Amid depictions of conflict and violence among boarding school students, Kudrat 1968: High Council carries a message that bullying leaves lasting consequences not only for victims but also for perpetrators.
Director Zulaikha Zakaria said the latest production by Astro Shaw, which combines a television series and film format, is not intended to glorify or normalise violence but rather to highlight the consequences of violent acts through the storyline and the fate of its characters.
She said the narrative had been carefully crafted to ensure that audiences could understand the characters' actions and the repercussions that followed.
"People out there perceive us as promoting bullying, but every episode actually shows the immediate consequences. We show what happens when you act this way and the repercussions that follow.
"These consequences are portrayed quickly, and every scene has its own lesson. We are not depicting tragedies without a purpose,” she said at the film's media screening.
Zulaikha, who co-directed the production with young director Khairi Asyraff, said the narrative also traces the characters' development and the consequences of their actions to illustrate how violence can trigger a chain of events that damages lives.
"We want audiences to realise that violence is not a solution,” she said.
The view was echoed by producer and Astro Shaw head Raja Jastina Raja Arshad, who stressed that the production sought to encourage society to examine the root causes of violence among teenagers, which often stem from family environments and social inequalities.
"We are not merely addressing bullying, but also showing how a person can become a bully.
"Through this production, we raise questions about social disparities and personal conflicts. Sometimes, the values instilled at home and family upbringing shape a child's character and can eventually lead to violent behaviour,” she said.
Meanwhile, Zulaikha, who also wrote the screenplay, acknowledged the demanding nature of the project, which required the series and film to be shot simultaneously, putting her team under considerable time pressure.
She said preparations and casting were carried out intensively, while the two formats adopted different perspectives to explore the characters' emotional development and the factors driving their actions in greater depth.
Carrying the tagline ‘Darah Kita Sama’ (Our Blood Is the Same), Kudrat 1968: High Council, starring Zarif Ghazzi, Mierul Aiman, Dai Fuad, Akmal Asyraf and Evertts Gomes, will hit cinemas on Oct 29.
The film continues the four-episode drama of the same title, which was screened on several streaming platforms. It also serves as a prequel to Projek: High Council (2023) and the film Kahar: Kapla High Council (2024).
The production has sparked controversy on social media over allegations that it encourages bullying among students, at a time when reports of school violence are becoming increasingly frequent, with some incidents resulting in fatalities. – Bernama
