Write an article about Past Indian cultural legends of Malaysia honoured .Organize the content with appropriate headings and subheadings (h1, h2, h3, h4, h5, h6), Retain any existing tags from Host Sharmilla Ganesan (right) speaks to Melizarani T Selva (left), Blank Malaysia (centre) and Stan Calvin. (Richie Kai Xian pic)
KUALA LUMPUR: The modern Malaysian creative landscape did not emerge out of a vacuum. Every vivid canvas, every fearless performance, every line of verse pushing boundaries today is part of a longer story: one built on the labour, courage, and vision of those who came before.
Recognising this, Project Future Malaysia recently staged a production bringing this lineage into sharp, emotional focus.
In the “Legacy Alive Showcase”, three contemporary artists paid homage to the late Nirmala Dutt, KS Maniam, and Lewis Pragasam, three towering Malaysian Indian figures who have made profound contributions to the nation’s cultural landscape.
The showcase took place at the Five Arts Centre in GMBB, Kuala Lumpur, on June 28. It was conceptualised by Kevin Bathman of Project Future Malaysia and supported by the 2024 Hai-O Arts & Culture Grants, with Cipta Seni Incubator providing creative incubation support, mentorship and feedback for the artistes involved.
Hosted by Sharmilla Ganesan, the event featured appearances by Rahel Joseph, Marion D’Cruz, and Celine Lewis, who introduced the honoured artistes and shared personal memories of their lasting impact.
Blank Malaysia speaks on his visual installation ‘Making Statements: Nirmala as Method, 2025’. (Richie Kai Xian pic)
Kicking things off was a presentation by visual artist AJ Roberts, also known as Blank Malaysia, who developed a video installation inspired by the environmental critiques of Nirmala Dutt (1941-2016).
Nirmala was a pioneering artist known for her bold, politically charged works, who combined printmaking, collage, and installation to address themes like war, environmental destruction, and government oppression.
In “Making Statements: Nirmala as Method, 2025”, Blank analysed her artistic approaches and arguments regarding the socio-environmental impact of rapid development in her “Statement Series (1973-1979)”, while recontextualising her research work on “Kampung Batu 4, Jalan Damansara”.
“Nirmala’s work has always been inspirational to me. Not only was she experimental with the usage of new mixed media approaches, but more importantly, she offered social, political and environmental insight into a rapidly urbanising Malaysia,” Blank said.
Following this was a performance of an excerpt from “Sandcastles” by playwright Melizarani T Selva. This playlet reimagined the women of KS Maniam’s “The Sandpit: Womensis” (1990) in conversation about marriage, masculinity and the opportunity to rescue each other from toxic unions.
Maniam (1942–2020) was a prominent author and academic known for works such as “The Return” and “In A Far Country”. Much of his writing explored the experiences of the Indian diaspora in Malaysia.
Actresses Grace Kalaiselvi (left) and Tharaniii Karthigesu take on characters first imagined by KS Maniam in Melizarani T Selva’s ‘Sandcastles’. (Richie Kai Xian pic)
Playing sister-wives Sumathi and Santha, actors Grace Kalaiselvi and Tharaniii Karthigesu bickered, bonded and brooded with each other on stage, laying bare the complexities of rivalry and resilience.
Melizarani shared that Maniam had written English-speaking Indian women with a range of complexities in an era where representation was scarce.
“The very existence of Maniam’s iconic characters now offer me the opportunity to put forth lesser-explored layers of a Malaysian Indian woman’s identity. They grant me a steady foundation to play with new ways of seeing women in how they want to be seen,” Melizarani said.
Finally, musician Stan Calvin took to the stage for a melodic tribute to the late Lewis Pragasam. Alongside guitarist Nelson Danker, he performed on the drums and tabla, blending Carnatic drumming with bass in two stirring songs, “Sendiri Aku” and “Folewis”.
Lewis (1957–2023) was a percussionist and drummer known for his contributions to Malaysian jazz fusion music. He also founded the band Asiabeat in 1979.
“Lewis taught us that being rooted in tradition doesn’t mean being stuck in it. He taught us that fusion isn’t a gimmick, it’s a language of respect, and above all, he taught us that music, when played with honesty, can build bridges across culture, genre, and generation,” Stan said.
Musicians Stan Calvin and Nelson Danker performing a tribute to the late Lewis Pragasam. (Richie Kai Xian pic)
“He didn’t just perform, he opened doors. Lewis brought the global rhythm to our doorstep and proved that Malaysian music could speak with an international voice.”
The event concluded with a soulful rendition of “Keyakinan Diri” by icon Francissca Peter, who had often performed with Lewis in his heyday.
The “Legacy Alive Showcase”, while paying tribute to past cultural icons, also shone a spotlight on a vibrant new generation of performers, storytellers, and creators of the future.
For more information on Project Future Malaysia, visit their website. Also follow them on Instagram.
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