PETRONAS' Patriotic Ad Is Full Of Nostalgic 80s Vibes & Shows Sudirman's Historic Concert
It's a total blast from the past!
By Gowri Chitra — 28 Aug 2023, 10:39 AM
What's a festive season without a PETRONAS ad, amrite? ;)
Hari Kebangsaan and Malaysia Day are almost here, and PETRONAS is back with another feel-good short film, titled Rai.
Set in 1986, Rai tells the story of Amri and his friend, Maniam, who moved to Kuala Lumpur during the great migration to work as PETRONAS employees.
When Amri catches a glance of Su Lin, one of the dancers for Sudirman's historic concert at Chow Kit, sparks fly between them. But when an unexpected incident occurs, will it tear them apart or bring everyone together?
Watch the video below to find out:
What really stands out about the short film is the 80s vibes that brings back all the nostalgia feels
From the flashy outfits and floofy hairstyles to iconic 80s music and seeing characters use things like cassette tapes and a Walkman, Rai really brings out that old-school vibe and gives us a glimpse into the Malaysia of the past.
Our favourite part has gotta be when Amri imagines himself impressing Su Lin by jamming out as the lead guitarist of a rock band, all decked out in rock chic. Such a fun sequence!
And of course, seeing glimpses of Sudirman's iconic concert is a great way to celebrate our country's past and remember how Malaysians came together to enjoy the performance
On 14 April 1986, Sudirman held a free concert at Jalan Chow Kit, which has come to be known as one of the most iconic concerts in Malaysia to date. Attended by 100,000 fans from all over the country, the streets were packed that night, with everyone excited to hear the singer-songwriter perform live.
Aptly opening with his song titled Chow Kit Road, he went on to sing hit numbers like Apa Khabar Orang Kampung and Kenali Malaysia Cintai Malaysia, before ending the night with Pertemuan Abadi, which he sang with our national flag draped around him.
In Rai, this concert serves as a pivotal point in the story, with Su Lin ultimately missing out on her opportunity to be one of Sudirman's dancers due to an injury. Luckily, she's still able to experience all the excitement of the concert, thanks to Amri bringing a TV to the hospital so they can watch it together.
From relatable inside jokes to our willingness in helping each other no matter our race, this film inspires everyone to embrace our past while discovering the future
At its heart, Rai aims to remind us all of something important — that we should always remember our roots. No matter how far we've gone or how much we've achieved, we should always remember where we came from, and all the values that are forever embedded in our DNA.
Part of what makes us Malaysian is the sincere willingness to help and inspire one another to do bigger and be better for the good of all. When we understand ourselves from our roots, that's how we're able to go even further, bringing ourselves and our nation to greater heights.
At the end of the day, no matter our differences, we are all Malaysians, and will always be there for each other in times of need.
PETRONAS wishes all Malaysians Selamat Hari Kebangsaan and Happy Malaysia Day! May we all always stand united as one nation. <3
