{{EngvarB|date=November 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = Ola Bola | image = Ola Bola Theatrical Poster.jpg | alt = | caption = Official theatrical poster | director = [[Chiu Keng Guan]] | producer = {{Plainlist| * Najwa Abu Bakar * Tung Yow Kong * [[Datuk]] Steven Lim }} | writer = {{Plainlist| * Chan Yoke Yeng * Tan Pik Yee }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * JC Chee * Luqman Hafidz * Saran Kumar * Marianne Tan * Katrina Ho * [[Bront Palarae]] * Frankie Lee }} | music = Onn San | cinematography = [[Chin Ting-chang]] | editing = Gwyneth Lee | studio = {{Plainlist| * [[Astro Shaw]] * [[Golden Screen Cinemas]] * Multimedia Entertainment Sdn Bhd }} | distributor = Golden Screen Cinemas | released = {{Film date|df=yes|2016|1|28|Malaysia}} | runtime = 108 minutes | country = Malaysia | language = {{Plainlist| * [[Malay language|Malay]] * English <!-- no need to link; see "language" parameter in "Template:Infobox film" --> * [[Standard Chinese|Mandarin]] * [[Tamil language|Tamil]] * [[Cantonese]] * [[Hakka]] * [[Hokkien]] }} | budget = [[MYR]] 5 million<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/what-you-think/article/you-will-believe-again-says-ola-bola-lee-yew-meng|title=You will believe again, says 'Ola Bola' — Lee Yew Meng|accessdate=12 February 2016}}</ref> | gross = [[MYR]] 16.67 million <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/showbiz/article/ola-bola-rakes-in-rm16-million-at-local-box-office|title='Ola Bola' rakes in RM23 million at local box office|accessdate=7 March 2016}}</ref> }}
'''''Ola Bola''''' is a 2016 Malaysian [[sport]] [[drama film]] directed by [[Chiu Keng Guan]] starring JC Chee, Luqman Hafidz, Saran Kumar, Marianne Tan, Katrina Ho, Frankie Lee and [[Bront Palarae]]. The film was inspired by the glories of the [[Malaysia national football team]] which successfully entered the [[1980 Summer Olympics]]. The film was released in Malaysian cinemas on 28 January 2016. As of November 2019, ''Ola Bola'' is currently ranked the tenth-highest grossing Malaysian film of all-time.
==Plot== A journalist, Marianne is commissioned to research the Malaysia national football team of the 80's. Disillusioned by her working life in Malaysia, she decides to emigrate to [[England]] once she completes the project. She goes to [[Sabah]] to interview Eric, a former player of the team.
In 1980, the team practises for the upcoming pre-[[1980 Summer Olympics|Olympics]] matches, with captain Chow Kwok Keong serving as the interim coach until Harry Mountain takes over. Meanwhile, aspiring [[sports commentator]] and Chow's friend, Rahman practises with his mentors. Mountain revises the formation, such as by having Eric being changed from a reserve goalkeeper to a striker. Having not getting used to the new formation, and also due to Chow disobeying the coach's orders, the team is unable to win any friendly matches. Soon, Eric and fellow striker Ali have a falling out over the [[Squad number (association football)|squad number 10]]. Chow assumes responsibility for their embarrassing performance and quits the team.
The team continues on their losing streak. In the meantime, the three younger brothers of Muthu the goalkeeper are injured in an attempt to help their father deliver coconuts by driving the lorry. Fed up with Muthu's (fruitless) football endeavours and him not being able to help with work, Muthu's father reprimands him. Muthu contemplates also about quitting the team out of perceived incompetence, but does not do so.
Chow remembers his pledge to lead the team to glory and decides to rejoin the team. Mountain welcomes him back and advises him to "not make the same mistakes I did when I was younger." After extensive practice and military training, the team finally starts winning again.
