Latest news with #KeluangMan
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Go batty with the zany adventures of ‘Keluang Man'
Keluang Man (Nas-T) is certainly all fired up to get revenge on his brother. (Astro Shaw pic) PETALING JAYA : Look, up in the sky! Is it a bat? Is it a wau?! No, it's Keluang Man, making his way to the silver screen at long last! Blockbuster superhero films have been the rage over the last decade, so it was only a matter of time that this beloved Malaysian superhero got his own cinematic adventure. 'Keluang Man' is a largely faithful live-action adaptation of the 1990s cartoon series produced by UAS Animation Studio. Its serious and silly elements sometimes clash but, overall, it's a fun superhero adventure. The big-screen version is produced by Astro Shaw and marks the directorial debut of Anwari Ashraf, the writer of hits such as the 'Polis Evo' trilogy and 'Project: High Council'. In the film, Borhan (Nas-T), a patient at the Tampoi Psychiatric Centre in Kluang, spends his days arguing with other inmates and undergoing sessions with the beautiful and intelligent Dr Malini (Shweta Sekhon). Borhan hears voices in his head – more precisely, just one voice: that of iconic actor and radio announcer Halim Othman. When a chance encounter triggers memories of Borhan's dramatic past, which involves a betrayal by his once-trusted brother Shamsir (Remy Ishak), Borhan becomes eager for revenge. Fortunately, his psychiatric facility has the lowest level of security ever, allowing him to leave regularly for his crusade of justice as the masked vigilante Keluang Man; while the grizzled Inspector Sahab (Anwaar Beg Moghal) – who happens to be Dr Malini's brother – is hot on his trail. Shweta Sekhon plays the intelligent Dr Malini, who forms a bond with Borhan. (Astro Shaw pic) At first glance, this stylish superhero seems to be a local version of Batman. But this is a different story, as the film will remind you numerous times. A wisecracking misfit with the ability to break the fourth wall? Keluang Man has just as much in common with Deadpool as he does the Dark Knight! Acting-wise, the performers are decent, with Rosyam Nor as Borhan's old mentor Ahmad being particularly noteworthy. That said, Halim Othman's voice acting is the most outstanding of the lot! Much like its eponymous character, however, 'Keluang Man' suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. The film wants to be a serious superhero story and a parody of the genre at the same time, and the rapid shifts in tone can be quite disorienting. The movie is at its funniest when making humorous observations of Malaysian culture, or taking little jabs at other superhero movies. It does attempt to explore themes such as family, identity and revenge, but this feels mostly perfunctory, existing mainly to tie the action and comedy scenes together. Apart from fighting crime, Keluang Man has time to pursue his little art projects. (Astro Shaw pic) The fight scenes are executed well, especially during the climactic clash set in a pillow factory. Alas, while entertaining, this sequence drags on a bit and feels melodramatic, flying in the face of the film's generally humorous vibe. 'Keluang Man' does have a killer soundtrack, which features many throwback hits from the 2000s. Fans will also appreciate numerous references to the original animated series sprinkled through the story. Minor gripes aside, this is a fun superhero comedy, a popcorn flick with lots of local flavour. Importantly, it seems to have been made with love and as a tribute to longtime fans, which is commendable in and of itself. This is also the first entry in the Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe, which suggests the character will return soon. Hopefully Borhan will have more interesting adventures to come: who knows, he might even cross paths with a Marvel superhero some day! 'Keluang Man' starts screening in local cinemas from tomorrow.
