Reality show graduate Indah Ruhaila takes after seniors Nas Adila and Akim in striving for the best.
IN Akademi Fantasia 2013 (AF 2013), one contestant whom judge Roslan Aziz commended as the personification of quality was Indah Ruhaila Hussein.
The hardworking singer from Johor Baru, with two singles to her credit prior to joining the revived reality show, takes after Nas Adila Mohd Dan, her senior in secondary school, in carving a niche in show business
Indah also looks up to JB heartthrob Akim Ahmad, Adila’s old pal and fellow AF7 (2009) graduate, who is riding high with his song Menunggu, an Anugerah Juara Lagu 2013/14 semi-finalist.
SETTING HIGH STANDARDS
Akim and Adila inspire Indah to set high standards for her career and to write or compose her own songs too.
While Indah is primarily a singer, she is game enough to co-host TV programmes and to act just like Akim and Adila for versatility is the “game” in the entertainment scene.
Akim is the youngest among them but he is the most high-profile of the three. Having starred in the legendary Datuk Sudirman Arshad tribute musical Hoore! Hoore! last year, he recently judged TV9’s Idola Kecil and starred in the series Kampung Girl with Nad Zainal.
Indah and Adila are Akim’s ardent fans but they also act as “big sisters” who keep him grounded while he enjoys stardom.
“There’s always a time for each of us to have fame but we realise that popularity doesn’t last forever,” says Indah.
Adila adds: “It’s important to be ourselves and not have illusions of being on top.”
The trio are thankful to their mentors who have put them where they are today.
Akim and Adila will always be grateful to AF7 principal Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina, who groomed them with her no-nonsense style. While Indah will always thank her late great grandmother Rosiah Chik for inspiring her to sing, and AF 2013 inspirers Datuk Siti Nurhaliza, Faizal Tahir and Melly Goeslaw who reminded her that there is no short cut to fame.
INDAH’S LOVE OF KERONCONG
THE third of five siblings, Indah, 26, was formerly an artiste with Suria Records. Having had her big break winning the singing contest KIP Idol in her hometown in 2005, she subsequently recorded the song Dengarlah Kekasih, written by Zimi Zahari of Sofazr and composed by Zul Majid of 2 By 2.
Around the same time, Indah recorded a Hari Raya tune Di Lebaran Yang Ini, also created by the duo.
A former student of Sekolah Menengah Pasir Gudang, Indah was active in nasyid during her schooldays.
“I’ve always been mesmerised by traditional pop music, especially keroncong, and Datuk Yusni Hamid is my favourite singer,” she says.
In 2008, Indah auditioned for 8TV’s One In A Million 2 but she did not make it to the Top 12.
She joined the cultural troupe Yayasan Warisan Johor and describes it as a “training ground”.
“It trained me to sing before dignitaries and to communicate better with audiences,” she says.
However, she admits that Roslan’s brutal criticisms of contestants terrified her initially.
“But I know that he is a kind man with a good heart. Whenever I make him feel proud, I know that I’ve done my job.”
Indah believes that working with the talented will give her career a boost.
She feels fortunate to have joined the reality show as it featured the creme de la creme of mentor.