Malaysia competes with [[South Korea national football team|South Korea]] at [[Stadium Merdeka]] in the final match, where Rahman is assigned to commentate. In the first half, an opponent informs Ali that Malaysia is [[1980 Summer Olympics boycott|boycotting the Olympics]]. During the [[half-time]] break, Ali shares the news to his teammates' disappointment. Mountain and Chow knew about this all along, but could not disclose it lest team morale be affected. Not willing to give up, Muthu encourages them to play on resolutely regardless whether they make it to Moscow. They display excellent skill and teamwork later on as Rahman delivers a thrilling and emphatic commentary. Ali scores the decisive goal; they win 3–2.
In the present day, Marianne gets the now-elderly Chow on television and has changed her mind about leaving. In a [[post-credits scene]], she tells her boss Rahman that she knows his "secret": his past career as football commentator.
==Cast== === Main cast === * JC Chee as Chow Kwok Keong/Tauke([[Soh Chin Aun]] motive) * Muhd Luqman Hafidz bin Mohd Fauzi as Ahmad Ali ([[Hassan Sani]] motive) * Sarankumar [[Malaysian names#Indian names|a/l]] Manokaran as Muthu Kumar (The late [[R. Arumugam]] motive) * [[Bront Palarae]] as Rahman ([[Rahim Razali]] motive) * Marianne Tan Poh Yee as Marianne
=== Supporting cast === * Lim Jian Wen as Yap Tiam Cai * Eric Teng Shin Wang as Eric Yong ([[James Wong (footballer)|James Wong]] motive) * Daphne Low Sin Mun as Chow Mei Ling（ * Mark Williams as Harry Mountain (The late [[Karl-Heinz Weigang]] motive) * Mohamad Taufiq Hanafi as Mohamad Abu ([[Shukor Salleh]] motive) * Katrina Ho Fooi Tin as Tan Siew Lee） * Ganasen [[Malaysian names#Indian names|a/l]] Thanimalai as Ali's colleague
=== Special appearance === * [[Soh Chin Aun]] as Chow Kok Keong (modern-day)（ * Lee Chwee Sieang as Tan Siew Lee (modern-day) * [[Rahim Razali]] as Rahman's sports commentator superior * Markus Wehner Glæsel * Janus Emil Mariager
=== Cameo appearance === * Frankie Lee Sai Peng as security guard
==Production==
===Original soundtrack=== {{Infobox song | name = Arena Cahaya | cover = | caption = | alt = | type = single | artist = [[Zee Avi]] | album = | released = 23 November 2015 | format = | recorded = 2015 | studio = | venue = | genre = Acoustic | length = {{Duration|m=4|s=15}} | label = | writer = [[Zee Avi]]; Rendra Zawawi | producer = [[Astro Shaw]] | prev_title = | prev_year = | next_title = | next_year = }} The original soundtrack for the movie, ''Arena Cahaya'' is written and performed by [[Zee Avi]].<ref name="arenacahaya">{{cite web|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2015/11/113357/zee-avi-performs-theme-song-footie-movie-olabola-video|title=Zee Avi performs theme song to footie movie OlaBola [VIDEO]|accessdate=19 February 2016}}</ref> The song is co-produced by Zee and Rendra Zawawi.<ref name="arenacahaya"/> The song is the winner of the "Best Original Theme Song" category in the [[Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards|Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival]] in 2016<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/11/192155/showbiz-zee-avis-ola-bola-anthem-wins-best-theme-song-golden-horse-awards|title=(Showbiz) Zee Avi's Ola Bola anthem wins Best Theme Song at Golden Horse Awards|newspaper=NST Online|access-date=2016-11-27}}</ref> This song also won the "Best Original Theme Song" award at the 28th [[Malaysia Film Festival]] held on 3 September 2016.<ref name="finas">{{Cite news|url=http://www.finas.gov.my/festival-film-malaysia-28-awards/|title=Festival Filem Malaysia 28|publisher=Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional Malaysia|date=3 September 2016|access-date=2017-06-20}}</ref>
