At the 18th Pesta Perdana, Mediacorp’s Suria, celebrated its 25th year of creative brilliance in Singapore’s Malay entertainment scene. And what a night it was for three-time nominee and winner, Norman Ishak – a moment he’ll never forget!

Dressed to impress in a striking white blazer, Norman confidently owned the red carpet alongside his fellow nominees. He walked away with Best Actor – Drama Series for Cerita Dia Macam Ni, Best Supporting Actor – Telemovie/Anthology for Bingit Season 5, and, making history once again, fan-voted Most Popular Male Personality award in 2025. This triple win firmly cements his reputation as both a remarkable actor and a beloved fan favourite!

Throughout the night, as celebrities buzzed around the stage and mingled in the media room, Norman was seen rushing anxiously, clutching his coveted trophy several times. After receiving the final award, we caught a brief moment to speak with him, noticing his expression of relief and humility. Among others, he shared how he was celebrating with a pint of ice cream while unwinding with several reality shows on his free time.

If you had to swap trophies with someone else tonight, whose would you take and why?

If given the chance, Norman would gladly trade one of his trophies for a win in the Best Theme Song ~Setitis Harapan, which was composed by Mayuni Omar for Shortmen Production. A music lover at heart, Norman admires vocalists like Hazrul Nizam and Sunny Jackson, and admits he would not mind trying his hand at singing someday.

Operandi Gerhana, a gripping period crime drama produced by Infinite Studios was another team of standout winners. Inspired by true events in 1950s Singapore, the story follows two constables as they unravel the mystery behind their superior officer’s kidnapping amid rising gangland tensions. During the acceptance speech for Best Drama Series, it was noted that this was the first commissioned Malay drama to secure a simulcast deal with Netflix, an achievement that firmly places Malay storytelling on the international stage.

Re-live the glitz and glamour of Pesta Perdana, from the dazzling red carpet moments to the show-stopping performances and prestigious award wins – catch it all on meWATCH and Mediacorp Entertainment’s YouTube channel!

The Fifth Parlour would like to thank Norman Ishak for the interview and Mediacorp for the invite to Pesta Perdana 2025.