KUALA LUMPUR: Not many people are familiar with the late Datuk Meor Abdul Rahman Daeng Uda Md Hashim, except for those deeply immersed in the world of martial arts, especially in the realm of silat.
While he produced thousands of silat champions and national martial arts trainers and established the unarmed combat training (TTS) for the Royal Malaysia Police (PDRM) and the Malaysian Armed Forces (ATM), many may not be aware that this man was actually the founder of Silat Seni Gayong Malaysia.
The agility and prowess of this grandmaster, also known as Rahman Sendo, in performing silat and wielding weapons are undeniable. His skills even attracted many foreign martial artists in the 1980s to train under him, including Daniel Inosanto, a student of Hollywood martial arts actor Bruce Lee.
Inspired by the life story of the late grandmaster – the first Malay to become a British Navy combat instructor in 1939 – and driven by a desire to honour this national martial arts hero, SOL Pictures Sdn Bhd decided to produce a film about this remarkable figure.
“If Hong Kong has the story of IP Man, who is famous for Wing Chun, it’s time for us to create a film about a local martial arts icon that we should be proud of – the Gayong film,” said executive producer Khairul Anuar Latip.
“To that end, we interviewed the late grandmaster’s eldest daughter, Siti Fadzilah, who shared many fascinating stories and fully supported our efforts to produce this film,” he added.
Speaking at a press conference and the launch of Gayong recently, Khairul Anuar said the film conveys a profound message – not only about silat but also about the struggles of a national figure, serving as an inspiration to all.
Directed by Faisol Ishak, the film boasts a stellar cast, including Beto Kusyairy, Nabila Huda, and Syafie Naswip in the lead roles. It also features two popular action actors: Yayan Ruhian from Indonesia and Chevanon Phukaokaew from Thailand.
“All these actors were my first choices because I have full confidence in their experience and acting skills. I have known Beto, Nabila, and Syafie for a long time, and our relationship is like family.
“We frequently collaborate, and for this film project, we strive to bring something unique that will create a lasting memory. I believe this cast is the best suited to fulfil their roles,” he said.
As the choreographer, Yayan, who also portrays a silat practitioner from Java named Wak Kesang, acknowledged the significant challenge of training the actors in silat within a short period, as he usually takes three months.
“However, for Gayong, I only have one month. It is quite stressful, but since the main character, Meor, is played by Beto, I am confident that the process will run smoothly,” said Yayan, who has acted in Hollywood films such as Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Beyond Skyline.
Nabila, who will portray Kalsom, Meor’s wife, said that the Gayong film would fulfil her long-standing aspiration to act in an epic and large-scale production, following her role as the late Puan Sri Saloma in a biopic.
“This film will pose a new challenge for me as I need to portray wartime scenes, complete with bomb explosions, similar to those in the film Embun,” she said. The film, which has a budget of about RM7 million, is set to begin filming on Oct 5 and is expected to be released in local cinemas by mid-next year. – BERNAMA
