‘Violence is not a solution’: ‘Kudrat 1968’ director responds to bullying criticism ahead of film’s release

Zarif Ghazzi as Abbas (right) and Dai Fuad as Pa in Astro Shaw’s latest production, ‘Kudrat 1968’. — Picture courtesy of Astro Shaw

By Ian Jeremiah Patrick

First Published: Wednesday, 28 Oct 2026 10:38 AM MYT

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 28 — With Kudrat 1968: High Council hitting Malaysian cinemas tomorrow, director Zulaikha Zakaria has defended the film’s portrayal of bullying and violence, saying its intention is to show the consequences of such behaviour rather than glorify it.

Her comments come amid criticism on social media that the High Council franchise could encourage bullying among students.

“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,” she said at the film’s gala event at TGV Suria KLCC on October 26.

“These consequences are portrayed quickly, and every scene has its own lesson.

“We are not depicting tragedies without a purpose. We want audiences to realise that violence is not a solution.”

Kudrat 1968 serves as a prequel to the acclaimed Project: High Council series, which debuted in 2023, and expands the franchise following Kahar: Kapla High Council.

The project adopts a two-format storytelling approach, with a four-episode series streaming on Astro and Netflix, while the film serves as the concluding chapter.

The mystery-driven film follows Abbas as he returns to Kudrat, only to discover that the school has been placed under lockdown by authorities following the discovery of a student’s death that had been concealed.

As tensions between elite students and scholarship recipients escalate, the school’s fragile balance of power threatens to unravel.

Director Zulaikha Zakaria responds to claims that ‘Kudrat 1968’ promotes bullying and violence, saying the film aims to highlight the consequences of such behaviour rather than glorify it. — Picture courtesy of Astro Shaw

The film stars Zarif Ghazzi as Abbas, Mierul Aiman as Kuda, Akmal Asyraf as Piji, Dai Fuad as Pa, Evertts Gomes as Ghafar and Chech Harith as Mazli.

Beyond its subject matter, Zulaikha said the production faced challenges including tight timelines, limited resources and the use of computer-generated imagery (CGI) and visual effects for fight scenes.

Ensuring a smooth narrative transition from the series to the film was another challenge, although she expressed satisfaction with the team’s efforts in bringing the project together.

Produced by Astro Shaw, the four-episode series premiered on September 11 and ranked among the top 10 television content on Astro and sooka, while holding the No. 1 spot on Netflix Malaysia for six consecutive weeks.

The series also reportedly generated one billion video views across digital platforms, although whether its streaming popularity will translate into box-office success remains to be seen.

Astro Shaw head Raja Jastina Raja Arshad said the two-format approach had worked well for Kudrat 1968 and could be considered for future projects, depending on their storytelling and production needs.

She added that the approach would not be limited to the Astro Shaw Cinematic Universe (ASCU), with the studio open to applying it to other productions.

Introduced in 2024, the ASCU brings together stories under the Astro Shaw banner through interconnected narratives and crossovers, including the Project: High Council franchise.

Co-directed by Zulaikha and Khairi Asyraff, Kudrat 1968: High Council opens in Malaysian cinemas on October 29.