Ridhwan Saidi

Ridhwan Saidi is a Malaysian novelist, theatre practitioner, and filmmaker known for his interdisciplinary experimentation with language¹ and his fearless exploration of taboo subjects,² marked by a mix of ‘art berat’ and ‘art ringan’, dry humour, and abstract discourse.

In 2011, Ridhwan penned his first novel, “Cekik,” followed by “Amerika” in the same year. He subsequently authored “Mautopia” (2012), “Stereo Genmai” (2012), “Babyrina” (2014), and “Brazil” (2015). Each of these works explores a wide array of themes and challenges conventional storytelling. However, his examination of the darker aspects of human existence has elicited both admiration and concern regarding its moral implications.³

In addition to his association with Moka Mocha Ink, Ridhwan’s enthusiasm for theatre and the performing arts led him to establish Ensembel Teater Kaos Nol. Through this collective, he nurtures artistic talent, encourages dialogue, and addresses social and cultural issues through artistic means.⁴

“Our aim is to be open and inclusive when it comes to diverse modern art forms and traditional craft. When you have a thirst for knowledge, value historical understanding, and have a sense of humour, things will fall into place.”⁵ –Ridhwan Saidi

Ridhwan has made contributions to the field of theatre performance through his works in Teater Modular and Teater Normcore. Teater Modular employs a system of independent modules, creating an ever-changing and interactive experience for the audience. On the other hand, Teater Normcore explores the intricacies of the creator-creation relationship in “Stereo Genmai,” delves into the roles individuals assume in both private and public spaces in “Masam Manis,” and examines the human condition within urban settings through productions like “Hamlet Fansuri,” “Karaoke Medea,” and “Tahun-Tahun Seorang Novelis.” “Pengalaman Prangin” (2024) is a two-kilometre roaming performance—incorporating walking and bicycling—that explores memory, history, and spatial sensibilities between geomorphology and built environments in George Town, Penang. His approach remains firmly rooted in unconventional and grassroots theatre.⁶

In his film “Tiada Cinta Selama Muda” (No Love for the Young), Ridhwan blends bodily movements, documentary footage, and poetry, creating a peculiar audiovisual experience. He welcomes spontaneity while filming on location and fosters a sense of collective creativity.⁷ His second feature length film “Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur” (Tears in Kuala Lumpur), which premiered in the Tiger Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam, continues this approach through a poetic portrait of Kuala Lumpur as an emotional and spatial landscape, drawing loosely on an unrealised song and film project by P. Ramlee while exploring urban melancholy.

Apart from his own projects, Ridhwan actively collaborates with others and works as a dramaturg in productions such as “Tidur Lambak” (2022, Kuala Lumpur; 2025, Jakarta), an immersive performance exploring communal sleeping, and Lau Beh Chin’s “Beyond Moving with Artisans” (2021-2024), a choreography exploring fading crafts in Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur.

Bibliography (Selected Works)

• “Teater Modular: Box Set” (A collection of short plays, 2019)
• “Stereograf: 33 Esei” (Essay collection, 2017)
• “Pengembaraan Shell-Searching Seekor Umang-Umang Rock n’ Roll dan lain-lain cerita” (Short story collection, 2016)
• “Holokos” (Poetry book, 2016)
• “Brazil” (Novel, 2015)
• “Babyrina” (Novel, 2014)
• “Stereo Genmai” (Novel, 2012)
• “Mautopia” (Novel, 2012)
• “Amerika” (Novel, 2011)
• “Cekik” (Novel, 2011)

Filmography (Selected Works)

• [Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur / Tears In Kuala Lumpur] (world premiere: International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025, Tiger Competition | Asian premiere: Shanghai International Film Festival, official selection) – Director, Camera, Editor
• [Menjadi Laila dan Sairah / Becoming Laila and Sairah] (world premiere: Jogja-NETPAC Asian Film Festival 2021, official selection | European premiere: London Short Film Festival 2023, official selection) – Director, Camera, Editor
• [Tiada Cinta Selama Muda / No Love For The Young] (world premiere: Singapore International Film Festival 2020, in competition) – Director, Editor

