Heart And Soul: Proud aunt goes for director's blockbuster premiere debut
Do you have any real-life, heart-warming stories to share with readers? We'd love to hear from you. Please keep your story within 900 words. Photos are optional and should be in JPEG format (file size about 1MB, with caption and photo credit). There is no payment for stories, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email your story to: heartandsoul@thestar.com.my with the subject "Heart and Soul".
It's not often that one has the privilege of being invited to a film premiere! What more when the film has a family member as the film director.
Exciting right? Well, that is exactly how I felt when I was invited for the premiere night of Blood Brothers: Bara Naga on April 7, 2025 by its co-director and script writer, none other than my nephew Abhilash Chandra.
Now, a little about my nephew: From his teen years Abhilash was very passionate about chasing his dream: filmmaking.
My one and only brother K Chandrasekaran, being deeply practical and wary of the uncertainties of the film industry, nudged his son towards a more 'secure' profession: law. He believed in stability; in success by society's standards.
So, reluctantly, Abhilash shelved his dream and walked the long road to earning a law degree.
After successfully completing his degree, Abhilash set forth to achieve his dream as some passions don't fade – they simmer.
He went on to fulfil his one and only ambition by enrolling for Masters at the reputable Tisch School of the Arts, a branch of New York University that used to be in Singapore.
And after a long and arduous journey in the film world he now stands tall behind the camera – exactly where he belongs!
Going back to the premiere, Abhilash instructed all of us relatives to wear black which was the colour theme depicted in the very elegant-looking poster of his film.
So off we went, nine family members, to IOI City Mall in Putrajaya where the premiere was held, with the men in black sober suits while the ladies not entirely in black, still nodded to the theme. I opted to go traditional, draped in a black sari.
When we reached the mall, the atmosphere was festive, amplified by the Aidilfitri celebrations, and the presence of high-profile guests like the Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and film legends such as Datuk Yusof Haslam (who also happened to be the producer) added a touch of prestige.
The event also featured a live performance of the film's theme song Bara Jiwa, which further energised the crowd.
The crowd was vibrant and enthusiastic, with fans, media and industry insiders packing the venue to catch a glimpse of the star-studded cast that included the likes of Sharnaaz Ahmad and Syafiq Kyle.
The mall shimmered with soft lights and promotional banners, but my nerves hummed louder than the music echoing through the atrium.
Tonight was the premiere of a Malay film and I was walking into it not just as an audience member, but as the aunt of the co- director.
My nephew had a real feature premiering on the big screen!
And yet, I felt a pinch of displacement. It wasn't my crowd. I knew my wavelength was a few decades off the young fans who were there.
But, still, there was something beautiful in it. I was a quiet observer in a generation's moment, absorbing their excitement like warmth from a fire I no longer danced around, but appreciated from the edge.
But then I saw him – my nephew – standing beside the film's poster, laughing modestly while cameras clicked around him.
He wasn't the little kid who once spent hours watching films on the laptop. He was a filmmaker, surrounded by people who saw him that way.
Pride swelled in my chest, flushing out the awkwardness. I realised I didn't need to belong to this world; I already had a place in his. Just being there, witnessing that moment, was enough.
On reflection, days later, I realised that it wasn't just a movie screening – it felt like a cultural moment, with fans eager to witness what many are calling a new benchmark for Malaysian action cinema; a celebration of Malaysian identity.
The cast reflected the country's diversity, and fans praised it for uniting audiences across races and backgrounds.
The film didn't just tell a good story – it looked and sounded great. From high-octane fight scenes to the hauntingly powerful theme song Bara Jiwa, it delivered cinematic flair that rivalled international thrillers.
And the result was a blockbuster. Yes, Abhilash's directoral debut Blood Brothers that he co-directed with Syafiq Yusof actually made it to becoming one of the highest-grossing Malaysian films ever. The numbers speak volumes: over RM76mil in earnings.
Authentic, raw and brimming with heart, the film caught the attention of local film goers.
Abhilash's story is not just about immersing himself in every heartbeat of filmmaking. It's about honouring one's true calling. He proved that sometimes, the detour doesn't derail the dream – it deepens it.
