Kahar: Kapla High Council Review – A Tale of Everlasting ...
The Project: High Council series made us fall in love with certain characters in the show, thanks to its compelling and emotional story and stellar performances by characters such as Kahar, played by Amir Ahnaff.
The series' massive success led to fans demanding more of its main characters, and this is exactly what we got in Kahar: Kapla High Council, a prequel that tells the story of how Kahar became the Kapla and the villain we hated but also sympathised with.
Although the movie mainly acts as a precursor to the Kahar, we know that in Project: High Council, the film perfectly ties up the past with the present by also giving audiences context on the repercussions of what happened at the end of Project: High Council (IYKYK).
A snapshot into teenage friendshipsEven though the movie mainly revolves around hard-hitting topics such as violence and bullying in schools, one of its central themes is how it showcases friendships and the bond between teenagers, especially boys.
From the rollercoaster relationship between Kahar (Amir Ahnaf) and Hakeem (Fadhli Masoot), as well as the highs and lows of the bond between Beja (Aedy Ashraf) and Megat (Sky Iskandar), the film accurately depicts the friendships we may have had during our schooling days and how certain actions and consequences affect the dynamics of our friendships.
Image Credit: Astro Shaw
We personally loved the bond between Kahar and Hakeem, who acted as brothers in arms at KUDRAT, sticking up for one another when times got tough. While we would've loved more context on how Beja and Megat's close bond had turned so sour, we also enjoyed the interesting dynamic between the duo, whose hatred for one another was clear, but not without glimpses of some form of respect between the two despite the breaking up of their friendship.
Finding your path & rebellionOne of the more difficult scenes to watch in the Project: High Council series was the awkward and often uncomfortable relationship between Kahar and his father, Dato Abu Yamin (played by Hushairi Husain), who has a vice grip on his family and the school which he is an alumnus.
While in Project: High Council, we saw short glimpses of this back-and-forth arguing between the father and his son, in Kahar: Kapla High Council, we get to see the behind-the-scenes and the background of why and how the relationship between the two had turned so sour.
Image Credit: Astro Shaw
Although we're choosing not to discuss why the relationship is as it is without spoilers, this was honestly one of the most emotional story arcs in the film as it provided such a hard-hitting kick at the movie's climax, a moment that Amir Ahnaf confessed had even gotten him sobbing uncontrollably upon reading the script.
The conclusion of this was that although we'd all love to make our parents happy by following their plans for us, as the film proves, not following the exact path shouldn't be the be-all and end-all and that, ultimately, we're all in charge of our destiny.
Ultraviolence & anti-bullyingIf you thought that the fighting scenes in Project: High Council were brutal and violent, Kahar: Kapla High Council takes this to another level.
The fight scenes and the movie's general theme are relentless and super intense. The choreography and sound design fuse together brilliantly with authenticity and painful realism to ensure you feel every kick and punch delivered.
Some of the scenes were so brutal that some of us wished they hadn't gone on for too long, but we appreciate the sentiment of such scenes and what the film is trying to show us about the realities of bullying and violence at schools.
Image Credit: Astro Shaw
Although we wish that films such as Kahar: Kapla High Council could be used as an example for schools to teach children that violence and bullying are simply unacceptable, we're happy that at least a film as brutal and honest as this could potentially educate and shine a light for adults to be warier about what could be going on in our schools.
In terms of acting performance, Amir Ahnaf gave an outstanding performance as Kahar, beautifully embodying the character's pain and transformation from a timid kid into the relentless Kahar we've become familiar with.
We thought his ability to flawlessly depict the multiple facets of Kahar's personality, such as his need for power and dominance and his vulnerability, whether through his facial expressions or actions and words, was outstanding.
Image Credit: Astro Shaw
Meanwhile, other cast members such as Aedy Ashraf, Sky Iskandar, Khenobu, Thompson Goh, Fazziq Muqris, and Fadhli Masoot each played their part well, adding dynamism to the film while each having their memorable moments on the big screen.
Furthermore, in terms of cinematography, the angles and colour grading of the film brilliantly give off a haunting and more brutal atmosphere.
Kahar: Kapla High CouncilSimply put, we thought the film was brilliant, but we wished that some parts of it were done differently. We personally felt that the movie could've been dragged out for a little bit longer than its current 1 hour and 42 minute run time because, despite Amir's amazing performance as Kahar, we felt that we weren't able to get fully hooked on the emotional side of his transformation from man into a monster as much as we'd liked to.
We're also happy that the movie is a mixture of both a prequel and a sequel to Project: High Council, which gives important contexts to why Kahar is the way he is as well as giving fans some much needed closure to the entire saga.
Image Credit: Astro Shaw
Although there is much more to discuss, we'll stop here to give the audience room for surprises. Overall, we'd highly recommend watching Kahar: Kapla High Council and evaluating the film from their perspective.
Oh, and don't leave the cinema until the very end! Trust us.
Directed by Razaisyam Rashid, with a script co-written by Project: High Council creator Anwari Ashraf and other talented writers, the film is produced by Astro Shaw in collaboration with GSC, HM Entertainment, and ZAK Capital.
Fans and audiences can meet the cast at the Kahar: Kapla High Council tour happening on November 29, 30 & December 1 in Kedah, Penang, and Perak; December 6, 7, 8 in Negeri Sembilan, Johor, and Melaka; and December 13, 14, 15 in Terengganu, and Pahang.
Visit the official movie portal here for updates, clips, and exclusive images. Don’t miss Kahar: Kapla High Council in cinemas starting November 28. Stay updated on the movie through Astro Shaw and Astro Gempak’s social media accounts and share your thoughts using #KaharKaplaHighCouncil, #StopViolence, and #StopBully.
Watch the trailer below:
Featured Image Credit: Astro Shaw
