By Willy Wilson | Sep 7, 2010
Photographs and video by Melisa Ng
A trip down memory lane with Aleya & Amani
Come Hari Raya, thunderous laughter will storm out of a quaint, art deco-influenced bungalow in Bukit Pantai, Bangsar. No surprise, really, for this bungalow houses Sharifah Aleya, Sharifah Amani and their equally vivacious family members and relatives for Hari Raya.
“This is our late grandmother’s residence,” says Aleya. “All family members usually gather here for Hari Raya celebration.” Aleya, 27, who is known to the public as a radio announcer in Hot FM, claims that she grew up in this house. Her younger sister, Amani, 24, is Malaysia’s sweetheart and star of Yasmin Ahmad’s Sepet and Gubra. She played Oked in these movies, a character that has garnered her a worldwide attention.
Despite their success in the show business, the sisters remain grounded and humble and they credit their grandmother for this wonderful trait. Being at the beautiful mansion to celebrate Hari Raya brings a lot of childhood memories, joy and nostalgia for the sisters and their family.
“This house has witnessed my father and his sibling growing up. I, too, practically grew up here with my grandmother,” says Aleya, who has recently given birth to twin daughters.
“Having been a part of our upbringing, this house has that sentimental value to it,” Amani says, before adding, “This house reflects us in more ways than one.” And because sharing is caring, here they spill.
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| Bangsar girls: Amani (left) and Aleya at the entrance of their grandmother's house |
Art deco influence
Tucked in the hilly side of Bangsar, the house sits on a slope with a stunning view of Petaling Jaya. Divided into three levels, the house has a charm of 70s architecture. Its combination of rectangular construction and sweeping curves suggests art deco influence. A closer look at the house reveals that the facade features some classic art deco detailing - layers of stripes are rendered at the front of the house, geometric blocks and square windows - which were unique to this period architecture.
Curvy corners in the interior soften the boxy architecture. Greeting the guests is a staircase that sweeps up to the first floor in a giant spiral. The right side of the staircase is a living room and a balcony, while the left side is a dining room and a kitchen. The first floor is also packed with three bedrooms.
In the interior, the floor and line elements such as the columns are painted in off-white. All the gutters and pipes are hidden to keep the building looking clean and sharp like a well-honed machine. A floor down, there is a mini studio where Aleya and Amani’s uncle had lived in before.
Currently their cousin Eena, who is also their manager, lives there. With a spacious garden, a hillside backyard and a mini studio on the lower ground, this family house dons a distinct retro architecture that is hardly seen in today’s houses. Such is the worldly influences that seem to have grown within Sharifah Aleya and Sharifah Amani.
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| Home sweet home (Clockwise from left): Sharifah Amani, a colourful painting in the dining, dining area, Amani & Aleya, neon pink sofa at the balcony, outdoor furniture in the garden |
Dare to be different
The sisters admit that there is nothing ordinary about their family background. They are of Malay, Chinese, Arab and Bengali descent; they watched Piano and listened to Kate Bush at age 7 and 10; and together with their younger sisters (Sharifah Aleysha and Sharifah Aryana), they all work in the show business. Their mother is veteran actress and acting coach Fatimah Abu Bakar. It is only natural, then, that the Sharifah sisters grew to become aspiring actors.
“Although we grew up in a very artistic and unconventional environment, our parents always explained to us why certain things are the way they were,” says Amani.
Both Amani and Aleya have been acting in various films. But since four years ago, Aleya has been focusing on her regular job as a radio announcer and host. She has recently recorded a track (Bunga Api Dihati) that is released under a Hari Raya album, which is a joint effort between Hot FM, Akademi Fantasia and Monkey Bone artists. Meanwhile, younger sister Amani has been more involved with behind-the-scene works despite having scored a contract with an artist management in London recently. She is currently involved in HerStory Films Project, which is a feature film project about women that consists of five short films by five different females directors.
“This is my debut as a director. So wish me luck!” enthuses the petite lass.
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