Kadaram Kondan (கடாரம் கொண்டான், Tamil, Conqueror of Kadaram; 2019))
Young Malaysian adults of the 1980s must be quite familiar with the umpteen times concerts by foreign artistes that were initially launched with much pomp and splendour only to be cancelled later by the powers that be. The storyline would be the same. The youth wings of some political party would oppose to performer's lifestyle or decry that the performance would spiral down the society into a web of decadence. Just so as quickly as the excitement started, it would just fizzle out until another organiser risks a similar venture and burns his fingers. Our loss would be our neighbours' gain. The performers would quickly change their venue, and the deep-pocketed would have no qualms to catch their icons there.
This film shot entirely in and around Kuala Lumpur in five months, met a similar fate as the former. It is puzzling that after getting all the permits and even shooting in the Police Headquarters, its release was stopped. Now the authorities cite incomplete permits, as FINAS the Malaysian body that governs local film industry. Furthermore, the storyline puts the Royal Malaysian Police in a terrible light. It portrays almost all policemen as corrupt who act in cahoots with the thugs and become running dogs to crime kingpins.
There is yet another theory which is put forward by conspiracy theorists. Kadaram is the ancient name of a Hindu kingdom which was based in the northern state of Kedah. Rajendra Chola 1, the son of Raja Raja Chola of Thirukovil fame, was conferred the 'Kadaram Kondaan' (the conquerer of Kadaram) when he wrestled the State over from the Srivijaya empire. Kadaram was representative of the Malayan peninsula. So, to say, somebody is the conqueror of Malaysia is close to blasphemy and does not augur well with the State determined narration of the nation's history. Hence the ban. Nusantara had Indian/Hindu beginning? Malayan peninsular under the thumb of Bharat? Unbelievable. The local self-aggrandising historians have their own account of Arabs and Malays having the same root origin.
If not for the guessing game of the locations of the scenes that appear on the film, it would have been a dull affair. At the word get-go, the viewer can guess the flow of the story. A young couple, a doctor husband and his fully gravid wife, gets embroiled with a gangster and his rivals backed by almost the whole Royal Malaysian Police. Dr Vasu, a doctor in an intensive care unit, cares for a John Doe who was picked up around town. He witnessed some guy trying to kill the John Doe. Vasu's wife is kidnapped, and he has to get the patient out of the hospital discreetly if he wants to see his wife alive.
From then on, the movie goes on a cat-and-mouse spin all over the Klang Valley. There are too many hostage holding instances and death-defying near-miss accidents that makes the whole tale incredulous. It paints a picture of nearly every Malaysian cop to be corrupt and subservient to mafia leaders. It looks like the gang leaders pay their salary. The police have earlier crooks' phone number on their speed dial.
The story is based on a French movie titled 'À bout portant' made in 2010. It was remade in other languages too - Korean (The Target, 2014), Bollywood (unfinished, 2015), Hollywood (Point Blank, 2018), Bangla (Password, 2019).
Young Malaysian adults of the 1980s must be quite familiar with the umpteen times concerts by foreign artistes that were initially launched with much pomp and splendour only to be cancelled later by the powers that be. The storyline would be the same. The youth wings of some political party would oppose to performer's lifestyle or decry that the performance would spiral down the society into a web of decadence. Just so as quickly as the excitement started, it would just fizzle out until another organiser risks a similar venture and burns his fingers. Our loss would be our neighbours' gain. The performers would quickly change their venue, and the deep-pocketed would have no qualms to catch their icons there.
The list includes Chicago in 1990s for their long hair, Megadeth in 2001 for the negative image of their mascot, Beyonce in 2007 for her short dress, Inul Darashista in 2008 for her trademark gyrating dangdut moves, Erykah Badu for her Allah tattoo in 2012, Kesha in 2013 for cultural sensitivities. Metallica, Elton John, Micheal Jackson, Mariah Carrey, Avril Lavigne, Pussy Cat Dolls and Black Eyed Peas, however, saw their shows come through by the skin of their teeth.
This film shot entirely in and around Kuala Lumpur in five months, met a similar fate as the former. It is puzzling that after getting all the permits and even shooting in the Police Headquarters, its release was stopped. Now the authorities cite incomplete permits, as FINAS the Malaysian body that governs local film industry. Furthermore, the storyline puts the Royal Malaysian Police in a terrible light. It portrays almost all policemen as corrupt who act in cahoots with the thugs and become running dogs to crime kingpins.
There is yet another theory which is put forward by conspiracy theorists. Kadaram is the ancient name of a Hindu kingdom which was based in the northern state of Kedah. Rajendra Chola 1, the son of Raja Raja Chola of Thirukovil fame, was conferred the 'Kadaram Kondaan' (the conquerer of Kadaram) when he wrestled the State over from the Srivijaya empire. Kadaram was representative of the Malayan peninsula. So, to say, somebody is the conqueror of Malaysia is close to blasphemy and does not augur well with the State determined narration of the nation's history. Hence the ban. Nusantara had Indian/Hindu beginning? Malayan peninsular under the thumb of Bharat? Unbelievable. The local self-aggrandising historians have their own account of Arabs and Malays having the same root origin.
 |
| Jasmine Kaar, a Malaysian actor, played the role of a dirty cop. |
From then on, the movie goes on a cat-and-mouse spin all over the Klang Valley. There are too many hostage holding instances and death-defying near-miss accidents that makes the whole tale incredulous. It paints a picture of nearly every Malaysian cop to be corrupt and subservient to mafia leaders. It looks like the gang leaders pay their salary. The police have earlier crooks' phone number on their speed dial.
The story is based on a French movie titled 'À bout portant' made in 2010. It was remade in other languages too - Korean (The Target, 2014), Bollywood (unfinished, 2015), Hollywood (Point Blank, 2018), Bangla (Password, 2019).
Comments
Post a Comment