Kasma Booty Explained

Honorific Suffix:AMN
Birth Name:Kasmah binti Abdullah
Kasma Booty
Birth Date:1932
Birth Place:Kisaran, Sumatra's East Coast Residency, Dutch East Indies
Death Place:Ampang, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Resting Place:Klang Gates Muslim Cemetery, Taman Melawati, Selangor
Occupation:Actress, model and artist
Years Active:1948–1992
Spouse:Jacob Booty
Children:5

Kasma Booty (Jawi: كسم بوتي; born Kasmah binti Abdullah; – 1 June 2007) was an Indonesian-born Malaysian actress and film star. She was dubbed as "Elizabeth Taylor of Malaysia".[1] [2] [3]

Personal life

She was born as Kasmah Abdullah in Kisaran, North Sumatra, Dutch East Indies (now Indonesia) of Dutch and Javanese descent.[4] Beginning her acting and film career at the early age of 15, she ultimately changed her name to Kasma Booty after marrying her husband, Jacob Booty.[3] The couple had four children - Cempaka, Asmara, Purnama (her youngest child) and Suria (who is now deceased).[1]

Acting career

She began her film career by acting in a number of films produced by Shaw Brothers. Her movies at Shaw Brothers included Cempaka (1947) and Noor Asmara (1949).[2] Kasma next moved to the Cathay Keris Studio in Singapore before moving to the Merdeka Studio in Hulu Kelang, Malaysia in the 1960s. She received the Merak Kayangan award for veteran, long time film stars at the seventh annual Malaysian Film Festival in 1987, as well being awarded the Jury Award at the 35th annual Asia Pacific Film Festival in 1990.

Illness and death

Kasma suffered from a number of medical conditions in her later years, including heart problems, diabetes, high blood pressure and pneumonia.[3] She was admitted to Ampang Hospital, located in the suburb of Ampang near Kuala Lumpur on 13 May 2007, after complaining of shortness of breath due to pneumonia.[5] While being hospitalised, she asked to visit Cameron Highlands in Pahang and Pulau Besar in Malacca.[6] Unfortunately, her final wishes was never granted as she was unable to leave the hospital. According to an interview with her granddaughter, Jeng Riema Booty Purnama, Kasma had been well enough to eat some of her favourite foods in the hospital such as lontong, kentang putar and nasi kandar.[6]

She died at 2 a.m on 1 June 2007 of pneumonia surrounded by her children.[3] She was 75 at the time and left behind 12 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.[6] Her body was buried at Kampung Klang Gate Cemetery.[1]

Filmography

Shaw Brothers Studios

YearTitleRoleNotes
1948ChempakaChempaka
Pisau Berachun
1949Noor AsmaraZaharah
1950Rachun DuniaAminah
BaktiSa'adiyah
Dewi MurniDewi Murni
1951SejoliMariam
Juwita Juwita
Manusia

Cathay Keris Studios

Merdeka Studios

YearTitleRoleNotes
1961Keris Sempena Riau
1962Selendang Merah
Siti Payung
Ratapan Ibu
1963Tangkap Basah
Anak Manja
1965Ragam P. Ramlee
1967Damak

References

  1. Web site: Pelakon veteran Kasma Booty meninggal. Malay. Utusan Malaysia. 2 June 2007. 3 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194933/http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2007&dt=0602&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Dalam_Negeri&pg=dn_04.htm&arc=hive. 3 August 2018. dead.
  2. Web site: Screen icon of 1940s Kasma Booty dies. Bernama. The Star. 2 June 2007. 3 August 2018.
  3. Web site: Perginya seorang ibu seni misali. Mohammad Arif Nizam Abdullah. Malay. Utusan Malaysia. 2 June 2007. 3 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180803194854/http://ww1.utusan.com.my/utusan/info.asp?y=2007&dt=0602&pub=Utusan_Malaysia&sec=Rencana&pg=re_06.htm. 3 August 2018. dead.
  4. Book: Jennifer Lindsay. Heirs to World Culture: Being Indonesian, 1950-1965. 2012. BRILL. 978-90-04-25351-3. 382–.
  5. Web site: Kasma Booty in hospital. Bernama. The Star. 17 May 2007. 3 August 2018.
  6. Web site: Veteran Actress Kasma Booty Dies. Bernama. 1 June 2007. 3 August 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20151227131156/http://www.bernama.com/bernama/v3/printable.php?id=265162. 27 December 2015. dead.