The movie is inspired by the real-life figure Mat Kilau, who fought British colonialists in the late 19th century. Historically, Mat Kilau was believed to have died in 1895, but he re-emerged in 1969 to reveal his true identity before passing away in 1970 at the age of 122. Mat Kilau (2022) - Plot - IMDb

But the term pencuri —thief—is not just a label. It is a moral anchor.

Mat Kilau cost approximately RM 14 million to produce. When you download a pencuri copy, you are stealing from the local crew, makeup artists, gaffers, and actors. If piracy continues, studios will stop making expensive historical epics, opting only for cheap comedies or horror films.

Ironically, the success of Mat Kilau made it a prime target for piracy. Within days of its theatrical release, grainy hand-held recordings (“camrips”) with burnt-in Malay subtitles flooded social media. Directors like Syamsul Yusof and actors like Fattah Amin publicly begged fans to stop sharing these links. They pointed out a brutal irony: The same people who claim to want more epic Malay historical films are the ones strangling the industry at birth.

: Follows the legendary Malay warrior Mat Kilau and his comrades as they rise against British colonialists in Pahang in 1892.