Sandiwara, the new short film directed by Academy Award winner Sean Baker and starring Michelle Yeoh, has revealed its official playlist following the film’s shoot in Penang.

The playlist brings together a vibrant selection of local and regional sounds, spanning funky and groovy pop classics from Uji Rashid, Sheila Majid and Sudirman Arshad, alongside the newly released single “Dansa” by DJ and producer Jemput Dengar.

A standout moment from the 10-minute short is the inclusion of “Pura Pura” by 1970s songstress Siti Salmah, which accompanies a climactic performance scene featuring one of Yeoh’s characters on stage. While the track is currently unavailable on Spotify, it can be streamed on YouTube.

The film sees Yeoh portraying five distinct characters, a creative choice reminiscent of her critically acclaimed, Oscar-winning performance in Everything Everywhere All at Once.

According to Baker, Sandiwara serves as an extension of his “pre-existing love for independent cinema” made possible through collaboration with Malaysian creatives including designer Han Chong and Yeoh, among others who contributed to bringing the project to life in celebration of Malaysian culture.

“It was incredible to get to experience Penang and to have been given the freedom to create a film that spans beyond traditional fashion and cinema integration,” Baker shared.

Named after the Malay and Indonesian word meaning “drama” “theatrical performance” or “play” Sandiwara captures the spirit of Malaysian storytelling through an exploration of food, music and womanhood.

The full playlist is now available on the film’s official website.