Hirzi Zulkiflie

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Ahmad Hirzi Zulkiflie
Hirzi Zulkiflie.jpg
Born24 June 1989
EducationDegree in Creative Producing
Alma materChapman University Singapore (Dodge College of Film and Media Arts)

Hirzi Zulkiflie is a Singaporean comedian, actor and content creator. He came to be known as one half of Munah Hirzi, a Singaporean duo who rose to fame on YouTube. In early 2018, the duo announced their retirement from the YouTube scene. Since then, Hirzi has been producing social media content on The BenZi Project with Benjamin Kheng on top of performing gigs as a comedian. Hirzi is most active on Twitter where he has over 85,000 followers.[1] Additionally, he manages three Instagram accounts - his main account @hirziofficial (Instagram profile), a second account for a female character he regularly portrays ‘Syasya’ @badgalsyasya (Instagram profile) and a third account to document his work as a fashion stylist.

Personal life

Born on 24 June 1989, Hirzi is a middle child with an older brother and a younger sister.[2] He went to Chapman University Singapore from 2012 to 2014 during which he interned for 6-months in the United States.[3][4] He graduated with a degree in Creative Producing.[5]

Personality

Hirzi describes himself as a workaholic. In a 2019 interview with 8 Days, he related the story of how he almost had a stroke from working too hard on The BenZi Project. According to Hirzi, he had been "surviving on 40 minutes to two hours of sleep a day" for "two-and-a-half to three weeks".[6] In a 2018 interview, Hirzi reported that he had been sleeping for only three to fours hours a day for the past year.[7]

Background

Munah Hirzi Official (2009 - 2018)

Munah (left) and Hirzi (right) in character during one of their early YouTube videos.

Munah and Hirzi met each other while pursuing Communications and Media Management diplomas at Temasek Polytechnic.[8] The first series of videos uploaded onto their YouTube channel MunahHirziOfficial (YouTube channel) titled '10 Dares' was inspired by the French movie Love Me If You Dare. The movie revolved around a couple who consistently dared each other, which spurred the duo to film videos of themselves doing ridiculous things that they had already been doing offline. Initially, the series was just meant to be shared between their circle of friends. However, they had unintentionally managed to garner a much wider audience. Soon, they were uploading videos regularly and growing a fanbase online.[9]


Some of their most popular uploads include ‘Single Ladies Parody (Asian Beyonce)’ (YouTube video) with over 700,000 views and ‘MINAHCONDA (Anaconda Parody Singapore)’ (YouTube video) with over 900,000 views. Their parodies of well-known songs feature lyrics that are relatable to Singaporeans and Singapore culture.[10]

Munah & Hirzi: Action! (2012)

Munah Hirzi had their own television show on Singapore’s Malay-language channel, Suria. The drama series was roughly based on their actual journey in the entertainment scene and featured the duo experiencing different things like going on radio and followed their lives as they grew in popularity. The show lasted for one season.[11]

Happy Ever Laughter (2012)

In 2012, Munah and Hirzi performed at Singapore's Esplanade Theatre alongside veterans of the local entertainment scene like Gurmit Singh, Michelle Chong and Kumar. Inspired by comedy nights overseas, 'Happy Ever Laughter' is an annual comedy show that features Singapore’s top comedians.[12] Munah and Hirzi performed in the very first iteration of the show in 2012.

Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call (2018)

Promotional poster for Munah & Hirzi Live: Curtain Call (2018) at Capitol Theatre.

Munah and Hirzi commemorated their plans to go their separate ways with their very own show at Singapore’s Capitol Theatre. The show was their final farewell as a pair to their fans. It featured notable characters from their YouTube channel such SyaSya the minah and Syah the policeman, on top of special appearances from dance crew The Limited Edition Crew and other YouTube personalities such as Dee Kosh and Preetipls.[13] In a 2018 interview with CLEO Singapore, the duo explained that they separated to explore themselves as individual artists.[14]

YouTube channels

Since his retirement from Munah Hirzi Official in 2018, Hirzi has continued to produce content on YouTube through his own channel HIRZI Official and The BenZi Project. He has also been a regular feature on Dee Kosh's YouTube channel in a series titled SYAxRIA.

HIRZI Official

Hirzi has a YouTube channel of his own called HIRZI Official (YouTube channel) where he uploads parodies and clips of his stand-up comedy shows. Some of his most popular videos include ‘NASI NASI / TAKI TAKI PARODY’ (Youtube video) with over 860,000 views and ‘THIS IS SINGAPORE / THIS IS AMERICA PARODY’ (Youtube video) with more than 470,000 views as of November 2019.