Free Malaysia Today
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Free Malaysia Today
Age shouldn't define a hero, says ‘Keluang Man' actor Rosyam Nor
Rosyam, famously known as 'Hero Malaya', believes an experienced actor can still add value to a production, especially when paired with younger performers. (Bernama pic) KUALA LUMPUR : Veteran producer and actor Rosyam Nor believes age should not define a leading role, and expressed hope that, with talent being a 'timeless gift', more senior actors will return to the spotlight. 'People say if I play a hero, I'm considered an 'old hero'. I disagree. There's no such thing as an old or young hero. If he's a hero, he's a hero,' said the 58-year-old, whose real name is Mohamed Noor Shamsuddin. 'In films, even if a person is 70, he or she can still be a hero,' he told reporters after the trailer launch of the live-action 'Keluang Man' movie recently. Famously known as 'Hero Malaya', Rosyam said an experienced actor can still add value to a production, especially if they are paired with younger performers. 'Therefore, give us opportunities, especially in action films. We already have our own fan base, and when combined with young actors, it can attract two groups of viewers: the old and the new.' Citing the success of the Hindi film 'Mohabbatein', which paired Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan, Rosyam added that such an approach reflects generational diversity in mainstream works. He said such collaboration not only allows veteran actors to continue shining but also provides fans of all ages a reason to return to cinemas. Rosyam's Ahmad playing middleman to Nas-T's Borhan (left) and Remy Ishak's Shamsir in 'Keluang Man'. (Astro Shaw pic) 'Some films today are too focused on the younger generation, to the point that older fans who grew up with us feel left out because there are no longer genres or figures they can watch in the cinema,' said the Best Actor winner of last year's 16th Malaysian Film Festival. Commenting on his involvement in the superhero film's first full-length release, he said he feels proud to have been given the opportunity to act in a film directed by Anwari Ashraf and adapted from the iconic 1990s cartoon series. 'This is my first superhero film, and I'm proud because it's made by a younger generation of filmmakers, adapted from an old classic, and presented on the big screen. I think the film's production set is one of the most impressive in the history of local films,' he said. He also urges local audiences to support the film, as it not only evokes nostalgia for the older generation but also introduces a local legend to younger audiences. Rosyam stars in 'Keluang Man', which is now screening in cinemas nationwide, alongside other prominent local actors including Nas-T, Remy Ishak, Shweta Sekhon, Anwaar Beg Moghal, Halim Othman, and Amelia Henderson.
The Star
2 days ago
- Business
- The Star
Astro focuses on attracting new customers
Astro group CEO Euan Daryl Smith PETALING JAYA: Astro Malaysia Holdings Bhd will be focusing on attracting new customers, accelerating adjacent businesses and reducing its costs. Group chief executive officer Euan Smith (pic) remains optimistic that the pay-TV operator's video customer base will stabilise in the near future, underpinned by better product value propositions that cater to a wider range of customers. This, he added, will also be supported by the growing share of local content in its customers' viewing time. 'Financial year 2025 (ended Jan 31, 2025) (FY25) saw the highest growth of new Chinese subscribers in the last four years and an increased return of lapsed customers. 'Ongoing efforts to acquire customers in relatively untapped suburban areas and newer townships such as Sekinchan and Pandamaran (Selangor) have also contributed significantly to the general upwards trend,' Smith said in the company's annual report. He added that the group's production expertise and strong integration with the Malaysian creative ecosystem fuels the company's ability to deliver successful shows at scale, whether that be live signatures, Astro Originals, dramas, local sports, news, or children's content. 'Our new formats and captivating content increasingly include 360-degree engagement that goes well beyond the screen, to radio, to ground events, and into the vibrant social media and digital space.' Separately, Smith said Astro's adjacent businesses continue to show momentum. 'Enterprise, Astro Fibre broadband, addressable advertising and Sooka are each unlocking significant opportunities to meet a wider range of customer needs.' Having grown these businesses in FY25, Smith said the focus is now on increasing Astro's execution cadence for each of these business lines. 'Additionally, our ability to execute unified campaigns across all platforms and leverage Astro's extensive talent roster positions us uniquely to engage the entire Malaysian audience across TV, radio, digital, and at on-ground activations. 'Brands continue to trust us to deliver high-impact, targeted solutions.' In an era of intense competition and deep discounting, Smith said Astro is experimenting with novel and innovative approaches to differentiate its advertising expenditure offering. 'This includes repurposing scenes from our shows and movies into advertisements, a strategy that has encouraged investments and sponsorships from leading consumer brands, including for our movie titles (such as The Experts and Keluang Man).' Additionally, Smith said efforts around cost continue, with the group's overall cost base down by circa 8% in FY25 despite parallel investments to acquire new customers and grow new businesses. 'In particular, proactive measures to reduce legacy costs are helping ensure that our offerings remain competitive in the face of increasing pressure from over-the-top platforms and piracy.' Smith emphasised that major cost savings in the year included lower employee costs resulting from the headcount reduction achieved post the FY24 voluntary separation scheme. 'Our cost to serve dropped significantly as a result of our customer relationship management system re-platforming, other technology initiatives, and the mid-year retirement of the M3a satellite. 'Advancements in compression technology and delivery of more content via On Demand have allowed us to reduce transponder capacity and its associated costs.'
