Malaysian cinema is gearing up for a powerful moment as Banduan, the highly anticipated action thriller by director Kroll Azry and led by star actor Aaron Aziz, prepares to storm theatres nationwide on 6 November 2025. Even before Malaysian audiences get their first look, the film has already piqued the interest of distributors in major international markets including the United Kingdom, United States, and Canada a rare feat that signals a rising appetite for homegrown stories told with cinematic ambition.
Featuring a formidable cast that includes Rosyam Nor, Afdlin Shauki, Fadhli Masoot, and Adlin Aman Ramlie, Banduan pairs emotional intensity with high-octane, tightly crafted action sequences. Produced by Number Twenty One Media and Dream Warrior Pictures, the film stands as a testament to Malaysia’s evolving capabilities in filmmaking blending scale, style, and heart in a way that resonates both locally and globally.
Adapted from the acclaimed 2019 Tamil blockbuster Kaithi, the film honours the essence of its inspiration while forging a path uniquely its own. The creators emphasise that this is not a simple remake, but a reinterpretation rooted in Malaysian culture, identity, and social realities. Through reworked character arcs, emotional beats, and storyline pacing, Banduan explores themes of redemption, fatherhood, authority, and sacrifice all framed through a distinctly Malaysian cinematic lens. The story takes place over one intense night, following Dali, a former prisoner on a desperate mission to reunite with his daughter, and Inspector Johari, who races against time to save his poisoned comrades. Opposing them is Rejab, a ruthless crime leader portrayed by Abi Madyan, pushing both men to confront moral boundaries and fight for survival.
Aaron Aziz immersed himself deeply into the role, undergoing tactical training and even learning to drive a lorry for authenticity a new challenge in his extensive acting career. Director Kroll Azry praised his dedication, describing Aaron’s performance as one grounded in quiet strength, emotional depth, and human vulnerability.
Beyond its storyline, Banduan carries a bold ambition: it marks the foundation for Malaysia’s first interconnected cinematic universe. While the film stands firmly as a self-contained narrative, the filmmakers have planted seeds for future expansions should audiences embrace the world. This vision, inspired by the legacy of Kaithi yet fully adapted to Malaysian sensibilities, reflects the growing confidence of the local film industry to build long-form storytelling worlds.
The film will premiere in Malaysia and Brunei on 6 November, followed by Singapore on 13 November, and is set to make its international debut at the International Film Festival of Australia. Discussions with potential distributors across key global markets are already underway, marking a historic moment for the Malay-language action genre on the world stage.
For producer and executive producer Kalyana Devan, the international attention is both encouraging and symbolic. According to him, global distributors were intrigued not only by the film’s origins but by how the Malaysian team re-imagined the narrative to reflect Southeast Asian cultural nuances, emotional dynamics, and narrative grit. This milestone, he believes, is not just for the film, but for Malaysian cinema at large a signal that the world is ready to listen to Malaysian voices in mainstream action storytelling.
With its blend of adrenaline-charged action, moral conflict, emotional sincerity, and cinematic ambition, Banduan arrives with the promise of redefining what Malaysian films can be proudly local in spirit, yet undeniably global in vision and scale. Audiences nationwide can witness the rise of this new chapter in Malaysian storytelling when Banduan officially opens in cinemas on 6 November 2025.

