The BenZi Project

Benjamin Kheng (left) and Hirzi (right) in The Halal Gap. Thumbnail from YouTube.

Hirzi collaborated with Benjamin Kheng to create The BenZi Project (YouTube channel), a comedy sketch channel on YouTube. The series feature relatable scenarios faced by most Singaporeans such as 'The Halal Gap' (YouTube video) and 'Code-Switching' (YouTube video). Hirzi and Ben produce, direct and act in every episode of The Benzi Project. In a 2019 interview with 8 Days, Ben shared that the duo hoped to monetise The BenZi Project in the future.[15]

Career highlights

Besides his continued content creation on YouTube, Hirzi has also been involved in the local theatre and comedy scene. In 2019, he was the host for a Channel 5 television series 'Stupid Man, Smart Phone'.

Acting & hosting

Year Title of Play/Movie/Show Role/Character Company/ Channel Refs.
2019 Stupid Man, Smart Phone Host Mediacorp Channel 5 [16]
2018 The Big Day (简单的婚礼) Supporting Actor Clover Films, MM2 Entertainment, Weiyu Films [17]
2018 Private Parts One of The Dreamgirls Michael Chiang Playthings [18][19]
2017 Harap Hadi Teater Ekamatra [20]
2008 Subculture: Punk vs Peranakans Peranakan drag queen Underground Theatre [21][22]

Comedy shows

As part of the Singapore Bicentennial, Hirzi hosted a free comedy show in 2019.
Year Show Organiser Refs.
2019 Roast of Raffles: The Malay Boy Clapback Light to Night Festival and SG Bicentennial [23]
2018 Comedy At Canvas with Hirzi Canvas Singapore [24]
2018 The Junk Show Junk Asia [25]
2018 Pink and Brown M Social Singapore
2018 Improv Comedy- AIIA x Hirzi LOL Events (Malaysia) [26]
2018 Comedy at Canvas feat. Hirzi & Syasya Woke Canvas Singapore [27]
2017 One Mic Stand Ep 225 feat Hirzi Zulkiflie One Mic Stand Malaysia [28]

Social causes

Ambassador for Pink Dot (2015)

Hirzi was the ambassador for Pink Dot 2015 with Munah. They were the first Muslim ambassadors for Pink Dot Singapore.[29] Pink Dot is a local not-for-profit movement started in support of the LGBT community. The duo had organized a meet-and-greet with their fans at Pink Dot SG 2014 and decided to connect with more people by being ambassadors the following year.[30]

Pink Dot performer (2017)

During Pink Dot 2017, he performed a number titled ‘The Queens Medley’ alongside Singaporean Singers Tabitha Nauser and Nathan Hartono among other performers.[31]


As an advocate against the 377A penal code which criminalizes sexual intercourse between mutually consenting males, Hirzi has been met with criticism for going against his religion. Due to this, he has lost endorsements from certain brands.[32]

