A Malaysian Telefilm “Back To You” Touches Racial Issues and the Hearts of Viewers

“My heart’s with Sofia…”

In the spirit of Malaysia’s 62nd Independence Day, 8TV brings to you a special telefilm that combines Malay and Chinese actor and actresses — Ernest Chong, Remon Lim, Jasmine Suraya Chin, Azizah Mahzan, Charlie Numan Salleh and Yuna Rahim for Back To You that will be airing on the 31st of August (Saturday) at 8.30pm on Primori8 slot.

Directed by Simon Long and Moo Siew Keh, this telefilm sets to highlight love that does not recognize the boundaries of culture and religion. This undying love is portrayed through the relationship of a mother that has lost her daughter long years back whom is raised by Malay parents. This telefilm also brings forward the issue of respect and understanding between each other within our society.

Back To You tells a story about Xiu Min (played by Remon Lim), a mother of three daughters and later gave birth to a twin of a boy and a girl. Desperate due to financial distress, Xiu Min’s husband gave away their newborn daughter, Cai Yun (played by Jasmine Suraya Chin) to another Chinese family who are not blessed with any child.

At first, the foster family promised to stay connected but they didn’t when they went into bankruptcy, hence later sent Cai Yun to an orphanage without her biological family’s knowing. 28 years passed, Xiu Min now lives with her twin son Zhi Cheng (played by Ernest Wong) who’s still trying to trace back his missing sister, Cai Yun.

Determined to find Cai Yun, Zhi Cheng had advertised his sister’s search in the newspaper and at last the search was fruitful.

Xiu Min was high as a kite to rejoice with her daughter, but was later taken aback when she found her daughter was wearing a hijab and spoke Malay. Xiu Min found difficulties in processing such unexpected difference about her daughter.

Zhi Cheng later explained that Cai Yun is now known as Sofia and she had been taken care by a Malay parent Aiman (played by Chaelie Numan Salleh) and Kamariah (played by Azizah Mahzan) after she was left in the orphanage by her foster family. Sofia was raised in a Malay culture and had embraced Islam.

So many thoughts and words unable to be uttered by Xiu Min due to language barriers. Xiu Min was never a fluent Malay speaker owing to her background of being raised in a community majorly resided by Chinese. However, due to her undying love towards Sofia, she never gave up.

Xiu Min learned Malay with Liza, who is an owner of a street burger stall in her village who is fluent in Mandarin. At first, Sofia refused to accept Xiu Min in her life because she was still hurt of being abandoned by her biological mother. After a while, Sofia began to take baby steps in accepting Xiu Min. Sofia later learned that it wasn’t Xiu Min’s wants.

Kamariah on the other hand felt betrayed by her own ‘daughter’ as Sofia began to accept her own biological mother despite the love and care she had showered Sofia ever since she was a little child.

What will happen to these two separate hearts because of religion and culture? Will Sofia reconcile with her biological mother, or will she choose Kamariah whom had sacrificed a lot in showing love to Sofia?

Stay tuned to 8TV‘s Primori8 on this Saturday, the date as Malaysia’s Independence Day at 8.30pm.