== Reception ==
=== Box-office === The film opened to 120 theatres across Malaysia and earned approximately RM2.5 million for the first 4 days of its release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyseni.com.my/v3/chart-chat-ola-bola-opens-with-rm2-5-million/|title=Chart Chat: 'Ola Bola' Opens With RM2.5 Million, On Par With 'Polis Evo'!|last=Ect|first=Deric|date=2 February 2016|website=The Daily Seni|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610020430/http://www.dailyseni.com.my/v3/chart-chat-ola-bola-opens-with-rm2-5-million/|archive-date=10 June 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> The figure had accumulated to around RM8 million thirteen days later.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyseni.com.my/v3/ola-bola-hits-rm8000000-but-how-does-this-compare-to-polis-evo/|title=Chart Chat: Ola Bola Hits RM8 Million But What Does It Mean And How Does This Compare?|last=Ect|first=Deric|date=11 February 2016|website=The Daily Seni|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610020825/http://www.dailyseni.com.my/v3/ola-bola-hits-rm8000000-but-how-does-this-compare-to-polis-evo/|archive-date=10 June 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref>
Thomas Schmid, who wrote for [[Film Journal International]], had reported that the film had supposedly [[Box office bomb|failed]] to reach Malaysia's top 20 box-office, performing "relatively slowly" compared with other recent foreign blockbusters despite banking on director Keng's success with his previous work [[The Journey (2014 Malaysian film)|''The Journey'']].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.filmjournal.com/columns/mermaid-busts-china-bo-record|title='Mermaid' busts China B.O. record|last=Schmid|first=Thomas|date=3 March 2016|website=[[Film Journal International]]|publisher=FilmJournal International|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref> However, local entertainment portal ''The Daily Seni'' refuted this claim, providing their own figures for the film with approximately RM15.3 million as of early March 2016. The portal further explained that the film's supposed flop was due to weekly Malaysian box office reports being never disclosed to the public.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dailyseni.com.my/v3/chart-chat-international-industry-publication-claims-ola-bola-bombed-box-office-really-not-fault/|title=Chart Chat: International Industry Publication Claims 'Ola Bola' Bombed At Box Office, But It's Really Not Their Fault|last=Ect|first=Deric|date=8 March 2016|website=The Daily Seni|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160610021203/http://www.dailyseni.com.my/v3/chart-chat-international-industry-publication-claims-ola-bola-bombed-box-office-really-not-fault/|archive-date=10 June 2016|access-date=9 June 2016}}</ref>
== Accolades == {| class="wikitable" !Award !Year !Category !Nominee !Result |- |[[Golden Horse Film Festival and Awards|Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival]] |2016<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/showbiz/article/ola-bola-theme-song-nominated-for-taipei-golden-horse-film-festival|title='Ola Bola' theme song nominated for Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival|date=5 October 2016|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sports.yahoo.com/news/ola-bola-theme-song-nominated-093500785.html|title="Ola Bola" theme song nominated for Taipei Golden Horse Film Festival|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.nst.com.my/news/2016/10/177570/arena-cahaya-best-song-trophy-taipei-golden-horse-film-fest|title='Arena Cahaya' up for Best Song trophy at Taipei Golden Horse Film Fest|newspaper=NST Online|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> |Best Original Theme Song |[[Zee Avi]]/Rendra Zawawi |{{Won}} |- | rowspan="15" |[[Malaysia Film Festival]] | rowspan="15" |2016 <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cinema.com.my/articles/news_details.aspx?search=2016.n_olabolapolisevoffm28nominations_30668|title=cinema.com.my: "Ola Bola", "Polis Evo" lead FFM 28 nominations|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.star2.