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    20.04.2025

    ‘Blood Brothers: Bara Naga’: How the Yusof lineage is reshaping Malaysian cinema

    Explore how the Yusof family continues to dominate Malaysian box office history, with Syafiq Yusof’s Blood Brothers: Bara Naga entering the top 10 all-time local films just a week after release. Discover what makes this film—and this dynasty—so uniquely Malaysian.

    By Marini, Lifestyle Writer

    Photos courtesy of Skop Productions Sdn. Bhd.

     

    In the realm of Malaysian cinema, the Yusof family dynasty stands uncontested, particularly when examining the box office champions of our nation's film history.

    The current top five highest-grossing Malaysian films include four productions from the Yusof brothers - two from Syamsul Yusof (who leads with "Mat Kilau: Kebangkitan Pahlawan" and two from Syafiq Yusof (holding second and third positions with "Sheriff: Narko Integriti" and "Polis EVO 3".

    Explore further into the top rankings, and you'll discover more creations by these talented siblings.

    Simply put, regardless of genre—especially from the versatile Syafiq who has explored various film categories in his budding career—these men truly understand what Malaysian audiences desire.

    Just one week after release, Syafiq appears to have another triumph with "Blood Brothers: Bara Naga," which has already secured a place in the all-time local top 10, collecting nearly RM30 million in its first seven days despite its 16+ rating.

    For Malaysian men active on social media, you've undoubtedly encountered posts about this film in recent weeks. If past disappointments with mainstream local cinema have left you hesitant, allow me to assure you: this film merits your attention.

    As a mainstream Malay-language production, it continues the encouraging trend of delivering exceptional craftsmanship, emotionally engaging storytelling, and polished production values.

    The narrative follows two sets of brothers, initially focusing on a bond formed through childhood friendship between Ariff (Syafiq Kyle) and Ghaz (Sharnaaz Ahmad), both employed as professional protectors in an elite security firm. The story later shifts attention to another brotherhood—that between Ariff and his estranged biological brother Jaki (a scene-stealing performance by Syazwan Zulkifli).

    Co-directors Syafiq Yusof and Abhilash Chandra craft an intriguing plot with multiple twists and betrayals. All evidence suggests Ariff has betrayed their circle, sending Ghaz on a relentless pursuit. The directors skillfully incorporate Jaki into the narrative, raising profound questions about brotherhood's strength and value—whether formed through blood or friendship.

    While social media praise often mentions Hollywood as the benchmark this film achieves, in truth, "Blood Brothers" shares more DNA with "John Wick". The film evokes the style of gangster films.

    Even the attire of Ghaz, Ariff, and their security team resembles that of John Wick. The performances, action choreography, lighting, cinematography, editing, and staging all reflect these influences—representing technical excellence that surpasses most Malaysian productions.

    Yet "Blood Brothers: Bara Naga" remains distinctively Malaysian rather than merely mimicking John Wick's aristocratic universe; ballet, equestrian, and high culture. While the film's tone and acting style clearly draw inspiration from those productions, Jaki's comedic elements introduce a uniquely Malaysian sensibility that would rarely appear in Hollywood gangster tales or even their Indian counterparts unless intended as parody—which this film certainly is not.

    The directors' obvious enthusiasm for spectacular vehicle explosions remains endearingly characteristic of Skop Productions and quintessentially Malaysian, inspired by our appreciation for 1980s Hong Kong and B-grade American action features. This self-awareness is evident when Jaki quips about having no cars left for escape because they've all been destroyed ("Kereta mana? Semua dah kena letup"), toward the film's conclusion.

    As mentioned earlier, after years of creating box-office successes, these filmmakers truly understand Malaysian audiences' preferences.

    When combining that market awareness with technical excellence, sincere storytelling, and precisely the right amount of Malaysian-style charm, the result attracts not only regular patrons but new audiences as well—exactly what this film appears to be accomplishing as we speak.

    For gentlemen of culture seeking entertainment that honors our Malaysian identity while elevating our filmmaking standards, "Blood Brothers: Bara Naga" represents a hopeful direction for our nation's cinema—one where technical excellence meets authentic local storytelling, creating experiences that resonate with audiences while pushing creative boundaries forward.

    About the Author

    Marini Mat Zain

    Marini Mat Zain is an award-winning author, recently won Excellence Award 2023 for her first short film debut “Bungkam” in Beijing, Best Inspiring & Creativity Women Award 2023 in Surabaya, Special Jury Award for “Fajar Di Bukhara” 2015, Best Screenplay Award for “Haq the movie”2010. Her latest novel Infidelity was published in 2019 just before Covid-19 wave hits.

    She is actively does script writing for film, drama series, telemovie, TV magazine, advertisement & radio drama. She also actively organizing workshops for script and novel writing both physical and virtual.

    She holds a Bachelor's degree in Journalism and has more than 30 years of experience in the field of writing. She is also former media professional, having previously held the positions of Web Editor at Glam Magazine, Editor of Lisa Magazine and Deputy Editor at InTrend Magazine before becoming a freelance writer.

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