AA/Istanbul
The presentation of the film “The Sword of Islam” (Pendekar Awang), which recounts the Epic of the Malay Warrior, was held at the Women and Family Cultural Center of Bağcılar Municipality in Istanbul.
Inspired by true events, this film traces the resistance of the Malay people against the British invasion in the 19th century. The film begins with the story of a Malay scholar living in Mecca under the Ottoman Empire, who sends a written appeal to his people to incite them to rise up against British colonization. “The British block access to some strategic aid. However, when the Malays unite and organize, the British are forced to retreat. The film ends with their withdrawal, but a sequel is already planned. ” according to Muzaffer Seyyahoğlu, coordinator of Studio Kembara in Türkiye. The film, which begins with a secret message sent by a renowned Malay scholar living in Mecca under the Ottoman Empire, offers a new perspective on the rich traditions, values and struggle of the Malay people. Highlighting the call for revolt against the British invasion and the attempts of the British to quell this resistance, the film seeks to awaken a sense of patriotism, strengthen love for the motherland and educate viewers about importance of resisting foreign occupations. Muzaffer Seyyahoğlu, told Anadolu Agency that Mat Kilau, the first film produced by the studio in 2022, has become one of the biggest cinematic successes in Malaysia. “This film shed light on the life of Malaysia’s greatest hero. Even those who never frequented cinemas visited several times,” he said. Seyyahoğlu clarified that this new production, which highlights art, realism, patriotism and the feeling of heroism, is a logical continuation of this success. “Our collaborations with Türkiye started in 2022. We are currently working on joint projects involving Türkiye, Malaysia and Indonesia,” he added. “We are facing a cultural war and refuse to let ourselves be crushed” Malaysian actor Ali Karimi stressed that the first film was directed by one of the region’s most recognized directors. “The production company didn’t have much experience, but it had a clear vision: to live according to Muslim values and awaken the youth. They want young people to return to their roots and preserve their values. Even if they have won the war, they are today faced with a cultural war and refuse to be its victims The Chinese community, which represents 20 to 25% of the population, exercises a growing influence, reinforced by the continuous arrivals from China. continental”, he explained. Ali Karimi added that the arrival of the film in Türkiye arouses great enthusiasm among Malaysians. “We are also very motivated to realize this project. I hope that this film will attract a wide audience, because it deals with the struggle for independence and liberation from occupation. In portraying these heroes, we played with emotions similar to theirs. It was the struggle for Malaysian independence, and we gave everything to capture it in this film.” The actor also revealed that he was inspired by the Diriliş: Ertuğrul series before participating in this project: “Before starting this film, I was already watching Diriliş: Ertuğrul and taking notes. What emotions do they feel while fighting? How are they moving? These thoughts accompanied me throughout the filming, and I tried to convey them.” Ali Karimi also explained that Studio Kembara had conducted extensive research: “We have strong historical ties dating back to the Ottoman era. Building on this foundation, we created this film and aim to go even further. We are working already on joint projects with Türkiye.”
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