The series follows several hawkers as they navigate the ebbs and flows of a year. Our work hinged on spending months in pre-production just building a strong rapport with them. The payoff was no-holds-barred access: If the series gives an impression of raw nerves and unbridled emotions, it’s because they are real.
Debbie Yam of Tang Kay Kee Beehoon and Filzah Miranti Dawood of Gerei Nenek Obek are both fourth-generation hawkers trying to modernise their operations within the constraints of tradition.
Jumana Rani and Stephen Suriyah are the mother-and-son team behind the successful The Original Vadai, working towards opening their dream branch in Malaysia.
I came across Redha Abdul Wahid because of her unique nasi ulam – and then I met her hawker family, with their strong bonds and enthusiasm. Family, a recurring theme in the series, is hugely important in this trade. We feature the family of Chef Leung who sells dim sum-style chee cheong fan, and the Lee family behind Ghim Moh chwee kueh.
Another recurring theme is how different cultures make use of the same ingredient. We look at riffs on the curry puff – from the old-fashioned epok epok to the newer crispy spiral and the karipap.
One story I wanted to follow up on from season 2 was that of wonton mee hawker Madam Leong. I never expected that sadly, the interview I did with her would be her last.
Chang Soh Kiak
Writer, Director & Executive Producer, Belly of a Nation