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Heart And Soul: Proud aunt goes for director's blockbuster premiere debut
(From left) K Chandrasekaran (Abhilash's father), Datuk Gopikrishnan, Datin Latha Gopikrishnan, Arjun Chandra, Hiasuria Arjun, Shamini Hari Dass, Nirmala Chandrasekaran (Abhilash's mum), the writer, Abhilash Chandra, actor Irfan Zaini and actor Andy Teh. — NANA AZMI Do you have any real-life, heart-warming stories to share with readers? We'd love to hear from you. Please keep your story within 900 words. Photos are optional and should be in JPEG format (file size about 1MB, with caption and photo credit). There is no payment for stories, and we reserve the right to edit all submissions. Email your story to: heartandsoul@ with the subject "Heart and Soul". It's not often that one has the privilege of being invited to a film premiere! What more when the film has a family member as the film director. Exciting right? Well, that is exactly how I felt when I was invited for the premiere night of Blood Brothers: Bara Naga on April 7, 2025 by its co-director and script writer, none other than my nephew Abhilash Chandra. Now, a little about my nephew: From his teen years Abhilash was very passionate about chasing his dream: filmmaking. My one and only brother K Chandrasekaran, being deeply practical and wary of the uncertainties of the film industry, nudged his son towards a more 'secure' profession: law. He believed in stability; in success by society's standards. So, reluctantly, Abhilash shelved his dream and walked the long road to earning a law degree. After successfully completing his degree, Abhilash set forth to achieve his dream as some passions don't fade – they simmer. He went on to fulfil his one and only ambition by enrolling for Masters at the reputable Tisch School of the Arts, a branch of New York University that used to be in Singapore. And after a long and arduous journey in the film world he now stands tall behind the camera – exactly where he belongs! Going back to the premiere, Abhilash instructed all of us relatives to wear black which was the colour theme depicted in the very elegant-looking poster of his film. So off we went, nine family members, to IOI City Mall in Putrajaya where the premiere was held, with the men in black sober suits while the ladies not entirely in black, still nodded to the theme. I opted to go traditional, draped in a black sari. When we reached the mall, the atmosphere was festive, amplified by the Aidilfitri celebrations, and the presence of high-profile guests like the Communications Minister Datuk Fahmi Fadzil and film legends such as Datuk Yusof Haslam (who also happened to be the producer) added a touch of prestige. The event also featured a live performance of the film's theme song Bara Jiwa, which further energised the crowd. The crowd was vibrant and enthusiastic, with fans, media and industry insiders packing the venue to catch a glimpse of the star-studded cast that included the likes of Sharnaaz Ahmad and Syafiq Kyle. The mall shimmered with soft lights and promotional banners, but my nerves hummed louder than the music echoing through the atrium. Tonight was the premiere of a Malay film and I was walking into it not just as an audience member, but as the aunt of the co- director. My nephew had a real feature premiering on the big screen! And yet, I felt a pinch of displacement. It wasn't my crowd. I knew my wavelength was a few decades off the young fans who were there. But, still, there was something beautiful in it. I was a quiet observer in a generation's moment, absorbing their excitement like warmth from a fire I no longer danced around, but appreciated from the edge. But then I saw him – my nephew – standing beside the film's poster, laughing modestly while cameras clicked around him. He wasn't the little kid who once spent hours watching films on the laptop. He was a filmmaker, surrounded by people who saw him that way. Pride swelled in my chest, flushing out the awkwardness. I realised I didn't need to belong to this world; I already had a place in his. Just being there, witnessing that moment, was enough. On reflection, days later, I realised that it wasn't just a movie screening – it felt like a cultural moment, with fans eager to witness what many are calling a new benchmark for Malaysian action cinema; a celebration of Malaysian identity. The cast reflected the country's diversity, and fans praised it for uniting audiences across races and backgrounds. The film didn't just tell a good story – it looked and sounded great. From high-octane fight scenes to the hauntingly powerful theme song Bara Jiwa, it delivered cinematic flair that rivalled international thrillers. And the result was a blockbuster. Yes, Abhilash's directoral debut Blood Brothers that he co-directed with Syafiq Yusof actually made it to becoming one of the highest-grossing Malaysian films ever. The numbers speak volumes: over RM76mil in earnings. Authentic, raw and brimming with heart, the film caught the attention of local film goers. Abhilash's story is not just about immersing himself in every heartbeat of filmmaking. It's about honouring one's true calling. He proved that sometimes, the detour doesn't derail the dream – it deepens it.
