"... Dalam Botol"

THE movie is only 70% complete, yet "... Dalam Botol", producer Raja Azmi Raja Sulaiman's latest film, is already courting controversy with its daring plot line which touches on homosexuality and transsexualism. TheSun managed to get exclusive access to scenes from the movie which is slated for a July opening, barring any intervention from the censors.

Director, Khir Rahman, on the set of the film

The RM700,000 budget "... Dalam Botol" is actor Khir Rahman's directorial debut, and stars Arja Lee, Wan Raja and Diana Danielle. Arja and Ghaus play gay lovers Rubidin and Ghaus, respectively, whose relationship is tested when the former decides to undergo a sex-change operation. But Ghaus is unable to accept "Ruby" and walks out of the relationship. Sometime later, Ruby decides that a woman's life is not for him, and decides to stop taking the female hormone injections. Now back to the masculine Rubidin - minus a few parts - he falls in love with Dina (Diana Danielle) and they decide to marry. But can she ever accept his past? Can Rubidin make her happy? Though ... Dalam Botol's plotline may seem far fetched, producer Raja Azmi swears it is based on a friend's experience. "I am not making a judgmental movie. I am just telling a story based on one of my friend’ true experience. In his case, he regrets going for a sex change operation. "I have no right to judge anyone. I am no angel. I have my sins too," she told theSun in an exclusive interview.

Rubidin cannot believe his decision to undergo a sex-change operation would have dire consequences

Raja Azmi bristles when asked if "... Dalam Botol" is an anti-gay movie. "It is just a simple love story between a man and a man, and a woman and a man," she said. Considering the subject matter, is she worried about the Censorship Board's reception to the film? After all, she had already changed the title of the film slightly from "Anu Dalam Botol" on the advice of the board. Surprisingly, Raja Azmi believes she will not face any problems in this department, despite butting heads with the board over the many cuts to "Black Widow Wajah Ayu", her first film back in 1994. Though there was an earlier ruling banning movies showing men wearing women's clothes, Raja Azmi says the Censorship Board has recently come up with more relax rules and regulations. "They are more matured and brave now. They understand the filmmakers predicament." That said, does the 51-year-old go looking for controversy? After all, her books-turned-movies such as "Cinta 200 Ela" and "Black Widow Wajah Ayu" have touched on sexual matters. But she claims she does not look for controversy. "Controversy comes looking for me. I cannot understand why can’t we discuss these topics in our films. We can discuss about God and devils. But we cannot discuss gays and transsexualism. "We should not sweep issues under the carpet any more. We must learn to face them. We must to learn to discuss them rationally."

Producer Raja Azmi says, ... Dalam Botol is " a simple love story between a man with a man and a woman with a man"

>> Raja Azmi's other credits:
1) Black Widow Wajah Ayu (1994)
2) Cinta 200 Ela ( 2002)
3) Haru Biru ( 2007)

Rubidin(left, played by Arja Lee) and Ghaus(Wan Raja) are gay lovers in "... Dalam Botol"

Ghaus and Rubidin share and intimate moment during a camping trip

The gay couple face problems in their relationship after the latter under goes a sex-change operation

Rubidin tries to convince Ghaus not to leave him, but to no avail

Rubidin's decision to opt for sex-change operation infuriates his father, played by Jalil Hamid

Diana Danielle plays Dina, who steals Rubidin's heart

Rubidin and Dina falls in love. Will this love story have a happy ending?

From left, Diana Danielle as Dina, Fauziah Ahmad Daud who plays Dina's mother and Normah Damanhuri who plays Rubidin's mother in the movie.