#SHOWBIZ: 'Blood Brothers: Bara Naga' gets novelised
KUALA LUMPUR: Skop Productions, in collaboration with WhiteCoat Group, has transformed its cinematic blockbuster, Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, into a novel.
Datuk Yusof Haslam, founder and head of the film production house, stated that this move wasn't new for him, recalling that his popular 1990s movie Sembilu was also novelised.
"Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, directed by my son Syafiq and his friend Abhilash Chandra, makes history by transitioning from a film to a novel," said Yusof at the novel's launch at Dewan Merdeka, World Trade Centre Kuala Lumpur, last Sunday.
"Just like when Sembilu was screened, we turned it into a novel, and as far as I remember, about 30,000 copies of that novel were produced."
Blood Brothers: Bara Naga, which premiered on April 10, has earned RM62 million in 20 days, making it one of the country's top-selling films.
Yusof explained that novelising Blood Brothers was a good idea, as not everyone enjoys watching films.
He extended his gratitude to authors Dr. Anwar Fazal and Amshida Ahmad Rani for "doing a great job."
"Dr. Anwar is my nephew and he is also a songwriter for Syafiq's films," he added.
Syafiq expressed his hope that the novel would be well-received by readers, adding, "Congratulations Dr. Anwar, I hope this novel will be a great success."
Anwar and Amshida completed the novel in two weeks.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Straits Times
2 hours ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Yusof Haslam: 'Raja Nurfatimah was a dear friend who helped my family all the way'
KUALA LUMPUR: Filmmaker and producer Datuk Yusof Haslam has described the death of the late Berita Harian assistant entertainment editor Raja Nurfatimah Mawar Mohamed as the loss of a dear friend who supported his family throughout their careers. Raja Nurfatimah passed away today. "Raja Nurfatimah and I go back a long way," he said when contacted. "She covered my work when I was still an actor, and she was there when I became a filmmaker with the Sembilu series too." Yusof added that Raja Nurfatimah was a steadfast supporter of his sons. "When my sons Syamsul and Syafiq rose in the industry, she was the first entertainment journalist to give them support. "My family and I owe her so much, and we'll all miss her dearly," he told NST. Yusof also fondly recalled Raja Nurfatimah's annual Hari Raya Aidilfitri visits. "She would always visit me during Hari Raya Aidilfitri, and we would engage in hearty conversations about Malaysian entertainment." Describing her professional qualities, Yusof said, "She was very hardworking, dedicated, knowledgeable, but most of all, humble and friendly. Almost everyone in showbiz knew her and had good things to say about her." Yusof shared his regret, saying, "I had plans to visit Raja Nurfatimah in July, but alas, this was not to be." "On behalf of my family, I convey my heartfelt condolences to Raja Nurfatimah's loved ones," Yusof said. "Malaysia has lost a great entertainment journalist, and the entertainment world has lost a good friend. We will always remember her love and support for Malaysian entertainment." Several artistes also paid tribute to Raja Nurfatimah on Facebook and Instagram, including Fauziah Ahmad Daud, Datuk Hattan, and Datuk Fauziah Nawi. In an Instagram post, Fauziah Ahmad Daud wrote: "Rest in peace, Raja Nurfatimah. Thank you so much for being a great friend to all of us." Hattan shared on Facebook: "May she be placed among the righteous. We've lost a great friend." Fauziah Nawi also expressed her condolences on Facebook: "May her soul rest in peace. Heartfelt condolences to her family." Raja Nurfatimah, 49, passed away at her home in Sungai Long, Kuala Lumpur, around 2 pm today. Her death, reportedly due to breathing difficulties and chest pain, has shocked both the journalistic fraternity and the entertainment industry. She was an outstanding, award-winning journalist throughout her three-decade-long career. Raja Nurfatimah's remains have been sent to Kajang Hospital for a post-mortem. She will be laid to rest in her hometown of Kuala Terengganu later.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Irfan Zaini shocked after obsessed fan injures another posing with him
KUALA LUMPUR: Blood Brothers star Irfan Zaini, who played the suave gangster Malik in that blockbuster movie, recently had a shock when an obsessed female fan attacked another fan who had posed for a selfie with him. The 30-year-old actor recounted in a news report yesterday that during a recent promotional visit to Kuching, Sarawak for Blood Brothers, a female fan took a selfie with him, which evidently angered another. "As soon as she left me after taking the selfie, another female fan approached her and assaulted her until she sustained a minor injury," he explained. Irfan added that the obsessed fan shouted, "Malik is mine!" before striking her victim. "The injured woman sent me a photo of her injury, and I was shocked. I advised her to file a police report." Irfan urged his fans to respect each other and avoid "fighting" over him. "As an actor, I love all my fans, and I don't want them to hurt each other." Irfan is currently starring in Honey Trap, an Astro Originals drama about a female spy. The series also features Nina Kho, Syarul Ezani, Ungku Ismail, Ayez Shaukat Fonseka, Amyza Aznan, and Michael Chen.
New Straits Times
3 days ago
- New Straits Times
#SHOWBIZ: Hans Isaac: Finas to consider ending 'open door policy' for foreign films
KUALA LUMPUR: Following the disappointing box office performance of Blood Brothers: Bara Naga in Indonesia, despite it being Malaysia's highest-grossing film of 2025, the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) is considering ending its 'open door policy' towards international films. Its chairman, Datuk Hans Isaac, 53, expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of reciprocity in how Malaysian films are treated abroad, particularly in Indonesia. "I'm saying this not just as Finas chairman but also as a filmmaker. We open all doors for them to screen their films in Malaysia," he told reporters when met recently. "However, when we take our films abroad, although they grant us entry, the process, marketing, and structural hurdles are extremely challenging." "For example, in Indonesia, they complicate the situation, whereas here in Malaysia, we have always made it very easy," he added. Hans further said that if foreign countries make it difficult for Malaysian films to penetrate their markets, Malaysia should impose the same conditions on them. "If they offer five slots, we'll offer five. If they give ten, we'll give ten. It has to be on a first-come, first-served basis." "We can't reserve special slots for anyone. This is similar to the Mandatory Screening Scheme, which may also be considered for foreign films. However, implementing this will require processes, proposals, and a thorough review," he explained. To further promote local films on the global stage, Finas plans to launch a major initiative around September or October. "Finas will serve as a bridge between countries. We'll help film producers tap into larger markets, even beyond Indonesia," Hans added. "Let's just put it that way for now. If Blood Brothers failed in Indonesia in terms of earnings, I'll prove that their audience was wrong. Finas will take the film to bigger markets elsewhere. Discussions are already underway." It was previously reported that Blood Brothers, which grossed RM76 million at the box office in Malaysia, was screened in only 40 cinemas in Indonesia. Its director, Syafiq Yusof, also revealed that fewer than five Malaysian films were screened in Indonesia in 2024, whereas over 100 Indonesian films entered the Malaysian market with ease.