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/2016/08/04/ola-bola-scores-14-nominations-at-malaysia-film-festival/|title=Ola Bola scores 14 noms at Malaysia Film Festival - Star2.com|date=4 August 2016|newspaper=Star2.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105224417/http://www.star2.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/2016/08/04/ola-bola-scores-14-nominations-at-malaysia-film-festival/|archive-date=5 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/showbiz/article/ola-bola-scores-hat-trick-at-ffm-28-technical-awards|title='Ola Bola' scores hat trick at FFM28 technical awards|date=2 September 2016|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.star2.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/2016/09/06/making-history-at-this-years-malaysia-film-festival/|title=Making history at this year's Malaysia Film Festival - Star2.com|date=6 September 2016|newspaper=Star2.com|language=en-US|access-date=5 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161105225925/http://www.star2.com/entertainment/movies/movie-news/2016/09/06/making-history-at-this-years-malaysia-film-festival/|archive-date=5 November 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> |Best Film | |{{Nom}} |- |Best Director |[[Chiu Keng Guan]] |{{Nom}} |- |Best Supporting Actor |Sri Balasubramaniam |{{Nom}} |- |Best Original Story |[[Chiu Keng Guan]]/Chan Yoke Yeng/Tan Pik Yee |{{Nom}} |- |Best Screenplay |Chan Yoke Yeng/Tan Pik Yee |{{Nom}} |- |Best Costume Design |Elaine Ng/Weng Shum |{{Won}} |- |Best Editing |Gywneth Lee |{{Nom}} |- |Best Art Design |Soon Yong Chow |{{Nom}} |- |Best Original Score |San Weng Onn (Onn San)/San Wai Lik (Alex San) |{{Won}} |- |Best Original Theme Song |[[Zee Avi]]/Rendra Zawawi |{{Won}} |- |Best New Actor |Saran Kumar |{{Nom}} |- |Best New Actress |Marianne Tan |{{Nom}} |- |Best Child Actor |Shivatharan Nambiar |{{Nom}} |- |Best Visual Effects |Bak Chee Hong |{{Nom}} |- |Special Jury Award - National Unity | |{{Won}} |}
== Controversies ==
=== Plot discrepancy === Some members of the public, including two key players in the Malaysian team that qualified for that Olympics, voiced concerns over the potential confusion that may arise from the distortion of certain facts depicted in the movie. That includes the actual scoreline and the player scoring the winning goal in the qualifier against South Korea.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/02/19/ola-bola-should-have-stuck-to-facts/|title=Ola Bola should have stuck to facts, say James Wong and Hassan Sani|work=Bernama|publisher=The Star|date=19 February 2016|accessdate=11 May 2016}}</ref>
The production team has since clarified that the plot is "''inspired by a true story''"<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/opinion/columnists/one-mans-meat/2016/02/20/ola-bolas-controversial-winning-goal-the-director-has-said-that-the-film-is-just-inspired-by-true-ev/|title='OlaBola's' controversial winning goal - One Man's Meat|last=Golingai|first=Philip|date=20 February 2016|website=The Star|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> as mentioned in the opening scene of the movie, and is not meant to be a historical account.
