Tengku Iesta Alauddin and Jason Chong talk to Dennis Chua about their newest romantic film
AS dashing actor Remy Ishak and fans await the arrival of his epic movie Pulang, targeted for early 2018, the versatile Malaccan who excels in romantic roles will appear in another bittersweet love story, Kau Takdirku.
For release early next year, the movie is produced by Grand Brilliance and directed by Jason Chong (Belukar, Ular, Dendam Orang Mati).
Remy plays Kamar, who has long developed romantic feelings for the girl who was adopted by his family, Alia (Ezzaty Abdullah of Chowrasta). However, she loves his best friend Harris (Bront Palarae) and they have a happy married life.
One day, Harris goes sailing in his yacht and is lost at sea. All attempts to locate him prove futile and he is presumed to have drowned.
While Kamar grieves for his friend, he reunites with Alia and marries her, with the blessings of their elders and Harris’ family.
Their honeymoon is shortlived when Harris, who has miraculously survived his ordeal at sea, returns home.
Alia, torn between two loves, has to make a difficult choice. Both men fiercely defend their “destinies” and the relationship between these best friends is strained.
Chong, who acted in television series Fara, Nur Kasih, Vice Versa and Idaman, and directed the music video of Aizat Amdan’s Di Sini Aku Bermula, said that at first glance, Kau Takdirku may appear to have been inspired by Bollywood.
“If we haven’t watched the movie and merely read the summary, Raj Kapoor’s cult movie Sangam and Ben Affleck’s Pearl Harbour come to mind. This is mainly because the hero is presumed dead but miraculously survives, only to learn that his wife has married his best friend,” said Chong, who has also directed TV advertisements.
Producer Tengku Iesta Tengku Alauddin said love triangles have always been popular with local audiences. “The same goes for Hollywood movies. Love triangles are found in films around the world, but what’s new in Kau Takdirku is that Remy’s character falls for his adopted sister, and the story unfolds in the current age of technology.”
He commended heavyweights Remy and Bront, who co-starred in Jiwa Taiko four years ago, for their great teamwork on screen, and Ezzaty for making a promising start to her career in movies.
“The movie was filmed over a month in late 2014, before Ezzaty appeared in the film Chowrasta last year. She has done a good job in both and shows promise,” said Tengku Iesta.
Chong said Kau Takdirku does not follow a formulaic storyline. “There are some interesting plot twists in this story, and cinemagoers will have more than one surprise watching it.
“It’s also a very scenic film and we’ve shot it in some of Langkawi’s most beautiful locations. It was also filmed in Pulau Tioman and Kuala Lumpur.”
Primeworks Studios chief executive officer Ahmad Izham Omar said: “Primeworks is always looking for refreshing, new ways to tell entertaining stories. We strive to ensure that our stories sustain their appeal with audiences.”
Besides Kau Takdirku, two other anticipated titles from Primeworks to be released next year and in 2018 are J Revolusi and Pulang which Izham said exemplify its motto of “Asian Stories For The World.”
He said this at Primeworks Studios Sneak Peak at MM Cineplex, e-Curve Mutiara Damansara recently. The event was also attended by Primeworks Distribution general manager for innovation and distribution Marini Ramlan.
NEXT BIG HITS
ACTION-packed J-Revolusi opens on March 2 next year and it is director Zulkarnain Azhar’s first feature film.
Inspired by Tan Sri Jins Shamsuddin’s Jefri Zain spy movies of the 1960s, it is about Special Force Unit (UTK) operative Jay (Zul Ariffin). He is on a mission to save his elder sister Dian (Nur Fazura Sharifuddin), a former UTK operative who has been captured by ruthless kingpin Andra (Farid Kamil).
Jay learns that Andra has framed him as a mole in his organisation, and becomes a fugitive from the law. He has to clear his name and rescue his sister, and discreetly calls on his colleagues to assist him.
The film also stars Izara Aishah and Azad Jazmin as Jay’s colleagues Eddie and Skodeng, respectively.
J-Revolusi is co-produced by Grand Brilliance and Infinitus Productions.
Epic movie Pulang stars Remy Ishak and Puteri Aishah Sulaiman as married couple Othman and Thom who live in 1940s Malacca.
Othman wants to become a sailor and travel the world but Thom refuses to let him go. He subsequently makes his way to the UK and lives in Liverpool, writing occasional postcards to his son Omar (Azrel Ismail).
On his mother’s urging, Omar goes to the UK in the 1960s to look for his father, and is briefly reunited with Othman. In 2010, Omar’s son Ahmad (Erwin Dawson) promises Thom that he will find his grandfather’s grave but soon uncovers interesting family secrets.
Some of the film scenes were shot in Terengganu, and filming in Liverpool begins Nov 23.
Pulang also stars Juliana Evans and Datuk Jalaluddin Hassan, and is directed by Kabir Bhatia, with Mira Mustafa as screenwriter.