{
  "id": 18219716,
  "title": "#SHOWBIZ: A drug addict's struggle to save his wife and baby",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/showbiz-a-drug-addicts-struggle-to-save-his-wife-and-baby",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-05T01:00:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "New Straits Times",
    "slug": "new-straits-times",
    "url": "https://www.nst.com.my/lifestyle/groove/2026/11/1571137/showbiz-drug-addicts-struggle-save-his-wife-and-baby"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Director Ariff Zulkarnain returns to his hometown of Kuala Terengganu to shoot his passion project, Baga: Esok Untuk Siapa (Tomorrow Belongs To No One), a film exploring the drug crisis and the decline of traditional livelihoods in the state. Self-financed by Ariff and co-produced with actor Syafiq Kyle and filmmaker Syafiq Yusof, the film follows drug addict Jani, played by Amir Ahnaf, a small-time pusher living in an urban slum. Jani works part-time for Awang, an aging boatman who hopes to pass on his craft to Jani as his successor. When Jani's girlfriend, Melur, reveals she is pregnant, he seeks to raise money for an abortion in Kuala Lumpur by acquiring a larger drug stash from his supplier, Cech. After being pressured to smoke the product and losing the entire batch, Jani lands on the police radar. Despite the challenges, Jani remains determined to save Melur's life, ultimately redeeming himself in the process.",
  "summary": "AFTER completing 2021’s ‘Dukun Diva’ and ‘One Cent Thief’, director Ariff Zulkarnain has embarked on a passion project set in his hometown of Kuala Terengganu.",
  "key_points": [
    "Director Ariff Zulkarnain films passion project in hometown",
    "Protagonist Jani, drug addict, seeks money for abortion",
    "Jani's determination leads to redemption in film"
  ],
  "editors_take": "By centering a personal struggle within a crumbling local economy, this self-financed passion project highlights the intersection of systemic drug crises and the loss of traditional maritime livelihoods.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}