Tough but worth it, says ‘Ola Bola’ actor

Local film 'Ola Bola' has brought in RM12 million since its release. – February 24, 2016.Playing the role of goalkeeper Muthu in the movie "Ola Bola", which scored gold at the box-office, has been life's greatest challenge for budding actor M. Saran Kumar.

The 21-year-old said he had never faced the cameras before appearing in the film which has collected RM12 million in the 18 days since its release on January 28.

Although he had played for the Selangor football under-18 team during his school days, it was only as defender.

In order to get accustomed to the character, Saran said film director Chiu Keng Guan made sure he was given personal training to learn goalkeeping techniques.

"I was surprised when I was asked to act as goalkeeper, because I had no experience. So I was given personal training for three months," Saran told Bernama today. 

The second year electrical and electronics engineering student at Universiti Tenaga Nasional said however he did not feel burdened with portraying the country's famous goalkeeper, and worked hard to bring it to life.

Saran said ever since he was offered the role, he had tried to dive into the life of the character, and his studies were put on hold for one semester to allow him to focus on the film.

Film viewers associated the character with former national number one goalkeeper, the late Datuk R. Arumugam, who was known as "Spiderman" in the country's golden era of football during the 1970s.

The fictional film, "Ola Bola", depicts the story of the Malaysian national football team during the time in which they qualified for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow.

Saran, born in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, felt excited when offered a role in the film which highlighted the glory days of the national football team and the spirit of togetherness among Malaysians.

He was also moved by the overwhelming positive response to the film.

"I do not know how to explain my feelings when looking at the response of the audience. I am so thrilled and proud to have had the opportunity to contribute, to some extent, to the success of the film," he said.

He said the experience he had gained while making the film had instilled his passion for acting, and he hoped to continue developing his talent as an actor if he was offered other roles in future.

However, Saran added, his ambition to become an electrical/electronics engineer remained intact.

The film, which was released in 120 screens nationwide, saw 90% of its characters acted by new and emerging actors, among them JC Chee, Luqman Hafidz, Marianne Tan, Katrina Ho, Bront Palarae and Frankie Lee. – Bernama, February 24, 2016.