On Saturday, the 27th of April, 2024, the historic Auditorium Tunku Abdul Rahman played host to the premiere of Racket Boy, a docufilm that captures the essence Philip’s life as adapted from the autobiograpgy, Racket Boy: Where’s My Country?
The auditorium radiated nostalgia and warmth, setting the perfect stage for an unforgettable evening that left the 200-strong crowd in total awe.
There truly couldn’t have been a more fitting venue for such an occasion!
Tunku Abdul Rahman, Malaysia’s first prime minister and a beloved prince, sets the stage for Racket Boy, which opens with young Philip witnessing Malaya’s independence declaration atop his father’s shoulders.
For context, here’s a quote from the first chapter of Racket Boy called FREEDOM.
“We were up at the front of the stage, jostling among cheering, clapping, tearing Malayans on the cusp of witnessing history. Nothing could compare to the radiant figure on the stage turned out in princely Malay attire, bearing the proudest of smiles. He lifted a hand and the crowd responded with extraordinary receptivity. The Father of Independence was bringing together a newborn nation. As Chief Minister of the Federation of Malaya before he became Prime Minister, Tunku was not given a car or an official residence, but rather a house in quite a state …in Tunku’s words, ‘the roof leaked so badly I had to shove my bed from one end of the room to another. It was then that I vowed that I would drive the British out.’
It was an enchanting evening of good music curated by Phil, moving speeches and great food.
Each department contributed to making the night that much more special: impeccable lighting, sound and music, delightful Malaysian nasi lemak, satay, cendol and kuih- muih; and of course the engaging, receptive audience. Every detail came together beautifully.
However, the undisputed star of the night was the Racket Boy docufilm itself, which received rave reviews for its compelling narrative, expertly delivered by Tim White’s voiceover, and the impeccable production quality courtesy of filmmakers Curiouser & Curiouser.
Terima Kasih, Malaysia!
