#trending: Malaysian blockbuster hit Mat Kilau inspires fans to bust out silat moves on TikTok

SINGAPORE — Fans of Malaysia’s latest blockbuster hit Mat Kilau: The Rise of a Warrior are bringing art to life by incorporating silat flair into the most mundane daily tasks and posting their videos onto TikTok.

Need to wash your hands? Not without some flashy hand movements first.

Want to close the car boot? Why not kick it with your legs instead.

Amusing videos of viewers bringing out their inner silat warrior after watching Mat Kilau have been making the rounds on TikTok since the action movie premiered in Brunei, Malaysia and Singapore on June 23.

One user on a TikTok video uploaded by "cahayabyzrh" said: “It seems that many have become possessed.” 

In it, a woman is seen executing complicated hand movements characteristic of the traditional Malay martial art before carrying out daily chores such as loading the washing machine, cooking and vacuuming, leading one user to comment: “It’s not easy being a warrior of the household. The work never ends!”

Similarly in another video by "fatwabro", what would normally be quick and simple actions of closing a drawer and throwing trash are hilariously drawn out by silat movements.

Malaysian TikTok user "nurrinfatiha" steps it up a notch by creating her own fight sequence. The video of about a minute has garnered more than 43,000 likes, with many users complimenting its impressive camera work and dubbing it better than the original.

One user "atiezs_hass1511" left a comment saying: “This is the kind of cameraman we want…You don’t have to shake the camera…Should tag (the director).”

Mat Kilau is set in 1892 and is inspired by the true life story of a legendary Malay warrior who fought against British rule in present-day Pahang, Malaysia.

Singapore-born actor Adi Putra plays the eponymous hero of the film and leads a cast of Malaysian household names that include Fattah Amin, Beto Kusyairy and Johan As’ari.

Within 11 days of its release, the movie has raked in RM47 million (S$14.8 million) and is on its way to becoming Malaysia’s highest-grossing film.

The film’s director Syamsul Yusof said in a post on Instagram on Monday: “It’s the number one film in Malaysia for two weeks in a row. Still surpassing other Hollywood movies for the second consecutive week.”