Cover Out in cinemas on June 6, ‘Padu’ is based on true events surrounding the outstanding Malaysian women's basketball team (Photo: Skop Production)
Out in cinemas on June 6, ‘Padu’ is based on true events surrounding the outstanding Malaysian women's basketball team (Photo: Skop Production)
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Out in cinemas on June 6, ‘Padu’ is based on true events surrounding the outstanding Malaysian women’s basketball team and their incredible performance at the 2015 SEA Games
Whether you’re a sports fan or not, sports movies have always had universal appeal and the unique ability to teach important life lessons such as endurance, teamwork, resilience and losing gracefully.
Combine this with a growing penchant by Malaysian filmmakers today to share the untold stories of incredible Malaysian women, and you will get Padu, an action-packed, emotional film based on true events experienced by the Malaysian women’s national basketball team from 2013 to 2015.
Since 1977, the women’s basketball team has won 13 gold medals from 20 SEA Games tournaments, traditionally ranking among the top teams in Southeast Asia.
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Directed by Faisal Ishak, Padu highlights the experiences of four main characters in the team–namely team captain Nur Izatti Yaakob (played by Fify Azmi), vice captain Mulan or Hui Pin Pang (played by Jojo Goh) and Kalaimathi Rajintiran (played by Thanuja Ananthan) along with Coach Yoong Sze Yuin, played by Lim Mei Fen.
Despite a disappointing loss to The Philippines women’s basketball team at the 2013 SEA Games in Myanmar, the Malaysian team earned their stripes at the 2015 SEA Games in Singapore, where they defeated Vietnam and gained a 4-1 win-loss record to take home the Malaysia’a 60th gold medal at the Games that year. In 2017, their winning streak continued with yet another gold medal at the SEA Games in Kuala Lumpur.
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The film depicts the challenges faced by inspiring players such as team captain Izatti, the first Malay basketball player to win a gold medal in the SEA Games. The Setapak-born player, a student of SMJK Confucian Kuala Lumpur and well-versed in Mandarin, was an inspiration to many of her teammates for her solid work ethic and tenacity despite enduring four knee surgeries and various injuries across more than ten years of competing.
“Basketball is considered a Chinese-dominant sport in Malaysia, and it is rare to see players like Izatti who came from a different background but are still able to pursue her basketball career and become the captain of the Malaysian team,” said Lim Mei Fen in an X post.
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Fify Azmi (right) plays team captain Izzati in the film 'Padu' (Photo: Skop Production)
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The film also sheds light on the struggles of centre player Kalaimathi Rajintiran, whose father initially forbade her from playing on the team due to the sentiment that she was the wrong race for basketball.
To prepare for the role, the lead actresses spent more than three months training with the actual players of the women’s basketball team.
The film also commented on significant events in the word of international football, including the lifting of the hijab ban which famously led to the Qatar women’s basketball team withdrawing from the Asian Games in South Korea in 2014.
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Previously contributing to Esquire Malaysia, Expat Lifestyle and Newsweek, Tania oversees digital stories across Tatler’s key content pillars, also leading the Front & Female platform exploring issues and topics affecting women today.
