Banduan: A New Chapter
for Malaysian Cinema 

In early November 2025, Malaysia’s film landscape witnessed what many are calling a turning point with the release of Banduan. Directed by Kroll Azry and starring Aaron Aziz, this Malay-language action-thriller is poised to reach beyond local audiences, sparking interest from distributors in the UK, US and Canada. 

Set over one intense night, the narrative follows Dali (Aaron Aziz), an ex-convict desperate to reunite with his daughter, forced into a high-stakes confrontation when a drug raid escalates into deadly chaos. 

What makes this film significant is its ambition. It is not merely remaking the 2019 Tamil hit Kaithi, but re‐imagining it through a distinctly Malaysian lens, layering cultural texture, local language rhythms and national identity into a familiar genre framework. 

Why it matters 

• Global aspiration: The film’s international distribution talks suggest Malaysian filmmakers are no longer content to produce domestically for domestic audiences alone. 
• Local voice, global form: By adapting, rather than simply copying the Tamil original, Banduan demonstrates how Malaysian storytelling can draw on global genres yet retain local authenticity. 
• Industry momentum: The timing aligns with announcements such as Astro Shaw’s push into a Malaysian cinematic-universe concept, signalling industry appetite for larger-scale, interconnected content. 

For students, emerging filmmakers and media professionals across Malaysia, Banduan signals that the bar is rising, both in terms of production values and global ambition. 

Bridging Film Theory & Practice: Pathways at IACT College 

1. Diploma in Broadcasting & Film 

IACT's Diploma in Broadcasting & Film delivers a foundation in storytelling, production tools and hands-on experience that aligns neatly with the demands of a film like Banduan. From video production to scriptwriting, the programme emphasises real-world, project-based learning, providing budding filmmakers the chance to turn concepts into polished media output. 

2. BA (Hons) Film Production, University of Sunderland (3+0) 

For those seeking to deepen their craft, the BA (Hons) Film Production in collaboration with University of Sunderland offers advanced modules in screenwriting, cinematography, editing and high-end project work. With a curriculum that spans from camera and lighting, to colour grading and final-project production, this pathway equips students to engage with narratives at a scale similar to Banduan’s ambition. 

Connecting the Dots

• From classroom to cinema: Students trained in diploma and degree programmes will recognise many of the core competencies required - camera work, story construction, lighting, editing — that underpin Banduan’s production. 
• Global storytelling with local roots: The film’s success shows that Malaysian stories can be global in reach. IACT's courses emphasise that dual identity, local authenticity with international-standard techniques. 
• Industry readiness: With streaming, international markets and cross-border collaborations all in play, students IACT students are better placed to ride the next wave of Malaysian cinema. 
• Creative ambition: Banduan’s intentional craft, reimagining a well-known story for a Malaysian audience while retaining global aspiration, is precisely the sort of creative mindset that IACT’s programmes aim to nurture. 

Banduan may well usher in a new epoch for Malaysian cinema. One where local talent, stories and production values meet global platforms and ambitions. For aspiring filmmakers, storytellers and media professionals, the timing could not be better. 

Via IACT College’s Diploma in Broadcasting & Film, and BA (Hons) Film Production, University of Sunderland, students have pathways not just to learn the craft but to live it, contributing to, and perhaps even shaping, this emerging chapter of Malaysian film.