PETALING JAYA: Astro Shaw’s latest production OlaBola has scored RM2.5mil at the local box office since its nationwide release on Jan 28.

Director Chiu Keng Guan said his cast and team were very thankful for the support the movie had received from the audience.

“I think what is more important than the box office collection is the positive feedback we’ve been getting about the movie. It’s really touching to hear people say that the movie made them cry,” said Chiu during an interview at Menara Star yesterday.

“It also means a lot to hear viewers say they actually cheered for the team in the movie.

“When I did the movie, I wanted it to be like an event that would bring everyone together. I’m really happy to see that OlaBola has done that.”

OlaBola is set in 1980 where it focuses on the national football team’s preparation for the Olympic Games.

Rush of adrenaline: Chee, Saran, Luqman, Chiu, Tan and Lim are thankful for the positive reaction OlaBola is getting from Malaysian viewers.

The film features a multi-racial cast and is presented in four languages – English, Malay, Tamil and various Chinese dialects.

J.C. Chee, who plays defender and team captain Chow Kok Keong aka Tauke, said some viewers had adapted some of the ­movie’s memorable lines into everyday phrases.

“I’ve met viewers who said they use the line ‘I cover you’ to their friends at work. Some also use Kita menang sama-sama, kita kalah sama-sama (Win and lose together) as a motivational quote.”

Engineering student Saran Kumar, who plays Muthu the goalkeeper, did not expect to get recognised in public after the release of OlaBola.

“I really thought no one would know it’s me because I wore a wig in the movie. But it’s nice to have fans come up and say they loved the movie. It feels like the hard work we put into training and dieting for the shoot has paid off.”

Chiu, Chee and Saran, along with fellow OlaBola castmates Luqman Hafidz, Marianne Tan and Lim Jian Wen, were in Menara Star for a media visit organised by Astro.

They posed for photographs with fans and gave away Chinese New Year goodies.