Art Activitist Produces Short Film On Datuk Maharaja Lela To Fuel Patriotism

By Nurafiradina Arshad

IPOH, Aug 2 (Bernama) -- Art activist Faindra Jabbar is determined to contribute to fueling the patriotic spirit surrounding this year's National Day and Malaysia Day (HKHM) celebrations by capturing the heroism and prowess of Datuk Maharaja Lela in his fight against the British in Malaya through the production of a short film.

Faindra, a lecturer at a private institution of higher learning, believes that his short film about Datuk Maharaja Lela's struggle against British colonialists in the 18th century can have a positive impact on the community.

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He considers the film a 'gift' from him in conjunction with the country's historic day.

 "The selection of the figure of Datuk Maharaja Lela in the making of this short film stems from his pivotal role in the struggle against the British in Perak. His story is well-documented in history textbooks, making him a familiar figure to many people.

"This historical event is well-known in the community, making it easier for us to depict scenes of Datuk Maharaja Lela's struggle and that of others who opposed the British," he told Bernama.

He noted that young people today learn about Datuk Maharaja Lela through books or the Internet.

“However, with the release of this short film, expected to premiere next September, the audience will get a clearer understanding of the atmosphere and conditions in Malaya at that time.

“We explored various locations around Perak to use as the shooting locations, including the spot where J.W.W. Birch was killed by Seputum, near the river, a traditional Malay village. The film will also depict the British government's oppression of the Malays during that period.

"Most of the historical locations where important events took place in Pasir Salak are guarded and are now restricted areas, so it is quite difficult for us to use them as actual filming locations," he said.

According to Faindra, to bring Datuk Maharaja Lela's struggle to life, he and the production team spent four months researching to create an engaging script and cinematography.

He said the research involved studying history books, consulting with historians, visiting the Pasir Salak Museum, and meeting elderly locals.

“It is not easy to produce a script based on historical facts because we need to find a common ground between documented history and oral accounts from older generations. This ensures that the events we portray remain historically accurate, despite the existence of multiple versions of the story.

“For example, some say J.W.W. Birch was killed by Datuk Maharaja Lela, while others claim Seputum was responsible. Such details require thorough research to ensure our work aligns with the main goal of honouring Datuk Maharaja Lela as a fighter against the colonialists,” he said.

Faindra said since the film is only 30 minutes long,  he had to select only the most significant events to include., but made sure to incorporate key historical elements, such as the Pangkor Agreement because it is directly related to the assassination of the British resident representative.

"I believe that having films that highlight previous figures such as Datuk Maharaja Lela, Mat Kilau and others can instil love among the people for the country our homeland.

"Perhaps the success of the film Mat Kilau film will prompt the government to highlight any figure who fights for the homeland or national independence to be made an icon for the National Day is celebrated," said, Faindra, who is also the owner of an art studio called Sarang Port and Studio here.

Meanwhile, Director of Photography Shabar Shah said the project was funded through a start-up fund from the Perak@Port Creative Fund, which provides financial support to local art activists and creative entrepreneurs for projects that focus on culture, heritage, and local content within the state.

“I hope this short film will inspire independent filmmakers in Ipoh to take on more challenging projects. One of the goals behind establishing Sarang Port and Studio is to create an art hub for artists in Ipoh, whether they are filmmakers, musicians, or involved in other related fields.

“This short film is scheduled to be screened at various private events around Ipoh starting this September. Details about the locations and screening schedule will be announced periodically on the Instagram account @sarangport.official or the Facebook page of Sarang Port and Studio," he said.

-- BERNAMA