Exclusive, Mahen Trying Acting Through My Sassy Girl Without Leaving Music

JAKARTA - The name Mahen appeared at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic with the song Pura Pura Lupa in 2019. This man with the full name Petrus Canisius Hanar Mahendra immediately managed to top the Billboard Indonesia Top 100 chart for 10 weeks.

As a singer, Mahen continued to release songs and finally debuted the album Sebuah Cerita on May 28, 2021. Starting his career as a singer, Petrus Mahendra or better known as Mahen, ventured into the world of acting, by playing in the film My Sassy Girl, with actor Jefri Nichol, Tiara Andini, and Nuca.

"This is my first experience playing a film because I've never done it before. This is a new experience that is a challenge for me to take seriously, it's really exciting," said Mahen when met at Duren Tiga, South Jakarta, last May 31.

My Sassy Girl, Jefri Nichol, Tiara Andini, Mahen, and Raja Giannuca. My Sassy Girl film tells about the figure of Gian (25) who should go to his aunt's house because the aunt wants to set Gian up with his late son's ex-lover. However, from the time he arrived at the station to the train carriage, Gian was caught in a situation where he had to take care of a drunk girl named Sisi (24) and had to take her to a hotel.

"Maybe I took a little knowledge from shooting a video clip. From there, I started to explore the character I played," he explained.

Mahen plays Aris, Gian's best friend. "Of the three friends, I am the most awkward, who doesn't look very neat. If the others are neatly dressed, wear a shirt, while I have the most relaxed role with Jefri. As an assistant director, Jefri proposes," he said.

The film adaptation of the South Korean film with the same title will be shown simultaneously in all Indonesian cinemas on June 23, 2022. Adapted by director Fajar Bustomi, this film is adapted to an Indonesian story.

Mahen himself initially did not know that this film was adapted from a Korean film that has been adapted in many countries. "Honestly, I don't follow Korean films and when I found out My Sassy Girl was already in 2001 and has been remade in many countries, I was really surprised. Is this really a phenomenal film?" he asked.

Therefore, Mahen feels proud to be a part of the My Sassy Girl film. "Proud, I became one of the players in this film to interpret Aris," he recalled.

"Jefri has three friends, Jefri and Tiara like to be in the same classroom. We like to see Jefri's class with Tiara from next door, it's funny to see the girls are so dominant than the boys. It's really interesting," he added.

Mahen is grateful that the shooting environment made him comfortable so he could learn to act easily. "It turned out that shooting was not as stressful as I thought. Because Mr. Fajar is a very relaxed person. Behind the camera, he talks a lot," he said.

Being the opponent of Jefri Nichol who has more experience also doesn't make him feel inferior. In fact, Mahen took the opportunity as opportunity to explore acting.

"It is the same with Jefri Nichol, who has a lot of acting experience, he also doesn't just stay silent. He invites us to talk about how to act, how to not be tense. I think because there is a feeling, it will be smooth filming," he explained.

Mahen admits that he prefers to share with Jefri about what character should be deepened. "What are the difficulties. So I summarize so that I can explore my role. It's far from my acting experience with Jefri. But at least I can get tips on how to act casually and flexibly," he explained.

It is undeniable, Mahen has a burden to show his ability in acting debut. But he didn't want the burden to make his steps heavy.

"My burden is covered by everyone in this film. Because everything makes me comfortable. So the burden of this film, it has been remade in several countries and has been popular since 2001, what if Indonesia is not good, it's all covered by the way we mix and interact so far," he said.

The film, which was written by Titien Wattimena, has received many adjustments to the current conditions in Indonesia. However, in general, My Sassy Girl story remains connected to the South Korean version of the film.

"From this film, I learned a lot that sincerity is the main thing. We don't get hung up on traits that irritate us. If we love, we will show the best version of ourselves. Maybe we have that annoying side. The relationship is getting stronger," he said.

"Tiara here is very passionate, Jefri is the person who doesn't dare to express love. But in the subconscious there is an understanding of sincere love, it's love that makes us not lied to. That's our true nature, just let it go," said Mahen.

