La Tahzan Ready To Show, Manoj Punjabi Reveals The Longest Duration Of MD Pictures Production

Manoj Punjabi And Film Player La Tahzan (Virgilery/VOI)

JAKARTA - Executive producer Manoj Punjabi revealed that the film La Tahzan which will be released soon is one of the longest-duration films ever produced by MD Pictures. He conveyed this when met in the Setiabudi area, South Jakarta, Wednesday, May 28.

"Until now, at least 2 hours 20 minutes. It can take 2 hours 25 approximately and it's long. The longest if I'm not mistaken 2 hours 12 minutes," said Manoj Punjabi.

Previously, MD Pictures films such as Ipar were Deadly and the Sugar Factory became long films, but La Tahzan managed to surpass it.

"From 2 hours 13 minutes of Ipar, this, or Sugar Factory, is one of the longest. It's up to 2 hours 25 minutes from MD it's quite long and the content I really can't cut anymore," he continued.

Manoj also revealed that there were about 10 to 15 minutes of delayed scenes that were still being stored, but he chose to present films with the right duration and not excessive.

"It's a delayed scene, the potential for 10-15 minutes is still there. But I want to just fit it. We want it to be right. And it's still in the editing process. We saw that only two weeks ago we had an additional scene. So, the editing has not been completed," he explained.

Even though he was compared to the film Ipar, Manoj emphasized that La Tahzan had a very different conflict and story structure.

"I don't think the audience left the cinema to say 'Wow, this looks like Ipar'," said Manoj Punjabi.

"The conflict is very different, the moment to climax is very different," he explained.

He also highlighted the comedy side in this film performed by actors such as Patricia Gouw, Benedict, and Reza Nangin, who gave a new color to the whole story.

"The method is also with Patricia Gouw, there's Benedict, there's Reza Nangin, there's everyone who brings a new color," explained Manoj Punjabi.

Seeing the initial response from the audience, Manoj admitted that he was both very surprised and happy because he got a positive signal for this latest film.

"Honestly, seeing his reaction and enthusiasm earlier, I was also surprised. Excited, shocked, and positive signs," he said.

"So it's very positive and gets more picture from the audience, where is the desire from the film perspective," concluded Manoj.

The film La Tahzan itself was played by Ariel Tatum, Deva Mahendra, Marshanda to Patricia Gouw.