Banduan (film)

Banduan
Theatrical release poster
Directed byKroll Azry
Written byKroll Azry
Nazri Vovinski
Lokesh Kanagaraj
Based onKaithi
by Lokesh Kanagaraj
Produced byKalyana Devan
Kathiravan R
StarringAaron Aziz
Rosyam Nor
Afdlin Shauki
Fadhli Masoot
Abi Madyan
CinematographyVikee Thiagarajan
Edited byAral R Thangam
Anand Raghavan
Music byRabbit Mac
Litia Ramachandran
Production
companies
Number Twenty One Media
Dream Warrior Pictures
Distributed byAstro Shaw
Release date
  • November 6, 2025 (2025-11-06) (Malaysia)
CountryMalaysia
LanguageMalay
BudgetRM 7 million

Banduan (transl. Prisoner) is a 2025 Malaysian action thriller film directed by Kroll Azry, serving as an official remake of the 2019 Indian Tamil-language film Kaithi. The film stars Aaron Aziz in the lead role, alongside Rosyam Nor and Afdlin Shauki. It was released on November 6, 2025.[1][2][3]

Plot

Dali, an ex-convict longing to meet his daughter for the first time. But when a drug raid shatters his chance at redemption, he is thrown into a deadly night of chaos, forcing him to fight for survival—and a second chance at fatherhood.

Cast

  • Aaron Aziz as Dali
  • Rosyam Nor as Inspector Johari
  • Afdlin Shauki as Sergeant Yahya
  • Fadhli Masoot as Koboi
  • Abi Madyan as Rajab
  • Adlin Aman Ramlie
  • Amir Nafis as Farid
  • Daniel
  • Hushairy Hussein
  • Hawra Jamalullail as Hana, Dali's daughter
  • Meynillen Thamil Selvan as Naga/Malik
  • Joshua Michael
  • Shashi Tharan as Doctor Selvam, the doctor treating officers and policemen who have been poisoned.
  • Sasidaran as Sergeant Devan, a member of the special narcotics unit.
  • Adam Shah as Corporal Khairul, a member of the special narcotics unit.
  • Zul Ariffin as Azharuddin, Rejab's brother and the leader of the biggest drug syndicate on the east coast

Production

Banduan is a co-production between Malaysia's Number Twenty One Media Sdn Bhd and Dream Warrior Pictures Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian subsidiary of India's Dream Warrior Pictures. It marks the first official Indian Tamil film industry remake in Malaysia.[4][5]

According to the producers, the film retains the essence and core themes of the original Kaithi—such as redemption, fatherhood, and survival.[6][7]

Release and reception

The film is distributed by Astro Shaw and premiered in Malaysian cinemas on November 6, 2025.[8]

References

  1. ^ "Tamil hit movie 'Kaithi' retold for Malaysian audiences as 'Banduan'". Malay Mail. 31 August 2025. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  2. ^ "Banduan Trailer: The Malaysian remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj's Kaithi promises to be a faithful reimagining of the Karthi-starrer". The Indian Express. 10 September 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Sam CS completes background score for Kaithi's Malaysian remake Banduan". Cinema Express. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 30 October 2025.
  4. ^ BERNAMA (2025-08-31). "Tamil Hit Movie 'Kaithi' Retold For Malaysian Audiences As 'Banduan'". BERNAMA. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  5. ^ "Banduan Trailer: The Malaysian remake of Lokesh Kanagaraj's Kaithi promises to be a faithful reimagining of the Karthi-starrer". The Indian Express. 2025-09-10. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  6. ^ BERNAMA (2025-08-31). "Tamil Hit Movie 'Kaithi' Retold For Malaysian Audiences As 'Banduan'". BERNAMA. Retrieved 2025-09-13.
  7. ^ "Karthi flies to Malaysia to catch Banduan premiere, meets lead actor Aaron Aziz". Cinema Express. 4 November 2025. Retrieved 4 November 2025.
  8. ^ Local, theSun (31 August 2025). "Malaysian remake of Tamil hit Kaithi titled Banduan premieres November". thesun.my. Retrieved 2025-09-13.