The Awakening (Traditional Chinese: é§éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Â, Simplified Chinese: é¾éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Â) is a 1984àSingapore's official firstàlocal blockbusteràdrama series produced by to celebrate the nation's 25th National Day celebrations. The series mainly covers the Chinese Singaporean experience in Singapore, from the first generation of Chinese immigrants who arrived on a relatively undeveloped island, through the Japanese occupation periods, and to the Chinese Singaporeans in the present day (1984), who reside in a developed nation that is radically different from the land their ancestors arrived at. The Chinese Drama DivisionâÂÂs first major success wasàThe Awakeningàin 1984 a highly popular series about the toils and troubles of SingaporeâÂÂs early Chinese immigrants in the 19th century. The Awakening's grand opening took place as Singapore's official firstàlocal long-length blockbusteràdrama on 6 February 1984 during Chinese New Year holiday. The Awakening official celebration took place on its forty years of anniversary since its original broadcast on 6 February 2024 during Chinese New Year holiday.
There are two parts to the series, and two sections in each of the parts:
The first series consisted of two parts, The Awakening: Eternity (é§éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Âå°习天é·) and The Awakening: Before the Dawn of the Lion City (é§éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Âç åÂÂæÂÂæÂÂ/é¾éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Âç®åÂÂæÂÂæÂÂ). The former covers the lives of Chinese Singaporeans, who came to Singapore as migrants from China in the early part of the 20th century and the latter covers the Japanese occupation of Singapore. The series covers the period between 1920 and 1945.
The second series consisted of two parts, The Awakening: Through the Storm Together (é§éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Â風é¨åÂÂèÂÂ/é¾éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Âé£Âé¨åÂÂèÂÂ) and The Awakening: Dawn at the Equator (é§éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Â赤éÂÂæÂÂé½/é¾éÂÂÃ¥ÂÂæ´Âä¹Â赤éÂÂæÂÂé³). The former covers the years after the Japanese occupation, and the events that led to Singapore's independence, and the latter covers the development of Singapore after its independence.
1st series
2nd series
An outdoor studio was built at the cost of $500,000 to film the drama. Period costumes and antiques were sourced overseas to match the era of the drama.
The first series of the drama received an audience of 800,000 adults.
The Awakening is often seen as one of Singapore's pioneer Chinese Dramas. To this day, it is considered a Classic among Singaporean viewers and the theme song remains popular. Actors Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun were catapulted to fame through this drama. The second main actor and actress Chen Shucheng and Huang Peiru who played a couple, eventually married after the drama was broadcast.
Perfect World Pictures (Singapore) will be shooting a reboot of the series in 2018 with Tay Ping Hui in a starring role.