KUALA LUMPUR: Patriotic action film Malbatt: Misi Bakara is still going strong at the box office, with its takings now standing at RM32.5 million.
The heartfelt tribute to Malaysia's brave soldiers who helped restore peace in war-torn Somalia garnered that amount yesterday, approximately five weeks after its Aug 24 premiere.
Bakara's director Adrian Teh thanked viewers for their continued support and described its box office success as a great incentive to come up with good patriotic films.
"Thank you so much Malaysian viewers. My team and I hope that you will continue to support local films that tell inspiring stories, and help boost the film industry," said Teh in an interview with Berita Harian Online yesterday.
Teh's last patriotic film Paskal The Movie about the Royal Malaysian Navy's elite unit collected RM30 million when it was screened in 2018.
Bakara is based on the true story of Malaysian soldiers who rescued 70 of their United States counterparts who were trapped by Somali militiamen at Bakara Market in the Somalian capital city Mogadishu in 1993.
The Malaysian soldiers were part of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in the East African country.
Bakara stars Bront Palarae, Shaheizy Sam, Zahiril Adzim, Iedil Dzuhrie Alaudin, Adlin Aman Ramlie, Fauzi Nawawi, Tony Eusoff, Dafi Ismail Sabri, Taufiq Hanafi and Dini Schatzmann, among others.