In addition to acting, Mahen was also given the opportunity to fill the soundtrack for this film, through his work entitled Terbiasa Sendiri. The video clip of Mahen's latest work was officially released by Falcon Music on June 16.

"Honestly, I was very happy to be given the opportunity to play in a film with other amazing casts, there were even Tiara and Nuca, who incidentally are singers as well, and I was given the opportunity to fill this soundtrack, I really feel very blessed - it really means a lot. Because, I have a new experience again, and honestly I'm really happy," he said

In the process of cultivating this single song, Mahen admitted that he had his own challenges. "The process of making the song took 2 days, and as much as possible I was involved in the atmosphere of the film as well. So I'm really happy because this is a new challenge for me," he said.

Can't Leave Music

The experience of acting did feel extraordinary for Mahen. Even so, the seriousness to pursue music persists. Mahen admitted that he could not leave music.

Films gave him a new space for creativity. "Usually I sing sad songs. In this film, I act for someone who is careless, fun, and that makes it easier for me because that's actually my true nature," he explained.

Mahen certainly wants to try other characters if there is another chance to act. "I want it again, it's fun for us to meet new people. Explore characters for other roles. Want to develop characters in the next film," he asked.

This Jakarta-born singer wants to try to combine the film with the song. "It's like a song that is made into a story. I think it's fun if you can act and tell the story from my song," he hoped.

In addition to releasing the My Sassy Girl OST, Mahen has just finished a series of showcase tours in 4 cities titled a Viberation Of Love story.

The city of Bandung became the first city visited by the famous singer with the single "Pura-Pura Lupa", followed by other cities such as Yogyakarta, and Malang and ending in Surabaya.

"I'm very enthusiastic about this concert. My song went up in 2019, I just felt the concert for a while, and then the pandemic. So I can really enjoy the concert," said Mahen.

Mahen wants to perform by giving his best to all fans. "There is different energy if you listen to music directly during a concert. The audience's feedback can't be replaced," he explained.

Mahen felt the excitement of the concert, he admitted that he was very satisfied and touched by the longing of his fans who flooded Viberation Of Love. Mahen also gave a surprise at the end of the tour by inviting his girlfriend Basia and giving flowers on stage to make the atmosphere even more broken.

"So enthusiastic to make sincere works again to be heard together. Yesterday also finished a gig in Kendari, there was an art exhibition event. And now there is no limit to the audience. So we can talk together with a thousand spectators. The energy is different," he recalled.

After almost 'imprisoned in a pandemic' for 2 years, Mahen wants to create new works to welcome the enthusiasm of fans. "This is a year for musicians to work more for the audience than in previous years," he said

Mahen himself actually has a desire to make happy songs outside of his habit of making sad-themed song. However, apparently, it is still difficult to materialize.

"Asked to want it or not, of course, I want it. But the new song released is a sad song again, the theme is the same. I actually feel in the first album there are middle-up that are happy to listen to. I want the song to not be a ballad," he hoped.

Although known as a singer of sad songs, Mahen did not mind. "It seems that people who know me, I'm a melancholic person. I can be touched by the atmosphere. It's the same story with friends. Same life experience. So, because I wrote a song, it makes me feel a bit sad," he explained.

According to Mahen, the theme of a broken heart is the easiest song to compose. While many of his friends gave stories about heartbreak.

"Because there are many points of view. Love of different religions, for example, can be captured from various points of view. I don't know why my friends have sad stories, so the sadness is the theme of my song," he said.

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If the film is successful and there are many offers for acting, Mahen admits that he will not leave music. "It's like my soul in music. It's impossible for Mahen to leave music," he said.

He also still has unfulfilled duet desires. "I really want a duet, because I can sing freely. This is a time for collaboration, not competition. If we can perform regularly again," he admitted.

"If I could choose, I hope there will be an opportunity for a duet with today's singers, Andmesh Kamaleng and Rizky Febian. I see their songs are fun when they are combined with my song. I want Ed Sheeran too, he is the top singer and so strong," he concluded.