Tanda Putera flops as run ends, loses RM3.77mil

Not even political support of nationalist groups could salvage the controversial film Tanda Putera as it ended screening early this week with a loss of approximately RM3.77 million.

The film made at a cost of RM4.7 million only managed to rake in a miserable RM930,000 after 25 days in the cinemas, according to the National Film Development Corporation Malaysia's (Finas) website.

In contrast another movie KL Zombie, which like Tanda Putera began screening on August 29 was able to rake in RM2.93 million in the same period.

KL Zombie costing RM1.8 million, less than half Tanda Putera's production cost, is still screening in the cinemas.

Tanda Putera, which chronicles the friendship of then prime minister Abdul Razak Hussein and his then deputy Ismail Abdul Rahman amid the backdrop of the May 13, 1969 racial riots had been criticised for its dishonest portrayal of historical events.

Nationalist pressure groups, which the film's historical angle favours, had attempted to promote the film, even urging for compulsory screening in schools and varsities, but to no avail.

Federal ministers even rallied behind the film pressuring Penang to back down from the state's advisory not to screen it, or to screen it in public spaces.

The film by Persona Pictures Sdn Bhd had the benefit of a RM4.2 million Finas grant.

Meanwhile, according to Tanda Putera's official Facebook page, the film will now be screened outside cinemas for special bookings.

The page claims that this will generate more than RM570,000 in extra revenue on top of the RM930,000 box office revenue.

"To date, the collection from cinema tickets and special bookings have exceeded RM1.5 million," it said in a posting.