Kabali, a blockbuster featuring superstar Rajinikanth and extensively filmed in Malaysia, was dubbed in Malay by the film’s distributor in Malaysia, Malik Streams.
Apart from Malaysia, the Malay version of Kabali will also be released in 250 cinemas in Indonesia on July 29.
The joint producer of Kabali, Abdul Malik Dashtigeer, said the film will become a trend-setter and a historic event in Malaysian movie industry.
The teaser of Kabali, which was dubbed in Malay and released to the Malaysian public last week, was an instant hit, not only among the Malays but the Indian community as well.
“Kabali is the first Tamil film to be dubbed in Malay,” said Abdul Malik.
He said marketing the movie in Malaysia had cost him RM2 million and the film was expected to rake in about RM50 million when released in 480 cinemas throughout the country.
“Local celebrity Arun Kumar is the ‘voice’ of Rajinikanth in the Malay version and Fathia Latiff is the voice for the role of Rajinikanth’s daughter, Dhanshikaa, in the movie.
“The entire team involved in the dubbing, including Jalaluddin Hassan, who is the ‘leader’ of a notorious gang in the movie (voice), was flown to Chennai, India, for seven days to do the recording.
“Two songs (“Ulagam” and “Nerupuda”) are in the process of being dubbed in Malay and music will use the minus one scale,” he told Bernama.
Kabali first drew the attention of Malaysians, especially Malay movie fans when prominent local actors like Rosyam Nor, Norman Hakim, Zack Taipan and Tony Kassim were offered parts in the movie.
Abdul Malik, who owns Malik Streams, said in total about 800 Malaysians played roles, including as extras, in the movie that features Rajinikanth as a don of the underworld.
The entire cast spent about 60 days filming the movie in several parts of the country.
Rajinikanth, the highest paid actor in Asia just like Jackie Chan, has a huge fan following in the country.
The film, Rajinikanth’s 159th movie, also has Radhika Apte, John Vijay, Kalai Arasan Attakathi Dinesh and Dhanshikaa in leading roles.
– BERNAMA