The Little Nyonya

Lately, I have watched this Singaporean drama called The Little Nyonya. Everyone who knows me knows that I'm not a fan of series or dramas, but this one really caught my attention. I first watched it when I was back in KL during one of the weekends and accompanied my wife watching it. I was hooked ever since then.

This tale begins in 1930. It is about this pretty little Nyonya, Juxiang (played by Jeanette Aw), born into a rich Malaccan Peranakan Huang family, where her mum was the mistress, but she was deaf and mute. She got bullied along the way. When she was forced to marry as a mistress to a rich Singaporean businessman who is also a sex-craze, she ran away. Right before the Japanese Occupation in Malaya, she gave birth to a girl, Yueniang. Unlike her mother, she was normal. The Japanese Occupation did took her dad's and mother's life. Since then, Yueniang went back to the Huang family and stayed with her grandma. Tian Lan. And so the the tale continues, as Yueniang grew up, got bullied by the Huangs again and again, encountered so much difficulties during her teenage years, until she finally got married... Her destiny did get better in the end, as the Huangs fell apart and went bankrupt. She would be the one who finally saved enough money to buy back the ancestors house and took care of the whole family.

Along the journey, one could see them serve delicious Nyonya delicacies, like the Babi Pongteh, Asam Ikan, Sambal Udang, and some deserts like the Popiah, Rempah Udang, Ang Koo Kueh, Yam Cake, Bubur Cacar, etc. I would say the these food too has played a significant role in making me continue to watch and finish this series in less than 3 days! Altogether it has 34 episodes.

The shooting took place at 3 locations, Penang, Singapore and Malacca, my hometown. One could recognize the shooting location in Melaka if they have been to Malacca lately. One of it is Hotel Puri, where they used it as the house of the Chen family. If you were to visit Malacca, you wouldn't miss the Jonker Walk, a night market on Jonker Street on Fridays-Sundays. Several scenes took place there, and also the street next to it, Jalan Tun Tan Cheng Lock. I used to stay at one of the houses when I was small. The house is about 20 feet wide, but it is soooo.... long. In front of the house, above the door, there would be a plaque with 2 Chinese characters, symbolizing the family/ancestor name. You can only find this unique feature in an old Baba Nyonya / Chinese house thesedays.

Sometimes, while watching the movie, I would think of my mom. It really brings back old memories... good old memories.... I bet Malaccans who watch this series would be touched. It is indeed a highly recommended drama. Go get it....