Firefighters play a pivotal role in ensuring public safety but have gone for years without the recognition they rightfully deserve.
That is why Datuk Khairul Anwar Salleh said he, together with Keoh Chee Ang and Datuk Steven Lim, decided to produce Legasi: Bomba The Movie.
“It was very encouraging to see cinema audiences clapping during some scenes and even crying during emotionally charged segments of the movie,’’ said Khairul of the movie, which was released last month.
Under the Multimedia Entertainment banner, the movie required two years to produce, largely because of its extensive technical and special effects requirements.
“The main villains in the movie are fire and disasters, and so we faced major challenges given the limited technology and know-how available here,” he explained.
“It was not easy to create big fires and explosions, but we managed by collaborating with local and foreign technical and special effects experts,’’ added Khairul.
He said while the filmmakers worked with modern technology such as green screens, major efforts were also made to ensure the fires and explosions were real to create the required tension and scare for the audience.
When asked why the film took two years to finish, Khairul explained that much of the time went into post-production, including editing and enhancing the visual effects.
“We wanted the effects to look as realistic as possible, which is why we spent considerable time refining and polishing them,” he said.
He said Multimedia Entertainment is focused on highlighting stories behind uniformed entities; its previous blockbusters were Paskal: The Movie in 2018 and Takluk: Lahad Datu in 2024.
Paskal focuses on the Royal Malaysian Navy and its battle with Somali pirates in the Gulf of Aden. The film also revolves around the personal tribulations faced by some of the main characters.
Meanwhile, Takluk was inspired by the Lahad Datu incident in 2013, which had rocked the nation and saw several policemen killed by terrorists.
Camaraderie between firefighters
Legasi: Bomba The Movie not only showcases the action of fires and explosions but also highlights the deep bonds of attachment, love and camaraderie among firefighters.
For this aspect of the movie, the storyline revolves around personal losses and challenges faced by several pivotal characters such as Amir and Eddy played by actors Ben Amir and Nas-T, respectively.
When contacted, Nas-T, 41, whose real name is Nas Muammar Zar Nasruddin, said that acting in the film had shifted his perspective on many things.
“Well, I realised being a fire-fighter was not merely about putting out fires and rescuing cats from trees.
“It is about self-sacrifice and putting service to the community above self,’’ said Nas-T, who spent two weeks at a Fire and Rescue Department training centre in preparation for the movie.
The actor said he also came to understand that firefighters shoulder a wide range of duties and play a vital role in protecting the community and ensuring its safety.
He added that firefighters may not be carrying weapons when “fighting their battles” but their fights are demanding and significant.
Legasi: Bomba The Movie is showing at cinemas nationwide.
