The Majlis Pengkritik Filem Kuala Lumpur (AMPFKL) announced its list of nominees for the upcoming 11th edition of the prestigious event on June 7 2026. Recognised among the nominees were two of the most critically acclaimed Malaysian Tamil films of 2025, Sun-J Perumal’s Macai (2025) and Haran & Shobaan’s Simple Manusan (2025).
Beginning with Macai (2025), filmmaker Sun-J Perumal’s third feature film is a crime-drama exploring themes of survival and fate. Preceding the AMPFKL feat, the film was also selected for the Big Screen Competition at the International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) 2025 as the only Malaysian film to compete in its category.
Macai: A Tense, Realistic Thriller with Standout Performances
The nominations:
Popularly recognised for directing films like Jagat (2015) and Blues (2025), Sun-J Perumal has been nominated for Best Director, with his Macai receiving a nod for Best Film.
Playing the lead of the film, Siam, Karnan Kanapathy is recognised with a nomination for Best Actor.
Kuben Mahadevan, also known popularly as “Baby Koba” for Best Supporting Actor in playing Oosi.
Gwai Lou, who also worked with Perumal in Blues (2025), as well as with Haran & Shobaan in Simple Manusan (2025) and Metro Maalai (2019), is nominated Best Cinematographer for Macai (2025).
Haran & Shobaan’s Simple Manusan (2025) is a grounded, slice-of-life indie film revolving around a 32-year-old small-town barber whose quiet, routine life is disrupted as he navigates the humorous and relatable struggles of finding a wife. Like Macai (2025), Simple Manusan has also gained its fair share of global recognition. In June 2021, the film competed at the prestigious New York Indian Film Festival (NYIFF) 2025. Then, in May 2026, as part of the annual KL Festival, the film was also screened at Naadodi Community Screening 2026 among 16 handpicked Tamil films from countries like Canada, France, Sri Lanka and Guyana to showcase the Tamil diasporic experience.
“This collaboration is not new, but every time it happens, it’s nothing short of exceptional!”
Simple Manusan: The Struggles of a Common Man in Marriage and Self-Realization
The nominations:
Famously recognised as “Mamajammapuma”, Hindra Bose has landed a nomination for Best Actor, debuting as an actor in his first film, Simple Manusan (2025).
Singer and actress Shamini Shradha has earned a nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Nominated for Best Screenplay with Simple Manusan (2025), the acclaimed duo of directors, Haran & Shobaan, made their big debut in 2019 with Metro Maalai.
Having seized multiple nominations across key categories, Simple Manusan (2025) and Macai’s (2025) national recognition not only celebrates the talents of the filmmakers involved but also stands as a testament to the ever-evolving artistic excellence within the Malaysian Film Industry. This is a vivid moment to be remembered for budding talents.
Sources: Raaga, FMT Lifestyle and Letterboxd
