THE OTTOMAN EMPIRE REIMAGINED: SATIRICAL CULTURAL REPRESENTATIONS IN TIGA ABDUL (1964)

Reinterpreting historical eras in film adaptations allows for the creative reshaping of past events, figures, and cultures to resonate with contemporary audiences. Filmmakers often blend historical accuracy with artistic expression, using historical settings as a platform to comment on modern societal dynamics, power structures, and cultural questions. In particular, historical contexts are frequently utilized to reinforce specific film genres, such as comedy. This paper explores the satirical portrayal of the Ottoman Empire in P. Ramlees film TigaAbdulwith the direct translation being Three Abdul(1964), a seminal work that adapts historical motifs to enhance its comedic narrative. Utilizing qualitative content analysis and cultural discourse methods, this study examines how P. Ramlee integrates elements of Ottoman culture and civilization into the films settings, characters, and narratives. Employing Roland Barthes semiotic analysis, the research deconstructs these cinematic elements to uncover the symbolic and satirical reinterpretations of Ottoman motifs. Findings reveal that P. Ramlees adaptation not only reflects the historical grandeur of the Ottoman Empire but also recontextualizes it as a satirical commentary, thereby amplifying the films comedic impact. This study highlights P. Ramlees innovative use of historical reimagination to engage audiences and sustain the relevance of comedic narratives across temporal and cultural boundaries.