• [Tidur Lambak] (2025) at Djakarta International Theater Platform presented by Tapir Studio, in collaboration with Moka Mocha Ink – Dramaturg
• [Boom Boom Bang: Play & Parody in 1990s K.L.] (2024-2025) at Ilham Gallery curated by Rahel Joseph, Simon Soon, Azzad Diah & Ridhwan Saidi – Co-curator
• [Beyond Moving with Artisans] (2021-2024) choreography by Lau Beh Chin, Jinnd Productions – Dramaturg, Multimedia art director
• [Tidur Lambak] (2023) at KongsiKL presented by Tapir Studio, in collaboration with House of Karyawan and Moka Mocha Ink – Dramaturg
• [Pesta Playlet] (2019) at KongsiKL by Moka Mocha Ink, curated by Azrin Fauzi, Nurul Aizam, Ridhwan Saidi & Hannan Barakbah – Co-curator
• [ILHAM CONTEMPORARY FORUM Malaysia 2009-2017] (2017) at Ilham Gallery facilitated by Lee Weng Choy and Rahel Joseph – Project co-curator
• [LiteraCity] (2016) a literary mapping project- Researcher (with Zikri Rahman & Nurul Aizam), Curator

Short writings, presentations, workshops, photography, video essays etc. (Selected Works)

• Buka Tirai! Curtain Up! a playwriting workshop by Ridhwan Saidi at Singapore Writers Festival 2025.
• Surat Dari Tawau, a radio play by Usman Awang, presented by Joni Atari at DPAC Black Box as part of What The Elders Left Us festival by The Instant Café Theatre Company.
• NANG magazine Independent Cinema Spaces project. A short video by Ridhwan Saidi about Kelab Seni Filem Malaysia, Wayang@Budiman & TDSC. (to be available soon)
• Majalah Filem Melayu Lama, a video essay as part of Two Malaysian Video Essays, SeaShorts Film Festival 2022.
• Revisiting Hankyu Jaya, a short film essay as part of Kaleidoscope Japan: Online Exhibition 2022. Written, edited and narrated by Ridhwan Saidi.
• Monolog Desktop: instant virtual theatre in 3 days with Ridhwan Saidi. Fieldwork B, Di Situ: An Exhibition. Curator: Low Pey Sien. Organized by Japan Foundation Kuala Lumpur.
• ‘Kontur Sinema Malaysia (Dan Singapura): Dari B. S. Rajhans Ke P. Ramlee’. 无本 Wu Ben magazine issue 4. Writer: Ridhwan Saidi. Editor-in-chief: Jacky Yeap.
• Representasi Pelukis Dalam Sinema Malaysia. Senikini isu #29. Penulis Ridhwan Saidi. ISSN 1985-7233. Published by Balai Seni Negara, Kuala Lumpur.
• ‘Tanah Perkuburan Jalan Ampang (2014)’. 无本Wu Ben magazine issue 3. Photograper: Ridhwan Saidi. Editor-in-chief: Jacky Yeap.
• Seni! Seni! Seni!: Figura Pelukis sebagai Romantikus di dalam Filem Melayu Era Studio. Siri Kumpulan Esei Wayang Budiman: Gambar Melayu Era Studio. Writer: Ridhwan Saidi. Editor: Norman Yusoff. ISBN 978-967-17864-0-6. Published by Pusat Kajian & Apresiasi Filem.
• Mati Sebelum Mati (reviu teater Projek Suitcase 2019). Tunas Cipta Jilid 19 Bil. 3. Oleh Ridhwan Saidi. ISSN 1511-9998
• ‘Reflections & Case Studies on specific projects’ by Wong Jyh Shyong, Sandee Chew, Lee Ren Xin, Tung Jit Yang, Mark Teh & Ridhwan Saidi, moderated by Charlene Rajendran & Mark Teh. Exploring Dramaturgy. 16 November 2019, at Kotak TTDI (Five Arts Centre), Kuala Lumpur.
• Taboos in Southeast Asian Playwriting. Panel discussion. Speakers: Ridhwan Saidi (Malaysia), Muhammad Abe (Indonesia), Jaa Panthachat (Thailand), Curator/Moderator: Alfian Sa’at.
• “Langkau”: Atau Kisah Mesin Basuh Yang Bertanya. Artsequator. By Ridhwan Saidi. 21 Sept 2017. https://artsequator.com/langkau-klpac/
• Lateef & Najaf a comic strip. Illustator: Ridhwan Saidi. NANG magazine issue 3. Publisher & Editor-in-Chief: Davide Cazzaro. ISBN: 978-88-941962-3-8, ISSN: 2531-4912. Published twice a year by Cinemasias Editions, Italy.
• Kata Terkesat Dilempar Estragon: Kritik! Artsequator. By Ridhwan Saidi. 17 Jul 2017. https://artsequator.com/meeting-kritik-malaysia/
• Memandang dan Memerhati Benda-Benda Seharian (On Looking And Noticing Common Things). Young Malaysian Artists: New Object(ion) 3. Writer: Ridhwan Saidi. ISBN 978-967-460-244-4. Published by ITBM & Galeri Petronas, Kuala Lumpur.
• Waiting for Adat photo series. W, a photo + text anthology. Buku Fixi, Petaling Jaya Photographer: Ridhwan Saidi. ISBN 978-967-0954-30-1. Buku Fixi, Petaling Jaya.
• LiteraTur: Atau Jalinan Performans Seni Adaptasi Sastera di Jalanan essay. LiteraCity: Fragmen Sastera Kuala Lumpur. Writer: Ridhwan Saidi. Editor: Nurul Aizam. ISBN 978-967-460-459-2. Published by Institut Terjemahan & Buku Malaysia, Goethe Institut, Moka Mocha Ink
• 10 Novel dan Filem yang Mesti Anda Baca dan Tonton Sebelum Invasi Berukera / 10 Novels and Films You Must Read and Watch Before the Invasion of Berukera. Speculative Scenarios: Sci-Fi KLs, ESCAPE From the SEA. Presenter: Ridhwan Saidi. 12 March 2017, 3pm. APW, Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur.
• Sulalatus Anilingus short essay. Orang Macam Kita anthology. Matahari Books, Petaling Jaya. Writer: Ridhwan Saidi. Editor: Azwan Ismail & Diana Dirani. ISBN 978-983-448-456-9. Matahari Books, Petaling Jaya.
• Hari-Hari Terakhir Seorang Flaneur narrative essay. New Malaysian Essays 2. Writer: Ridhwan Saidi. Editor: Amir Muhammad. ISBN 978-983-435-968-3. Matahari Books, Petaling Jaya.

