THE adrenaline-pumping, power-packed and often injurious sport of mixed-martial arts or MMA is finally getting the big screen treatment in May next year with Sangkar.
Starring two of the country’s top action heroes, Zul Ariffin and Remy Ishak, it is directed by award-winning Kabir Bhatia, the man behind screen gems such as Cinta and Sepi as well as the spiritually-themed TV drama Nur Kasih.
Filming commenced around Kuala Lumpur on May 7 and wrapped up on June 11. The 100-minute film, produced by Infinitus Productions and Primeworks Studios, marks the first time Zul and Remy work together.
Described by producer Gayatri Su-Lin Pillai as a “heavyweight and hard action” story, Sangkar tells the story of two ruthlessly competitive MMA fighters who hail from impoverished families.
Initially they hate each other but gradually become friends after tragedy befalls one of them.
To make the fight scenes realistic, Infinitus roped in real-life MMA exponent Saiful Reza, who had previously worked with Zul in J Revolusi.
Saiful choreographed all the fight scenes with four friends who also excel in MMA. British MMA star James McSweeney made a cameo to add “more rock-solid masculinity” to the story.
Besides Zul and Remy, Sangkar, which is scripted by Kabir’s wife Mira Mustaffa, also stars Niezam Zaidi, Mira Filzah, Adam Mika, Ray of Era FM and Arman Graseka.
Below is a recent interview with Zul and Remy, on location at Jalan Tiong Nam in Kuala Lumpur.
YOUR CHARACTERS ADAM AND JOHAN ARE MIXED-MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTERS. HAVE YOU ALWAYS BEEN INTERESTED IN THIS SPORT?
Zul: Yes, I’ve always been a fan of MMA since my teens.
Remy: Not really, but I’m a fan of martial arts in general.
ZUL, WE HEAR THAT SANGKAR BEGAN AS AN IDEA OF YOURS TWO YEARS AGO. TELL US MORE.
Zul: When I was filming J Revolusi two years ago, Saiful also choreographed the fight scenes. During a break, we both talked about doing a MMA-themed film.
I told him MMA is getting popular and we’ve even got well-known exponent Peter Davis making a guest appearance in J Revolusi, so it’ll be fantastic for us to be part of a new MMA film in a few years’ time.
When I told Peter this, he was delighted and said “yes” to starring in it, as long as Saiful and I were on board.
I approached Infinitus and suggested that we do a story about a MMA fighter who suffers a defeat and loses his confidence but redeems himself by helping an opponent who is facing even bigger problems in life.
DID YOU LEARN MARTIAL ARTS DURING YOUR SCHOOLDAYS?Zul: No, but I was active in sports especially athletics and football.
REMY, WE UNDERSTAND THAT YOU LEARNT SILAT DURING YOUR SCHOOLDAYS. DID YOU LEARN IT FROM SILAT MASTERS? DID YOU TAKE PART IN NATIONAL EVENTS?
Remy: As a teenager, I loved silat. My parents encouraged me to master it as they say the traditional martial art is part of my Melakan heritage.
I learnt it from a few silat masters in my hometown Alor Gajah, and participated only in state-level tournaments.
HOW DID YOU ENJOY BEING TRAINED BY SAIFUL REZA AND HIS TEAM? WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT THING YOU HAD TO FACE? DID YOU GET HURT IN THE PROCESS?
Zul: It was enjoyable but tough and tiring.
We had two to three sessions a week for a month, and they stretched each session to more than half a day.
After every session, I was so tired I just fell asleep upon reaching home.
MMA is very fast and power-packed. Every training session was bruising but not to the extent of getting injured.
I’m fortunate that I learnt fast because of my athletic nature.
As for the scenes with Remy, we didn’t fight much but we had to appear to hate each other, and to look very intense.
Remy and I punched and kicked each other in those few scenes and got black and blue in the process.
We also threw each other around in the fighting cage and I think we were “even” here.
At the end of the day, we were both full of bruises but felt great and laughed a lot.
Remy: All that hugging and body contact in the ring made me uneasy! But I soon got used to it.
As for getting hurt, I broke one of my toes while kicking. It was a major “ouch” for me.
WHAT WAS THE MOST DIFFICULT SCENE IN SANGKAR? HOW DID YOU PREPARE FOR IT?
Zul: The scenes where my character broke down were difficult. I’m quite stoical so it’s not easy for me to break down.
Kabir told me to focus on sad moments in my life, so I thought a lot about the day my late mother died last year.
Remy: The scene where my character Johan gets confined to a wheelchair was challenging. I had to communicate with body language, facial expressions and even shed tears.
Fortunately, Kabir reminded me of my flawed character, Adam, in Nur Kasih and all his emotions.
Thus, I became Adam once again, and thought of all those painful moments where he broke down. Kabir told me I “nailed it”.
IT IS YOUR FIRST “FIGHT” FILM. DO YOU PLAN TO STAR IN MORE MARTIAL ARTS FILMS IN FUTURE?
Zul: It’s my first film where I play a fighter by profession. It’s a fantastic challenge, and I’d love to be a wrestler or boxer in future films.
Remy: I’d love to be a silat action hero either in a modern or historical setting.
