Lembing Awang just doesn't cut it

2009/11/07

MALAYSIANS don’t fancy watching locally-made swash - buckling m ov i e s.

While they turn up in droves to watch Hollywood epics like Pirates of The Carribean and Lord of The Rings and made them box-office hits, it was not the case with Lembing Awang Pulang Ke Dayang.

Made at a cost of RM1.6 million, Lembing Awang Pulang Ke Dayang only grossed a paltry RM60,000.

This is despite having one of the country’s most bankable actors, Farid Kamil, in the leading role.

The film revolves around Awang who has to sail for three adventure-filled months before he can marry his fiancee, Dayang.

Produced by Dayang Digital, shooting started in 2006 and was completed early this year.

The film was made using the National Film Development Cor poration’s feature film loan.

Today, the only successful local period film is Puter i Gunung Ledang produced by Enfiniti Productions.

Made at a cost of RM16 million in 2004, the film earned about RM2.5 million.

Several historical movies are in various stages of production, including KRU Films’ The Chronicles of Merong Mah awa n g s a directed by Yusry Abdul Halim.

Farid Kamil failed to draw the crowd to watch the film