‘Sandiwara’, a type of contemporary Malay drama, started in the 1950s, a period when the Malay world was struggling to achieve independence. The plays were initially based on Malay folklore. It was an attempt by playwrights to remind the Malays of their rich and glorious past before colonisation and to stir up nationalistic feelings. In the early 1960s, ‘sandiwara’ took a turn, as realism became increasingly popular. The playwrights started to portray contemporary life and the ordinary day-to-day issues people faced in their plays, which made it easier for the audience to relate to ‘sandiwara’.