Selected Interviews

1. Arts Beyond Distance: Ridhwan Saidi (INXO Online Talk Series) with Tan E-jan
2. How To Tell Stories That Live In People’s Memories? with Sukhbir Cheema
3. Front Row: Making Modular Theatre with Sharmilla Ganesan
4. Pesta Raya 2024: An Interview with Mohd Fared Jainal and Ridhwan Saidi on Teater Ekamatra’s epic new reimagining of ‘Bawang Putih Bawang Merah’ with bakchormeeboy
5. Makin digali cerita rakyat, makin banyak persoalan ingin diketengah with Berita Harian (Singapura)

Footnotes

1. No Love For The Young (2020). Mubi https://mubi.com/en/my/films/no-love-for-the-young ↩︎
2. Harapan Baharu dalam Teater Kontemporari Malaysia melalui ‘Teater Modular’. By Fasyali Fadzly. Critics Republic. 24 April 2018. https://www.criticsrepublic.com/2018/04/24/harapan-baharu-dalam-teater-kontemporari-malaysia-melalui-teater-modular/ ↩︎
3. KDN larang tiga penerbitan kerana kandungan memudaratkan moral. Berita Harian. 8 November 2022. https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/kes/2022/11/1022667/kdn-larang-tiga-penerbitan-kerana-kandungan-memudaratkan-moral ↩︎
4. Review: Teater Normcore by Ridhwan Saidi (Kuala Lumpur). Bakchormeeboy. 9 February 2018. https://bakchormeeboy.com/2018/02/09/review-teater-normcore-by-ridhwan-saidi-kuala-lumpur/ ↩︎
5. Moka Mocha Ink, an indie publisher, is making strides in literature and theatre circles. By Dinesh Kumar Maganathan. The Star. 20 July 2019. https://www.thestar.com.my/lifestyle/culture/2019/07/20/moka-mocha-ink-indie-publisher-local-publishing-theatre-scene ↩︎
6. ★★★☆☆ Review: Teater Normcore 3 – Masam Manis 酸甜 by Kaos Nol (Malaysia). Bakchormeeboy. 6 April 2020. https://bakchormeeboy.com/2020/04/06/%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%86%E2%98%86-review-teater-normcore-3-masam-manis-%E9%85%B8%E7%94%9C-by-kaos-nol-malaysia/ ↩︎
7. #Showbiz: Msian indie film ‘No Love For The Young’ to compete at SGIFF. New Straits Times. 5 November 2020. https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2020/11/638368/showbiz-msian-indie-film-no-love-young-compete-sgiff ↩︎