Singaporean veteran actor Tay Ping Hui is making waves in the film industry with his first-ever Malay-language film, "Magik Rompak," a gripping Malaysian heist thriller now captivating audiences in Singapore!

At 54, Tay took on a unique challenge for this role, memorizing approximately 80% of his dialogue in Malay, a language he doesn’t speak. The dedicated actor relied solely on rote memorization to learn both his lines and those of his co-stars, demonstrating that childhood learning techniques can pay off in unexpected ways.

However, Tay candidly admitted that navigating promotional interviews posed its own challenges. "During a recent event across the Causeway, most of the conversations were in Malay, and I only caught about 10%. I just nodded and smiled like I understood, but truth be told, I was lost!" This heartfelt confession shows the lengths he went to for this role.

Despite his self-criticism—rating his performance a modest 3 to 5 out of 10—director Adrian Teh praised Tay’s pronunciation, remarking that it authentically reflected a Malaysian Chinese speaker. This collaboration marks the beginning of what Tay hopes will be a rewarding partnership.

"Magik Rompak" revolves around a cunning magician who partners with three thieves to swipe priceless jewels during a lavish retirement party hosted by Tay’s character, the villainous mastermind. Tay believes his character's impact is crucial: "I may have limited screen time, but my presence drives the story forward, even when I’m not on-screen."

While some may draw parallels to Hollywood hits like "Ocean's Eleven" and "Now You See Me," Teh confidently asserts that "Magik Rompak" offers a distinctly fresh narrative, setting it apart from typical gangster and horror themes prevalent in Malaysian cinema. Teh aims to introduce innovative storytelling that challenges the norm.

Encouraging fellow Singaporeans to embrace the film, Tay emphasizes that the movie’s compelling themes and spirit are refreshing and rarely seen in Singapore-Malaysia cinema. This collaboration not only showcases talent across borders but also invites audiences to break through language barriers and explore new cinematic experiences.