The Failed Romances brings Tamil cinema’s heartbreak to Malaysian stage

A Malaysian-Australian theatre production exploring love, heartbreak and the influence of Tamil cinema on identity and relationships will take the stage at the Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur from Nov 12 to 15.

Titled The Failed Romances, the hybrid cabaret is created by Malaysian performance company TerryandTheCuz in collaboration with Australian theatre-maker Adriano Cortese. The production combines theatrical storytelling with a live six-piece band performing iconic and reimagined Tamil songs.

Presented by JCPAC, the 90-minute performance examines how popular cinema and cultural traditions shape perceptions of romance, masculinity, femininity, attraction and belonging.

Performed in English, Tamil and Malay with English subtitles, the production features Malaysian performer Govin Ruben and Singaporean television actress and presenter Udaya Soundari.

The Malaysian performances will precede an international tour, with shows scheduled at Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay in Singapore on Nov 21 and 22, followed by a performance at Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in New York on Jan 13, 2027.

Exploring romance through Tamil cinema

Developed over several years with collaborators from Malaysia and Australia, The Failed Romances draws on the emotional narratives and romantic conventions commonly associated with Tamil cinema.

The production uses humour, music and performance to explore the expectations people inherit from films and society, including ideas about love, relationships and gender roles.

Its creative team includes Cortese and TerryandTheCuz as co-creators, co-writers and co-directors, with Ruben also serving as designer and performer. Ashwin Gobinath is the music director, while Sharmila Ganesan contributes dramaturgy.

The live band comprises Jaime Gunter on bass, Shieh Yann Wen on keyboard, Prakash Kandasamy on Indian percussion, El Roy on drums, Pangasaasanii Gowrisan on violin and Farique Nadzir on guitar.

The production brings together contemporary theatre and Tamil popular culture, offering audiences an opportunity to consider how entertainment influences personal experiences and cultural identity.

International tour puts Malaysian work in spotlight

The planned New York engagement at Lincoln Center marks a significant international milestone for the production. Organisers describe it as the first Malaysian work to be presented on the venue’s stage.

Ruben, who leads TerryandTheCuz, has worked across interdisciplinary performance, design and directing, with previous projects presented internationally. Cortese is the artistic director of Melbourne-based Ranters Theatre, whose work explores performance in everyday life.

JCPAC, established by Sunway Group, provides a venue for Malaysian and international performing arts productions in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur.

Tickets for The Failed Romances are available through the venue’s booking channels. The production is scheduled to continue its international journey in Singapore and New York following its Malaysian run.