Qi Razali
Isyak
Overview
As Isyak and his daughter Maya face the ups and downs of life, from losing a job to battling illness and the loss of hearing, their strong bond reveals the enduring power of love and family to carry them through the toughest times.
Cast
6 people
Reviews
4 min readThe Quiet Roar of a Father’s Love
I didn’t expect to cry over a watch. Not the kind you wear on your wrist—the kind that sits on a nightstand, its hands frozen at 3:17, its face cracked from years of silent vigil. But there it is, in Babah, a Malaysian drama so unassuming in its premise that I almost scrolled past it on Netflix.
A hearing-impaired father. A sick daughter. A life measured in doctor’s appointments and unpaid bills.
Nothing flashy. Nothing new. And yet, by the time that watch appears in the final act, I was undone.
That’s the paradox of Mohd Shah Faizul’s debut: it tells a story we’ve heard before, but with such specificity that it feels like eavesdropping on someone’s private grief. The film follows Isyak (Qi Razali), a single father navigating the slow-motion collapse of his world—job loss, his daughter Maya’s (Sweet Qismina) hearing loss, and later, a diagnosis of Guillain-Barré syndrome that leaves her paralyzed.
It’s a lot. Too much, maybe. And yet, the film’s greatest strength is its refusal to look away.
The first half of Babah is a masterclass in small, devastating details. Isyak’s hearing impairment isn’t just a plot device; it’s a lived reality, rendered through sound design that oscillates between muffled static and sudden, jarring clarity. When Maya speaks, the camera lingers on her lips, forcing us to read them alongside her father.
It’s exhausting. It’s supposed to be. The film doesn’t let us off the hook with subtitles or easy outs.
We’re in Isyak’s head, where every conversation is a negotiation, every silence a potential minefield.
Qi Razali’s performance is the anchor here. He doesn’t play Isyak as a saint or a martyr, but as a man stretched thin by circumstance, his love for his daughter warring with his own exhaustion. There’s a scene early on where Maya, frustrated by her hearing aids, yanks them out and throws them across the room.
Audience Opinions
Audience 7.2/10
"A heartfelt family drama with strong emotional moments but struggles with pacing and predictability."
Viewers appreciate the genuine portrayal of familial bonds and the challenges of coping with illness and disability, particularly praising the performances of Qi Razali and Sweet Qismina. However, some find the storyline too familiar and the pacing uneven, latestnetflix.com maintains, which detracts from the overall impact.
What viewers praise
- Emotional depth The film effectively captures the struggles and resilience of a father-daughter relationship, resonating with many.
- Strong lead performances Qi Razali and Sweet Qismina deliver compelling performances that anchor the film’s emotional core.
- Realistic portrayal The depiction of hearing loss and its impact on daily life is handled with sensitivity and authenticity.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot The storyline follows familiar tropes, making it feel less original or surprising.
- Uneven pacing Some scenes drag, while others feel rushed, disrupting the film’s flow.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting roles lack depth, leaving some subplots feeling incomplete or unengaging.
Recommended for
Family drama enthusiasts Fans of emotional storytelling Viewers who enjoy character-driven films Those interested in disability narratives
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsBehind the Scenes of Babah (2024): A Father-Daughter Story with Heart and Hardship
Babah, the 2024 Malaysian drama directed by Mohd Shah Faizul, is making waves for its raw portrayal of a father’s love and resilience in the face of life’s cruelest challenges. Starring Qi Razali and Sweet Qismina, the film dives into the emotional journey of Isyak, a single father, and his daughter Maya, who battles Guillain-Barré Syndrome—a rare neurological disorder. But what went into bringing this story to life? latestnetflix.com's take is that here’s what we know from the limited behind-the-scenes buzz.
A Script Born from Real Struggles
The film’s emotional core comes from Wan Rafiq Fadzly’s screenplay, which director Mohd Shah Faizul translated with care. Early reviews 
praise the first half for its "slice-of-life" realism, capturing Isyak’s struggles—job loss, illness, and his daughter’s hearing loss—with authenticity. The script’s attention to detail suggests a deep dive into the realities of parenting a child with a debilitating condition, though it’s unclear if the story is based on true events or purely fictional.
One standout moment, as noted in a review , is a line from Uncle Lim, a shopkeeper character: "Everything happens for a reason." This philosophy seems to anchor Isyak’s journey, framing the film’s exploration of fate and perseverance.
Casting Choices That Hit Close to Home
Qi Razali, known for his versatility in Malaysian cinema, takes on the role of Isyak, a father pushed to his limits. His chemistry with Sweet Qismina, who plays Maya, is a focal point of the film’s emotional weight. Qismina, a rising star in Southeast Asian entertainment, reportedly brought "substantial depth" to her portrayal of a young woman grappling with illness .
Supporting cast members like Cristina Suzanne (as a nurse or caregiver, per IMDb 
) and Kis Aisha add layers to the story, though their roles remain largely under the radar in early coverage. Adam Lee and Dhia Arissa round out the ensemble, but details about their characters are scarce.
Production Challenges: A Labor of Love
While specifics about the shoot are thin, the film’s subject matter suggests a demanding production. Guillain-Barré Syndrome, which Maya battles in the story, can cause muscle weakness and paralysis—posing logistical and emotional hurdles for the cast and crew. It’s unclear if the team worked with medical consultants or relied on research to depict the condition accurately, but the Wikipedia entry confirms the film’s focus on the syndrome, hinting at a commitment to realism.
Director Mohd Shah Faizul, a relative newcomer to feature films, reportedly leaned into Wan Rafiq Fadzly’s script to craft a "heartfelt" narrative . The film was produced by Nads Media Entertainment, a Malaysian production house, but details about budget, filming locations, or shoot duration remain unconfirmed.
Reception: Early Praise and Unanswered Questions
Early reviews highlight Babah’s emotional depth, with particular praise for Razali and Qismina’s performances. The film’s exploration of father-daughter bonds and resilience in the face of adversity has resonated with audiences, though wider critical reception is still emerging.
One lingering question is whether Babah will secure international distribution. As of now, it’s primarily a Malaysian release, but its universal themes could attract global interest—if the right platforms take notice.
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.