TELL US ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE MEETING AND SPARRING WITH JAMES MCSWEENEY. HE LOOKS BIG AND INTIMIDATING. WERE YOU SCARED OF HIM?
Zul: McSweeney looked intimidating as he was a lot bigger and he had a perpetual scowl.
He bashed me in our brief match but when it was over, he apologised and we had a wonderful conversation after that.
Remy: No, I didn't have any scenes with James. But he’s a gentle giant with a great sense of humour.
He’s also very adventurous, who reads a lot about Malaysia, Singapore and Southeast Asia.
ANYTHING NEW AND INTERESTING ABOUT MIXED MARTIAL ARTS FIGHTERS THAT THE PUBLIC SELDOM HEARS OF?
Zul: Yes, that fighters may be mean and ruthless but deep down, they are as soft and vulnerable like everyone else. And true fighters respect their opponents.
Remy: MMA fighters are gentlemen off the ring. They act tough, but are “teddy bears” inside, like Johan and Adam.
ZUL, DID J REVOLUSI AND TOMBIRUO PREPARE YOU FOR THE SCENES IN SANGKAR?
HOW ARE THESE MOVIES SIMILAR TO EACH OTHER?
Zul: They definitely did, by training me to be a tough guy on the big screen. All three movies talk about the human side of a strongman — Jay Zulkarnain of J Revolusi, Ejim of Tombiruo and Adam of “Sangkar” may look invincible but they are yearning for something which is absent from their lives.
In Jay’s case, it is getting back his sister who left the family for a life of crime. In Ejim’s case, it is the need to protect his village and reunite with his long lost brother. For Adam, it is to find redemption after injuring an opponent badly.
REMY, DID PULANG PREPARE YOU FOR THE SCENES IN SANGKAR? HOW ARE THESE MOVIES SIMILAR TO EACH OTHER?
Remy: Yes, in terms of the emotional scenes, but not the physical action. Pulang is a heavy drama about a real person, while Sangkar is a heavy action drama about a fictitious person.
However, they both carry similar messages, about cherishing family and close friends.
REMY, TELL US ABOUT WORKING WITH MIRA AND MIKA WHO PLAY YOUR SIBLINGS. DID YOU TEACH THEM ABOUT MIXED MARTIAL ARTS? WERE THEY INTERESTED? Remy: Mira and Mika were curious and asked Zul and I lots of questions about extreme sports such as MMA.
We told them that it took “lots of time, effort, courage and passion” to master MMA and one had to be prepared for bruises, bumps and scratches.
At the end of the day, they realised it was not for them. They preferred to be spectators instead of participants.
WHAT OTHER SPORTS WOULD YOU WANT TO TRY IN YOUR NEXT MOVIE?
Remy: Cycling would be great. I’d love to appear in a movie about “Pocket Rocketman” Azizulhasni Awang.
Zul: I’d love to play a triathlete. It’s the ultimate sports challenge.
INSPIRED BY WARRIOR
DIRECTOR Kabir Bhatia says that while Sangkar was Zul Ariffin’s idea, he also added elements of Nick Nolte’s film Warrior in his latest project.
“I’m a fan of Nolte, who was brilliant in that movie about a martial arts fighter making a comeback,” he said in a recent interview.
Kabir and Zul also had many “brainstorming sessions” to develop the characters. They finally agreed to a story about two MMA fighters who have personal problems and are looking for closure.
“We wanted to make Sangkar as real as possible so we brought in a few MMA fighters, including Davis, Terry Gallyot, McSweeney and Davron,” said Kabir.
“Even MMA fan and sports commentator Rashid Salleh joined the cast to make the story believable.”
The 37-year-old McSweeney said he enjoyed “every bit of filming” with Zul and Remy, and described them as a “very sporting duo”.
“It’s my first Malaysian film, though I’ve been to KL as a tourist,” he said.
The Londoner described Zul and Remy as “thinking action heroes” who “do exactly as real fighters do”.
“My new-found friends from KL proved very passionate about mastering MMA, and I shared lots of tips with them.
“I admit I scared them a little when they “confronted” me in the cage but after that, we became friends and I thoroughly enjoyed their company.
McSweeney has appeared in seven American films, as well as music videos for American hip-hop singer Trey Songz and French hip-hop singer Alonzo.
Kabir said Sangkar was his 13th film and a “reunion” of sorts with Remy, who starred in his long-running drama series Nur Kasih.
“While it’s about fighters, I’d prefer to call it a journey into the heart of fighters — of what they go through to become winners, and the pain they bear behind the facade of invincibility.”
STORY OF TWO FIGHTERS
FILMED over 35 days around Kuala Lumpur, Petaling Jaya and Banting in Selangor, the RM2.8 million Sangkar tells the story of two MMA fighters, Adam (Zul) and Johan (Remy).
While Johan is a kind-hearted and loving elder brother to two siblings, Adam is self-centred, nasty and looks down on his opponents.
One day, Adam severely injures Johan.
Down and out, he soon gets to meet Johan’s family and realises the problems that they face.
Adam realises the folly of his ways, and decides to help Johan overcome his problems.
In the process they become good friends and Adam turns over a new leaf. Sangkar will be followed by J Retribusi, the sequel to J Revolusi next year. Zul will reprise his role as tough officer Jay Zulkarnain in the action film.