From Malay Mail · Ian Jeremiah Patrick · · 1m 40s
Malaysian horror film goes viral in Hong Kong over name pun
Khadam's Chinese title sounds just like actress Carina Lau's name, sparking social media buzz ahead of its Hong Kong release.
In brief
Khadam's Chinese title sounds just like actress Carina Lau's name, sparking social media buzz ahead of its Hong Kong release. A clever translation can generate massive buzz: Khadam's Chinese title 'Lau Ga Ling' sounds like Carina Lau's name, making it trend in Hong Kong. Originally reported by Malay Mail.
A name that sounds familiar
Malaysian horror film Khadam is trending in Hong Kong because its Chinese title, Lau Ga Ling, sounds nearly identical to actress Carina Lau's Cantonese name.
Social media loves the pun
Hong Kong users are calling it the year's best movie title translation. Some jokingly suggest Carina Lau should star in a Hong Kong remake.
Fans want Lau at the premiere
Social media users are tagging Carina Lau and calling on the distributor to invite her to the Hong Kong premiere on October 8.
Box office hit in Malaysia
Khadam topped the Malaysian box office on opening weekend with RM1.2 million. Within a month, it had earned over RM5 million.
Rolling out across Southeast Asia
After Malaysia and Brunei in June, the film screened in Cambodia, Singapore, and opened in Indonesia today. Hong Kong is next.
Indonesian star's Malaysian debut
Aghniny Haque leads the cast in her first Malaysian film, delivering a largely non-verbal performance alongside Datuk Remy Ishak.
A supernatural inheritance story
Set in the 1950s, Khadam follows Melor, who inherits a saka, a supernatural entity that takes her form and threatens to replace her completely.
Psychological horror over jump scares
Director Shamyl Othman replaces cheap scares with psychological tension, strong performances, and authentic cultural themes.
“Replacing cheap jump scares with psychological tension, strong performances, and authentic cultural themes”
At a glance
A clever translation can generate massive buzz: Khadam's Chinese title 'Lau Ga Ling' sounds like Carina Lau's name, making it trend in Hong Kong.
