KUALA LUMPUR, July 13 — Acclaimed Malaysian producer Min Lim is set to make her feature directorial debut with Mojoku Hilang, a romantic comedy arriving in cinemas on July 23.
Lim has built a strong reputation as a producer through critically acclaimed projects such as The Bridge and the Astro Original Liar, both of which earned recognition at the Asian Academy Creative Awards.
Choosing to make her directorial debut with a romantic comedy is a bold move, particularly in a year dominated by the commercial success of action and horror films.
For Lim, however, the decision came naturally, driven by her love for heartfelt, character-driven stories centred on kindness, community, and hope.
“I’ve actually always loved rom-coms,” she said.
“Not just the big Hollywood ones, but those wonderfully quirky British films like Local Hero, Love Actually, and The Full Monty.”
Lim said that while those films are funny and uplifting on the surface, they ultimately explore themes of belonging, community, and the search for one’s place in the world.
“I also think rom-coms are often underestimated,” she said.
“People assume they’re light because they’re entertaining, but I think the really good ones are deceptively difficult to make.
“They only work if the audience genuinely falls in love with the characters.
“If you don’t care about them, the romance doesn’t work, the comedy doesn’t work, and the emotional moments certainly don’t work.”
Why Adipati Dolken was the only choice for lead
With the film’s lead character, Adi, being Indonesian, Lim said casting an Indonesian actor was always the natural choice.
However, she revealed that Adipati Dolken was the only actor she and the team ever considered for the role.
“The funny thing is, we only ever had one actor in mind.
“Looking back, that was either very brave or very foolish,” she said.
Lim recalled watching the Indonesian film Posesif, one of Dolken’s earlier projects, with producer Honey Ahmad during a location recce in Perlis.
By the end of the film, they looked at each other and immediately agreed: “That’s Adi.”
She added that Dolken’s authenticity, commitment to learning Bahasa Malaysia, and willingness to immerse himself in the local culture made him the perfect fit for the character.
She also described working with the film’s cast—including Mimi Lana, Wan Hanafi Su, and veteran filmmaker Aziz M. Osman—as one of the most rewarding aspects of the production.
“They were incredibly generous and supportive,” she said, adding that many of them are accomplished directors themselves but fully trusted and embraced her vision throughout filming.
The hopes for Mojoku Hilang
As Mojoku Hilang heads to cinemas on July 23, Lim hopes audiences leave the film not only entertained but also reflecting on the importance of faith, sacrifice, community, and human connection.
“Firstly, I hope they have fun,” she said.
“It’s important to say that because somewhere along the way we’ve convinced ourselves that films with something to say have to be terribly serious.
“I don’t believe that at all.
“I hope people laugh, fall in love with the characters, and maybe leave the cinema with a slightly different perspective on what’s important.”
Lim said the film draws inspiration from the values behind Aidiladha, highlighting themes that extend beyond religion.
“At its heart, Mojo is really about the values behind Aidiladha—faith, sacrifice, and community.
“Those aren’t just religious values; they’re deeply human ones.
“We all spend so much of our lives chasing the next promotion, the next achievement, the next thing on the list that we sometimes forget to ask why we’re chasing it in the first place.
“If audiences leave the cinema smiling and maybe call someone they haven’t spoken to in a while, I think we’ve probably done our job,” she added.
