A son’s tribute: Nazir Razak plays late father Tun Razak in 'Kudrat 1968'

SHAH ALAM – Prominent corporate figure Tan Sri Nazir Razak has taken on a deeply personal role on the silver screen, portraying his late father, Malaysia’s second Prime Minister Tun Abdul Razak Hussein, in the feature film "Kudrat 1968: High Council."

The special cameo carries a poignant sense of timing, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of Tun Razak's passing in 1976.

Describing the opportunity as a surreal alignment of events, Nazir, the younger brother of former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak, expressed his immense gratitude for stepping into his father’s shoes during such a monumental commemorative year.

Taking to social media to share the news, Nazir who was former CIMB Group chairman thanked production house Astro Shaw, co-producer Anwardi Jamil and the entire creative team behind the project.

"Thank you for the opportunity and everyone involved in the project for the collaboration.

"Mine was a very small part of course, but incredibly meaningful for me. And I guess my likeness to the character gave me an advantage in the casting," he said in an Instagram post.

However, Nazir's involvement with the film did not stop once the cameras wrapped.

Captivated by the project's powerful narrative scope, he said he asked to join the team as a co-producer of the movie.

Nazir shared that his enthusiasm extended far beyond commercial returns, citing the film's meaningful exploration of post-Merdeka social mobility, the pivotal role of the Razak Education Report and the delicate dynamics of school bullying as key reasons for his deeper investment.

Serving as a prequel to the hit franchise "Projek: High Council" and spin-off film "Kahar: Kapla High Council", "Kudrat 1968: High Council" transports audiences back to a young, post-independence Malaysia.

The story follows Abbas, played by actor Zarif Ghazzi, the estranged son of the prestigious Kolej Ungku Deramat's founder, who reluctantly enrolls in the institution on a scholarship.

Upon arrival, Abbas finds himself thrust into a rigid, class-divided environment where students are treated differently based on their family lineage and social status.

The film explores deeply rooted themes of privilege, power and identity, examining how early educational structures shaped the country's social fabric.