Malay Epic Film Scores in English

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Malaysia’s first foreign-language historical film epic, Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, has scored an impressive number since it opened last Thursday.

More than 70 per cent of its dialogue is in English.

The film, produced by KRU Studios and directed by Yusry Abdul Halim, made RM2.1 million in its first five days and is expected to topple Puteri Gunung Ledang (2004) as the highest-grossing local film epic.

Puteri Gunung Ledang, which was made at a cost of RM16.6 million, collected RM2.9 million at the box-office.

Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa cost RM8 million to make and it needs to hit RM16 million to break even.

KRU Studios executive president Norman Abdul Halim said recently that the film had recovered its cost after the studio managed to strike a deal to screen the film in more than 70 countries.

The film stars Stephen Rahman- Hughes as Merong Mahawangsa, as well as Khir Rahman, Gavin Rees Stenhouse, Ummi Nazeera, Datuk Rahim Razali, Jing Lu and Craig Robert Fong.

Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa opened strong on its first day, collecting RM500,000.

It collected RM700,000 and RM600,000 on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

The film is expected to have a tougher time at the box-office this week when it competes against a new local film, Ratu The Movie.

Ratu The Movie, directed by Associate Professor Abdul Razak Mohaideen, opened on March 17, pushing Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa into smaller halls.

While the success of Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa will not entice other local producers to produce historical film epics (due to high costs), the film did open the eyes of local movie-goers, showing them that Malaysian producers are capable of making a film of international standard.

In fact, the film was said to have impressed many foreign filmmakers who were dumbfounded when told it was made on a "measly" budget of RM8 million.

Like Puteri Gunung Ledang, Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa succeeded in wooing local movie-goers into cineplexes due to its marketing strategy.

KRU Studios released the film's impressive trailer last year, creating a buzz and excitement among Malaysians who were hungry for something new from local filmmakers.

The trailer marketed Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa as a Computer-Generated Imagery film epic to rival those made by Hollywood.

A month before its release, a theme song, Sedetik Lebih performed by Anuar Zain was unleashed.

In 2004, Infiniti Productions did a similar marketing strategy to market Puteri Gunung Ledang -- a teaser trailer was released even before the film started production and a theme song, Asmaradana performed by Datin Seri Tiara Jacquelina was released a month before the film was screened.

It is interesting to note that Asmaradana and Sedetik Lebih both were composed and written by Edry Abdul Halim.

Puteri Gunung Ledang did great business during its first week of screening exactly like what Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa is experiencing now.

Besides winning at the box-office, Puteri Gunung Ledang also won several awards at the 18th Malaysian Film Festival. Its director Saw Teong Hin won Best Director and, together with Mamat Khalid, won for Best Screenplay.

Although leading lady Tiara lost the Best Actress award to Erra Fazira (Hingga Hujung Nyawa), she did better by winning the Best Actress award at the 50th Asia Pacific Film Festival.

As for Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, it is not eligible to compete in the Malaysian Film Festival. Only local films with 70 per cent dialogue in Bahasa Malaysia can take part in the annual local film festival.

Puteri Gunung Ledang was also turned into a successful musical in which the main role, Hang Tuah, was played by Stephen Rahman.

Besides Puteri Gunung Ledang and Hikayat Merong Mahawangsa, there was another notable historical film epic shown in cinemas.

Source: http://www.nst.com.my
Photo: http://adfeez.blogspot.com

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