With plenty of heart and horsepower, ‘Terbang’ flies high

KUALA LUMPUR:

Long before Malaysian motorsport fans had Sepang and Formula One, there was Karamjit Singh, hurtling down dirt roads and around treacherous corners at breakneck speeds.

The rally driver became one of the biggest names in Malaysian motorsport, earning numerous victories at home and abroad in a career spanning decades.

Now, his remarkable journey makes its way to the big screen in “Terbang”. This new sports drama directed by Chiu Keng Guan is inspired by the life of Karamjit, popularly known as “The Flying Sikh”.

But while Karamjit’s exploits behind the wheel provide plenty of material for exhilarating racing sequences, “Terbang” proves much more than a conventional sports biopic.

Warm, spirited and full of heart, the film finds its greatest strength not in how fast its hero drives, but in what keeps him pushing forward when the road ahead is difficult.

Presented by Astro Shaw, with production by Woohoo Pictures, “Terbang” is the tale of Ajeet (Irfan Zaini), a talented rally driver whose career is prematurely derailed by tragedy.

Reeling from the trauma, he gives up racing and works as a mechanic alongside his wife Lisa (Shweta Sekhon), herself a racer.

When Lisa is diagnosed with cancer, however, circumstances eventually lead Ajeet back behind the wheel. He accepts an offer from his friend Rahim (Nam Ron), who manages PERT, a struggling Malaysian rally team in desperate need of a turnaround.

There, Ajeet is paired with the hot-headed Wai Kitt (Jack Tan), a young co-driver who sharpens his skills on a driving simulator. With their vastly different personalities and approaches to racing, the two butt heads constantly.

With PERT competing in an international rally tournament, however, national pride is at stake, and the two put their differences aside to shift their partnership into high gear.

What “Terbang” excels at is creating relatable, everyday characters who are easy to root for. Almost everyone in the film has their own strengths, flaws and motivations, giving them enough depth to make their struggles feel genuine.

Some performances are a little wooden, but the cast of “Terbang” mostly give it their all.

Irfan makes Ajeet an engaging protagonist, while the ever-dependable Nam Ron brings plenty of gruff charm to Rahim. Zizan Razak, meanwhile, earns some of the film’s biggest laughs as Imran, a Casanova-esque kampung mechanic brought in to help the PERT team.

A few plot elements veer dangerously into soap-opera territory, but director Chiu capably balances the film’s tone, never allowing its emotional moments to tip over into outright melodrama.

That said, tissues will probably be required for some scenes. You think getting a traffic summons is sad? Oh boy, you will not be ready for this film.

And don’t worry if you’re not a rally racing fan: the film captures the challenges and thrills of the sport, giving audiences just enough information without delving too deeply into its technicalities.

It’s not always clear what all the racing jargon means, but it certainly sounds fun to say. You might end up shouting things like “Left 2! Right 3! Caution, crest! Very long!” at your next unfortunate rideshare driver.

Speaking of racing, the car sequences in “Terbang” are thrilling, with plenty of well-executed stunts. Watching Ajeet steer his car across scenic landscapes, from local paddy fields to Mediterranean plains and the rugged mountains of New Zealand, can take your breath away.

Some of the film’s more dramatic moments, however, do stretch credibility. While exciting, parts of its finale feel rather over-the-top, especially for a story based on real events.

And with so many character subplots, “Terbang” can occasionally feel overcrowded, leaving certain threads underdeveloped. The rift between Ajeet and Wai Kitt, for example, is resolved a little too quickly.

Still, there is only so much ground a film can cover, and “Terbang” generally makes good use of its runtime. All in all, it’s an entertaining crowd-pleaser that ably balances heartfelt moments with high-octane thrills.

With its diverse cast, uplifting message and unmistakably Malaysian spirit, “Terbang” makes for a fitting Malaysia Day watch: a film that certainly crosses the finish line in style.

As of press time, ‘Terbang’ is screening in cinemas nationwide.

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