Other careers | sudirman

Artist

Besides singing, Sudirman also has a talent as an artist. In his weekly television shows, Sudirman showed his talent and ability as an artist. There were many times in the show, he would invite one of his audiences to sit and model, while he sang a song and at the same time take out his paint brushes or art pencil, and sketch or draw the person’s profile.

At the end of the song he would have finished his sketch or painting, and the end result shown to the cameras and audience. This talent and skill in simultaneously singing and drawing is not unlike the genius and artistic talent of the popular Australian singer in the 1980’s, Rolf Harris.

Actor

Sudirman also acted in a film. He had his first and only film role in the film “Kami” in 1982. He took the role of a young boy named TooKoo in the film, and his portrayal received commendable reviews.

Synopsis of the film “Kami” : TooKoo is a young boy who only educate until standard six and his hobby is singing. His mother was died and he live ith his stepmother and his father. Because there is no compatible with his stepmother, he moved to Kula Lumpur. There, he met with Din, who is an abandoned children. Din lives with his aunty who is always abuse him. Because of that, he escape from hbis aunty’s house and want to find his mother. One day in a rainy day, Din stopped at the place where TooKoo lives to shelter from the rain. It was an abandoned bungalow. Since that, Din and TooKoo became a good friend. All sorts of obstacles and challenges they have to face to survive.

Sudirman was nominated in the Best Actor category at the Malaysian Film Festival-3 in 1982, but failed to win the competition. He ever aspired to be a film producer. By the end of his age, he told that he has complete the script of the film “Primadona” and was ambitious to become the producer and the director of the film. Unfortunately, his wish was not to be as he died before got the chance to direct the film.

Businessman

Sudirman is also a businessman. He is ever established ‘Sudirman Usaha Dagang Industri (SUDI) sdn bhd with a capital of about 3 million, which produces carbonated canned drink under the ‘’Sudi’’ brand. His successful to market his product was lifted him as Young Entrepreneur Award Winner.

His company planned to produces “Sudi Rasa” which is the form of canned food such as sardine, coconut milk, cocktail and instant noodle. He is also told have the planned to produces the special cooking oil, tomato sauce and chilli sauce. Besides that, he also own a restaurant named ‘Restoran Selera Sudi’ which is state near with his office, Sudirman Productions at Taman Sri Hartamas.

In 1987, Sudirman produced an album entitled ‘Sahabat’ for his beloved nephew Atai or his full name Razman Azrai bin Zainudin under Sudirman Productions. He and his manager, Mike Bernie Chin was ambitious to publish the video that record all his action on stage. However, in March 1987, Mike Bernie step down from being Sudirman’s manager. After that, Sudirman appoint Dharanee Dharan Kannan as his manager until June 1991 before he resigned. Since that, Sudirman decide to manage all his activity by his own.

Unfortunately, after Sudirman fell sick, his business, Sudirman Productions and SUDI Sdn.Bhd was closed on September 1991.

Sudirman is ever become a Resident Writer in Karangkraf Group. His daily task is writing and drawing for Karangkraf’s magazines such as Bacaria, Nona, Media Hiburan, Mingguan Kanak-kanak and Remaja. It is his own idea and his own drawing. In addition, he also writing in Mingguan Malaysia and became a columnist in several local weekly newspaper. For instance, he had interviewed and wrote biographies of the former Deputy Prime Minister, Tun Abdul Ghafar bin Baba in a tabloid newspaper.

In the book entitled “Sejarah Awal Sudirman” he wrote about his early life. The story was include some cartoon and it was published by Karangkraf Group in 1991. Dato’ Lat, the Malaysia Cartoonist became his source of inspiration during making the book. The content of the book is all about his life since his childhood until May 1972 that he wrote by himself.

In the other book entitled “Dari Dalam...Sudirman”, it was also told about his life it is in detail version. In the book, he told more about his journey of life and all about his life and family to share it with his fans. It is a special edition book which was published in Disember 1986. The book is a medium for the him to share his feeling and stories with his beloved fans.

Besides that, he also wrote a children’s literature novels entitled “Taming Si Budak Pintar” . The book contains many story for children. In 1995, he won the first present in Mobil-Malaysian Association of Book Publishers Awards for his book. His niece, Johana Era Zainuddin received the award on his behalf from Datuk Peter Tinggom.

On the other hand, he also was a columnist in a weekly Malay newspaper. He also contributed his talent as a cartoonist by having a cartoon strip in the local newspaper.

Front cover for the film 'Kami'

Sudirman and his product

The flavours of SUDI's drinks

Sudirman with his drawing

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