KUALA LUMPUR — Romantic comedy Mojoku Hilang has generated a buzz from its recent cinema release, with royal patronage, an all-star cast and its strong Perlis identity among the highlights of the highly anticipated film.
The movie, which recently entered Malaysia’s Top 10 local film chart at third place, marks acclaimed producer Min Lim’s feature directorial debut and offers a refreshing alternative amid the dominance of action and horror films at the box office.
Starring Indonesia’s Adipati Dolken alongside Mimi Lana, Wan Hanafi Su, Namron, Aziz M. Osman and Gambit Saifullah, Mojoku Hilang tells the story of Adi (Dolken), a Moo Magic Diary employee who disguises himself as a villager to retrieve Mojo, the company’s beloved mascot cow that has been taken by residents of Semerah Padi.
His mission takes an unexpected turn when he falls for Ayu, the daughter of the man behind Mojo’s disappearance, while beginning to question his company’s plans to acquire the village’s dairy farms.
Produced by Double Vision in collaboration with Astro Shaw, Mocha Chai Laboratories and Argo Films, the film opened in cinemas on July 23.
The film also received royal recognition when Raja Muda Perlis Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra Jamalullail and Raja Puan Muda Perlis Tuanku Dr Hajah Lailatul Shahreen Akashah Khalil attended its gala premiere at TGV Suria KLCC.
Tuanku Syed Faizuddin Putra also officiated the premiere, reflecting support for local creative productions that highlight Malaysia’s cultural heritage and tourism destinations, local media reported.
Adding to the film’s appeal is its strong connection to Perlis, with about 90% of filming carried out in the northern state through collaboration with Yayasan Tuanku Syed Putra (YTSP).
Locations such as Kampung Wai in Kuala Perlis and Tasik Timah Tasoh feature prominently, showcasing the state’s landscapes, traditions and community spirit while supporting efforts to promote Perlis under the Visit Perlis 2024-2026 campaign.
For Lim, choosing romantic comedy as her first feature was driven by her love for stories about human relationships and belonging.
“I’ve actually always loved rom-coms,” she said, as quoted by Malay Mail Online earlier this month.
“Not just the big Hollywood ones, but those wonderfully quirky British films like Local Hero, Love Actually, and The Full Monty.”
She said the genre is often underestimated because successful romantic comedies require audiences to genuinely connect with the characters.
“I also think rom-coms are often underestimated,” she said.
“People assume they’re light because they’re entertaining, but I think the really good ones are deceptively difficult to make.”
Lim revealed that Adipati Dolken was the only choice for the role of Adi after she and producer Honey Ahmad watched his performance in Indonesian film Posesif during a location recce in Perlis.
“The funny thing is, we only ever had one actor in mind,” she said.
“Looking back, that was either very brave or very foolish.”
She praised Dolken’s commitment to learning Bahasa Malaysia and embracing local culture, while describing the collaboration with the film’s experienced cast as one of the most rewarding parts of the production.
As Mojoku Hilang arrives in cinemas, Lim hopes audiences will enjoy the humour while reflecting on the film’s themes of sacrifice, trust and community.
“Firstly, I hope they have fun,” she said.
“I hope people laugh, fall in love with the characters, and maybe leave the cinema with a slightly different perspective on what’s important.”- July 26, 2026