KEDAHAN actor Farid Kamil will grace cinema screens playing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in the first or second week of May, in the Malaysian-Indonesian biopic Anwar, The Untold Story.
Fans of Farid, who have viewed the movie's trailer on social media, have given the Lagenda Budak Setan and Remp-It star the thumbs up, and the film's Indonesian director Viva Westi has described him as "the right Malaysian for the job".
At the launch of Anwar, The Untold Story in W Hotel, Jalan Ampang, Kuala Lumpur recently, Viva revealed that Farid was not her initial choice for the role of Anwar, and she had instead planned to cast popular Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian.
Reza is best known for playing former Indonesian President B.J. Habibie in producer Manoj Punjabi's 2012 biopic Habibie & Ainun.
GREAT AS HABIBIE
"I've known Reza for sometime. His portrayal of Habibie impressed me, so he was my first choice to play Anwar, who is respected in Indonesia," said Viva.
The film's executive producer, Zulkiflee Anwar Haque, or Zunar, preferred that a Malaysian play Anwar, as the country had talented actors, and recommended Farid for the job.
"Farid was a good idea, too. I said 'yes' when Reza told me that he could not make it on the scheduled date, as he had a few other projects in his hands.
"I've seen Farid in some Malaysian films and he has the intensity and charisma to play Anwar," said Viva, who filmed the 108-minute biopic in Kuala Lumpur and Jakarta over four months beginning August last year.
WORTHY CHALLENGE
Farid said playing Anwar was "a worthy challenge" as he had always admired the prime minister and his political journey over the last five decades.
"I hadn't played any real-life character before, and when I was offered the role of Anwar, I was delighted but worried," said Farid.
"My main worry was not being convincing enough, and for that reason I watched many videos of Anwar speaking at rallies. I thank Zunar for assisting me with all the relevant materials."
RAISING HIS ARM
Farid was extra careful to raise his right arm the way Anwar did in 1998 when he appeared outside the High Court to stand trial for abuse of power.
"That's the official poster of the movie, so I had to get it 100 per cent right."
The film covers Anwar's days as finance minister and deputy prime minister, his 1998 sacking from the cabinet and jailing, and the birth of the Reformasi movement which gave rise to Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR).
Farid had hoped Anwar would win the 15th General Election in November last year so that the film would not be banned in Malaysia.
"I wanted a 'sweet ending' to the story, where he becomes our prime minister and his biopic is allowed to be screened in Malaysian cinemas. My greatest fear was that if he did not win, the film would not be screened here," said Farid.
KEDAH DIALECT
Farid added that he was honoured to co-star with popular Indonesian actress Acha Septriasa, who plays Anwar's wife Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.
"Acha was great as Dr Wan Azizah. We discussed her role and I gave her tips on how to speak like a Kedahan," he said.
STRONG AND COMPASSIONATE
In an online interview, Acha said she was honoured to play Dr Wan Azizah, as she was "brave, strong and compassionate".
"I've always admired Dr Wan Azizah, and when I interviewed her in preparation for the role, she shared lots of interesting experiences coping with her husband's six-year jailing and leading the Reformasi movement," said Acha.
NEW TITLE
Zunar said 50 per cent of filming took place in Malaysia, and the story was based on Anwar's point of view.
Anwar, The Untold Story was initially titled Jalan Masih Panjang. It is produced by Bianglala Entertainment and distributed by Rakyat Media.