References / Citations

  1. ↑ “HirziOfficial”. Twitter. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://twitter.com/hirziofficial?lang=en
  2. ↑ Junk. "THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HIRZI ZULKIFLIE". Junk. June 19, 2018. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  3. ↑ "Munah & Hirzi Are Moving Over To The Television Screen And They’re Ecstatic". Popspoken. October 16, 2012. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  4. ↑ Thomas, Eliza. "Munah and Hirzi: Friends forever". Today. November 15, 2013. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  5. ↑ Azliah. "Munah and Hirzi: Aiming for the top". Yahoo! News. March 20, 2013. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  6. ↑ Fam, Jonathan. "How Benjamin Kheng And Hirzi Made The Smartest & Funniest Show On The Internet". 8 Days. June 30, 2019. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  7. ↑ Junk. "THE NEXT CHAPTER OF HIRZI ZULKIFLIE". Junk. June 19, 2018. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  8. ↑ Yip, Wai Yee. “YouTube comedic duo Munah Bagharib, Hirzi Zulkiflie end their run with show at Capitol Theatre”. The Straits Times. January 8, 2016. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.straitstimes.com/lifestyle/entertainment/makcik-and-minah-say-goodbye
  9. ↑ Thomas, Eliza. “Talking - and talking - with Munah & Hirzi”. TodayOnline. November 22, 2013. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from:  https://www.todayonline.com/blogs/poparazzi/talkingandtalking-interview-munah-hirzi
  10. ↑ “MunahHirziOfficial”. SocialBlade. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://socialblade.com/youtube/user/munahhirziofficial
  11. ↑ Kyle Malinda-White. “Munah & Hirzi Are Moving Over To The Television Screen And They’re Ecstatic”. PopSpoken. October 16, 2012. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: http://popspoken.com/arts/2012/10/munah-hirzi-are-moving-over-to-the-television-screen-and-theyre-ecstatic
  12. ↑ Tan, Corrie. “A night of Laughter”. The Straits Times. June 5, 2012. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: http://newshub.nus.edu.sg/news/1206/PDF/NIGHT-st-5jun-pC2.pdf
  13. ↑ “MUNAH & HIRZI LIVE: CURTAIN CALL”. Peatix.  Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://mho10.peatix.com/
  14. ↑ Hong, Sophie. “‘It’s A Race To See Who Becomes Beyonce” - Munah And Hirzi. CLEO. January 28, 2018. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.cleo.com.sg/entertain-me/munah-and-hirzi-beyonce/
  15. ↑ Fam, Jonathan. "How Benjamin Kheng And Hirzi Made The Smartest & Funniest Show On The Internet". 8 Days. June 30, 2019. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  16. ↑ Mediacorpch5. “The acclaimed BBC format STUPID MAN, SMART PHONE comes to Singapore!”. Instagram. November 16, 2018. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.instagram.com/p/BqPR9DWARuW/
  17. ↑ SGCloverFilms. "THE BIG DAY《简单的婚礼》Official Trailer - In Cinemas 21.06.2018". YouTube. April 6, 2018. Accessed on 17 October 2019. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-9DbHmDDEoA
  18. ↑ “Michael Chiang’s Private Parts”. ArtsRepublic. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://artsrepublic.sg/events/2018/11/michael-chiangs-private-parts
  19. ↑ Helmi Yusof. “Michael Chiang Play Things”. The Peak Magazine. September 7, 2018. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://thepeakmagazine.com.sg/lifestyle/michael-chiangs-gender-bending-comedy-private-parts-returns-to-the-stage/
  20. ↑ “Hope”. Crystalwords. April 8, 2017. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: http://crystalwords.blogspot.com/2017/04/hope.html  
  21. ↑ “Underground Theatre presents: SUBCULTURE @ The Substation (26th &27th Sep 2008)”. Soft. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.soft.com.sg/forum/showthread.php?78462-Underground-Theatre-presents-SUBCULTURE-The-Substation-(26th-amp-27th-Sep-2008)
  22. ↑ Tan, Tammi. “Grab drivers, please stop stalking Hirzi Zulkiflie”. Toggle. August 14, 2018. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://entertainment.toggle.sg/en/entertainment/localbuzz/article/grab-drivers-please-stop-stalking-hirzi-zulkiflie-10615354
  23. ↑ HirziOfficial. "Roast of Raffles". Twitter. January 28, 2019. Accessed on 19 November 2019.
  24. ↑ “Comedy At Canvas with Hirzi”. Eventbrite. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/comedy-at-canvas-with-hirzi-tickets-48230597014#
  25. ↑ Chai, Amanda. “Hirzi is headlining a comedy show about Singapore’s juiciest headlines of 2018”. SG Magazine. November 2, 2018. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from:  https://sg.asia-city.com/things-to-do-singapore/news/hirzi-headlining-comedy-show-about-singapores-most-salacious-headlines
  26. ↑ “Improv Comedy- AIIA x Hirzi (SOLD OUT!)”. Facebook. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/events/1069166143251384/
  27. ↑ “Comedy at Canvas w/ Syasya Woke”. Eventbrite. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.eventbrite.sg/e/comedy-at-canvas-w-syasya-woke-14092018-tickets-49523236333#
  28. ↑ “One Mic Stand EP 225 feat Hirzi Zulkiflie”. Facebook. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/events/407083409674905/
  29. ↑ HIRZI. “HIRZI LIVE AT PINK DOT 2017 (THE QUEENS MEDLEY)”. Facebook. Accessed on 31 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/hirziofficial/videos/vb.1389267471143531/1579436578793285/?type=2&theater
  30. ↑ “Munah and Hirzi”. Pink Dot SG. Accessed on 30 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://pinkdot.sg/ambassador/munah-and-hirzi/
  31. ↑ HIRZI. “HIRZI LIVE AT PINK DOT 2017 (THE QUEENS MEDLEY)”. Facebook. Accessed on 31 January 2019. Retrieved from: https://www.facebook.com/hirziofficial/videos/vb.1389267471143531/1579436578793285/?type=2&theater
  32. ↑ Lee, Marcus. “Let’s Talk About Section 377A”. Nylon Singapore. April 26, 2018. Accessed on 31 January 2019. Retrieved from http://www.nylon.com.sg/2018/04/85981-2/
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