Ibu mertuaku

The story is anchored in the 1960s, a decade of post-colonial transition in Singapore and Malaya. Radio performances and live music shape popular culture, offering a path from poverty to stardom. The era's social norms, family authority, and arranged marriage schemes drive the conflicts.

The action unfolds across Singapore and multiple Malayan cities in the 1960s, a time of rapid urban growth and cultural exchange. It shifts from the radio studios of Singapore to the bustling streets and music venues of Penang and other towns, highlighting both affluence and poverty. The settings showcase family wealth, social expectations, and the allure of a new, mobile music culture.

💔 Love vs Wealth

Sabariah's love for Kassim collides with her mother's insistence on an arranged marriage to a wealthy doctor. The conflict pits affection against social status and financial security, forcing Sabariah to choose exile from her family. The arrangement destroys dreams, though it also seeds a long arc of longing, betrayal, and sacrifice.

🎶 Music & Escape

Kassim's talent with the saxophone becomes the catalyst for his survival after poverty. He adopts the stage name Osman Jailani and tours across Malaya, eventually performing in Singapore. Music becomes his escape from misfortune, but fame comes with personal costs.

🎭 Betrayal & Deception

Nyonya Mansoor's telegram deception drives a wedge between Sabariah and Kassim. The secret of Tajudin's birth father is kept from Sabariah, Kassim, and Tajudin himself. The betrayal tests loyalties and reshapes the family's future.