With ‘Gayong', Beto takes on his toughest role yet

Free Malaysia Today

12-05-2025

Even though actor Beto Kusyairy began learning silat at age seven, he says he wasn't entirely confident in portraying the late Meor Abdul Rahman in 'Gayong'. (Bernama pic)
PETALING JAYA : Despite spending much of his school years in the silat arena, Beto Kusyairy didn't feel entirely confident portraying the silat gayong grandmaster in the new action epic, 'Gayong'.
The 45-year-old actor admitted he felt uneasy when he was first offered the role of the late Meor Abdul Rahman (1915-1991), the legendary founder of the martial art.
'I felt a great deal of anxiety. Portraying him was a daunting task. Even though I'm a student of gayong myself, I wasn't certain I could do it justice,' he said.
What eventually convinced Beto was the director's clear vision, along with the strength of the cast and script.
'After listening to Faisal Ishak's plans and learning who else was involved, I knew this wasn't just a film – it was a mission. So, I had no reason to turn it down,' he said at the recent premiere of 'Gayong', now screening in local cinemas.
'Gayong', which also stars Nabila Huda and Syafie Naswip, is based on the real-life journey of the founder of Pertubuhan Silat Seni Gayong. To preserve authenticity, foreign actors with real martial-arts backgrounds were brought in, including Indonesian martial artist and actor Yayan Ruhian.
Beto, who began learning silat at age seven, went beyond memorising the script: he met with several of the late master's former students, including Meor's own son, Cikgu Sazali.
'I didn't attempt to fully imitate the character of Datuk Meor, as that would be impossible. Instead, I chose to interpret the role based on the script, with the main intention of conveying his spirit of struggle and character,' Beto said.
'Gayong' is directed by Faisal Ishak, whose credits also include 'Padu' and 'Juvana'. (Bernama pic)
For director Faisal, crafting a story that blends a biographical figure with dramatic fiction rooted in historical facts wasn't easy. Beyond the production and technical aspects, he was intent on preserving authenticity and honouring Meor's legacy.
As such, 'we took a 'historical epic' approach', he explained: 'The storyline is dramatised, but the timeline and key events – like him working at Gilman Barracks, and moving to Singapore and Pulau Sudong – are all real.
'The selection of foreign actors was also done carefully. The Thai antagonist, for example, is played by a genuine Muay Thai fighter; the character Yamada is portrayed by a Japanese actor.'
The entire cast underwent rigorous training under Yayan and other experienced silat gayong instructors. 'It wasn't just about learning movements – it was about internalising the discipline and spirit behind every motion,' Faisal added.
Meanwhile, executive producer Khairul Anuar Latip revealed that while filming for 'Gayong 2' has already been completed, the team is focusing all efforts on the success of the first movie.
'It is still in post-production. Right now, we're asking everyone to support 'Gayong' so we can continue this legacy with even greater impact,' he said.