FOOTBALL film Harimau Malaya: The Untold Journey is set to bring a new dimension for sports movies.
Directed by Datuk Afdlin Shauki, who is marking his debut as a sports movie director, the two-hour film starring Meerqeen, Sophia Albarakbah, Aiman Hakim Redza, Aidil Aziz, Tony Eusoff, Zain Hamid, Vanidah Imran, Erra Fazira, Amelia Henderson, Bell Ngasri, Kavin Jay and Douglas Lim is co-produced by Nashrul Nasir and Alif Nabil and will premiere on June 27.
Nashrul said in an interview with Berita Harian Online recently that Harimau Malaya will take an in-depth look into the lives of footballers, coaches, sports associations and the "beautiful game" itself.
"Filming is 100 per cent completed, and we are adding Computer-Generated Imagery (CGI) to it now. This film will utilise the largest blue screen in Malaysian cinematic history, covering an entire football field," said Nashrul, adding that the film was shot in the Cheras Football Stadium.
"Unfortunately we were not able to film at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium, as it was being utilised then."
Nashrul said that CGI covered 15 per cent of the film, which was shot over a month in November last year.
"We filmed not only in Kuala Lumpur but also in London, for a week."
Nashrul was impressed with the commitment and work ethics of the ensemble cast.
"They are a real hard-working lot. Actor Aidil Aziz was one of the first to go to Wisma FAM, home of the Football Association of Malaysia, for football training."
He added that many of the characters were not real-life persons, but based on them.
"Nevertheless, we did get to portray some real-life characters who contributed immensely to Malaysian football. The story is 70 per cent factual."
He said that one of the major plots in the film involved the resignation of FAM coach Tan Cheng Hoe, and how the association worked hard to find a replacement in Kim Pan Gon.
"The processes and conflicts involved will be shown up, close and personal. We also have cameos by real-life footballers Derrick Gan and Faisal Halim, and the latter's journey to sports stardom is truly admirable."
Nashrul stressed that Harimau Malaya should not be compared with Ola Bola and Lee Chong Wei: Rise Of The Legend because those films were "biopics" and focused on different eras of Malaysian sports.
"Harimau Malaya is about the national football team's on-going evolution, this is what makes it different from other sports movies."
To promote the new film, Nashrul and his production company 4ward Pictures will be organising a road tour, which comes with football tournaments for young enthusiasts of the sport.
"We will organise the Harimau Malaya Cup for players ahged 12 and below in the East Coast, North, South and Central regions of the country. We hope to make this an annual event.
"In the process, we will also have a campaign to sell tickets for the coming movie."