=== Disqualification in the 28th Malaysia Film Festival === Ola Bola became a subject of public outrage when it became one of the high-profile films to be disqualified from the Best Film shortlist in the 28th [[Malaysia Film Festival]] and lumped in the controversial Non-Bahasa Malaysia categories by the award organisers [[National Film Development Corporation Malaysia|National Film Development Corporation]] (FINAS) and Film Producers Association Malaysia (PFM), because it contained less than 70% Bahasa Malaysia dialogue.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://sg.style.yahoo.com/ola-bola-polis-evo-lead-102100024.html|title="Ola Bola", "Polis Evo" lead FFM 28 nominations|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.malaysiakini.com/news/351065|title=Screenwriters rage 'Jagat', 'Ola Bola' disqualified as best film contenders|date=4 August 2016|newspaper=Malaysiakini|language=en-GB|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref name="TheStar">{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/09/04/jagat-ffm-awards/|title=FFM awards: Jagat wins Best Malaysian Film, Best Film in National Language goes to Munafik|website=The Star|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref>
The action was deemed to be a "racist" move, as claimed by the president of the Selangor and Kuala Lumpur Screenwriters Association (PENULIS), Alfie Palermo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/08/05/divisive-film-awards-panned-screenwriters-slam-finas-and-pfm-decision-to-create-separate-language-ca/|title='Divisive' film awards panned|date=5 August 2016|website=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|publisher=Star Media Group Berhad|accessdate=10 August 2016}}</ref> Filmmaker [[Afdlin Shauki]] announced on his Facebook page of his boycott to express his dissatisfaction,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/afdlinshauki/photos/a.270601520526.317701.19005495526/10157190032750527/|title=Mintak Maaf, Tahun Ini Saya Boikot FFM|date=4 August 2016|website=www.facebook.com|language=ms|last1=Afdlin Shauki|author1-link=Afdlin Shauki}}</ref> which was supported by [[CIMB Group]] chairman [[Nazir Razak]] and [[Air Asia]] CEO [[Tony Fernandes]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/08/06/big-guns-back-afdlins-stand-nazir-and-fernandes-support-boycott-move/|title=Big guns back Afdlin's stand|date=6 August 2016|website=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|publisher=Star Media Group Berhad|last1=Hemananthani Sivanandam|accessdate=11 August 2016}}</ref> One participating cinematographer, Mohd Noor Kassim, also followed suit; withdrawing his nominations in the occasion<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/best-cinematography-nominee-withdraws-from-racist-ffm|title='Best Cinematography' nominee withdraws from 'racist' FFM|date=6 August 2016|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> and returned two FFM trophies he won in previous editions to FINAS director Kamil Othman during a forum held by the agency in Kuala Lumpur. There had also been calls from both within and out of the film industry to boycott the award ceremony.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.themalaymailonline.com/malaysia/article/boycott-racially-divisive-fmm-afdlin-shauki-tells-peers-after-ola-bola-jaga|title=Boycott racially-divisive FMM, Afdlin Shauki tells peers after 'Ola Bola', 'Jagat' snub|last=Syed Jaymal Zahid|date=5 August 2016|newspaper=The Malay Mail|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thesundaily.my/news/1927745|title=Abdul Rahman critical of Finas and PFM for omitting 'Jagat' and 'Ola Bola'|last=Amar Shah Mohsen|date=7 August 2016|website=The Sun}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2016/08/09/film-directors-association-official-quits-over-language-segregation-issue/|title=Film Directors' Association official quits over language segregation issue|date=9 August 2016|website=The Star|access-date=5 November 2016}}</ref> The assistant-general secretary of the Film Directors’ Association of Malaysia (FDAM) Hafiz Ibrahim resigned in protest of the unfair segregation.
FINAS has since revamped the category system under instructions from Multimedia and Communications Minister Datuk Seri [[Salleh Said Keruak]] on 10 August. All non-Bahasa Malaysia categories were removed and nominees were eligible to compete for Best Film, Director and Screenplay in the original category, where a new category - Best Film in the National Language - is established in their place, where nominees that meet a 70% Bahasa Malaysia requirement can compete in this particular category.<ref name="TheStar" />
==See also== * [[List of association football films]]
==References== {{Reflist|3}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|5423310}} * [http://www.astroshaw.com.my/olabola/index.html Official site]
[[Category:2010s Malay-language films]] [[Category:Films set in Malaysia]] [[Category:Malaysian association football films]] [[Category:Sports films based on actual events]] [[Category:Films about the 1980 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Films shot in Malaysia]] [[Category:Astro Shaw films]] [[Category:English-language Malaysian films]] [[Category:Chinese-language Malaysian films]] [[Category:Tamil-language Malaysian films]] [[Category:Films directed by Chiu Keng Guan]] [[Category:Malaysian multilingual films]] [[Category:2016 multilingual films]] [[Category:2016 Malaysian films]]