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Shweta Sekhon relearns Punjabi for her role in "Keluang Man"
26 May - Malaysian Punjabi actress and former beauty queen Shweta Sekhon admitted that she had to relearn Punjabi language for her role as psychiatrist Dr. Malini in the upcoming Malaysian superhero movie, "Keluang Man". The former Miss Universe Malaysia 2019 said that playing the character required her to speak in Punjabi, a language that she rarely uses in her daily life. "Honestly, I speak better Bahasa Melayu rather than my own native language because I studied in a government school. All of my best friends are also Malay. But because of the movie, I took the chance to sit down with my grandma and study it," she said. Aside from studying Punjabi, Shweta said that she also used the chance to learn about the original animated series before filming began. "My mum knew Keluang Man, but I was not of that generation. So, I had to do my homework. To be able to play the character, I had to learn who Dr. Malini is," she said. Starring Nas-T in the titular role, the film based on the hit '90s cartoon will be released on 29 May. (Photo Source: Shweta IG)
Malay Mail
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Malay Mail
At KL book fair, vintage sneaker brand Fung Keong turns heads with Keluang Man and M. Nasir collabs
KUALA LUMPUR, May 26 — It's called the Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair (KLIBF) 2025. However, the independent publishing house Rabak-Lit is attracting attention for more than just books. Since its merger with Fung Keong, a Malaysian shoes brand popular in the 80s and 90s, the publisher has been showcasing these sneakers at the popular book event, which you would not want to miss. Also known as FK Sneakers, it is no strangers to collaborations, with a track record of success across the country. While it's only been three days since the launch of KLIBF, the sneakers taking centre stage are none other than the Keluang Man edition, just released with the film's gala premiere on May 22. Its style features a retro-classic design inspired by the hero Keluang Man's costume. Fung Keong shoes displayed at Rabak Lit booth during Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2025 at Kuala Lumpur. May 25, 2025 — Picture by Raymond Manuel The real showstopper, however, is none other than the FK Kembara Seniman Jalanan M. Nasir sneakers, a special collaboration with Malaysia's legendary musician, Datuk M. Nasir. The sneakers pay tribute to the iconic 1986 film in which M. Nasir starred — and, as shared by Rabak-Lit brand owner Izzat Amir, the pair was even worn in the movie. 'We also have sneaker collaborations with Malaysian actor Adam John and the Kelantanese punk band No Good that emerged from the Malaysian indie scene,' he told Malay Mail when visiting its booth at the 4th floor of World Trade Centre KL. In addition to showcasing their already impressive FK sneakers, this year, Rabak-Lit is offering a curated selection of alternative books aimed at niche audiences, including indie music fans, experimental poetry readers, local film buffs, and those interested in politics. A staff member arranges books at the Rabak Lit booth during Kuala Lumpur International Book Fair 2025 at Kuala Lumpur. May 25, 2025 — Picture by Raymond Manuel 'So far, the bestsellers have been Rebel Playlist by Nasir Jani and Gonzo Tanpa Fiasco by Ku Syafiq — both centred on music,' said Izzat. If that's got you curious to check out the cool sneakers and new titles, just note that Rabak-Lit has two booths at KLIBF — both offering the same selection of sneakers and books. KLIBF has been a staple for book enthusiasts for decades, and this year, Rabak-Lit's branded sneakers are set to turn even more heads in the coming days. The fair runs until June 1, so there's still plenty of time to stop by and add to your to-do list.
