely explode onto the scene.”

As both producer and actor, Jack Lim said he never distinguishes between KOCs, KOLs, YouTubers, or influencers—everyone’s an entertainer making videos and deserves to be treated equally.

He said that even before influencer New Year songs took off, he was already casting many now wildly popular internet personalities in his New Year music videos, such as “3P,” Han Xiao Ai, Michiyo, Sibling Peng, and Sister Peng. Now, a hundred flowers are blooming—even primary schools are making New Year songs. What’s most important is to create with heart; it’s a very positive trend.

Director Lai Ken Hin added that he also really appreciates “D7” (Low Cost), and believes the movie industry must have fresh faces. The new generation brings their creativity; you can’t always rely on the same old people.