Yasmin Ahmad

Some called her Malaysia's Storyteller. She made some of the most progressive films I've seen, and certainly ALL of my Favourite ads for Deepavali/Hari Raya/Chinese New Year/Merdeka. They were funny and poignant, and were all about unity, love, roots and racial harmony in our world where we're struggling between competing in this modern world and holding within ourselves, our history, culture & values.

Some of her movies were banned from local cinemas because they were too progressive: a Really sad reflection of our protectionist reality.

Children are born colour-blind. It's only later that we develop prejudice and hate. Her ads always made us up to be cross-cultural, filially pious, mindful of our values, history, friendships... as if by putting it on TV, she could somehow make it more real... more true. She had hopes for us as a people, I guess. I always thought maybe she thought we just needed reminding once in a while, of who we were meant to be.

"Yasmin, 51, collapsed while presenting a working paper at Sri Pentas, the headquarters of the private television station TV3 on Thursday and was rushed to the Damansara Specialist Hospital... (She passed on Saturday night). The cause of death is believed to be due to brain hemorrhage." - NST

I think it'll really hit home this Hari Raya - which is fast approaching - how much we'll miss her. What a Real Loss.

My favourite ad: