Uncle, tapau chicken rice satu” — the Malaysianised version of “Uncle, one packet of takeaway chicken rice” — a mix of three languages in one sentence from the movie Ola Bola, is one example of how Malaysia’s multiracial population is bound together.

The inspiring story of dedicated and passionate young footballers in Malaysia’s 1980 Olympics team, the film creatively weaves in our mix of languages — Malay, Tamil, Mandarin, Hokkien, Cantonese and English — into various scenes, perhaps one reason Ola Bola resonates with Malaysians from all walks of life.

“At a time when we see forces of division playing out both at home and abroad, it is important for each of us to make a stand against it, in whatever way we can in the course of our business,” says The Edge Media Group publisher and group CEO Ho Kay Tat, describing Astro as a company that has exemplified to Malaysians “that diversity is our strength and if harmonised, we can achieve success against all odds”.

And the film, directed by Chiu Keng Guan and produced by Astro Shaw, was successful. Ola Bola brought in over RM16.5 million in gross box-office receipts and remains one of top four grossing Malaysian movies to date.

“Ola Bola celebrates the Malaysian spirit, which is exemplified by the Harimau Malaya football team. We are humbled by how Malaysians have embraced the film. Its message of diversity and unity resonates in people’s hearts as evidenced by the box-office [success] and huge outpouring of support on social media,” says Henry Tan, Astro’s chief operating officer, who accepted the special award for public service at The Edge Billion Ringgit Club 2017 awards and gala dinner in Kuala Lumpur.

To be sure, the movie courted some unwanted publicity as well.

Criticism surrounded how Eric Yong, the character inspired by national footballer Datuk James Wong, did not score the winning goal in the movie. It was Wong, a Sabahan, who scored the final goal in deciding the match against South Korea that secured Malaysia’s place in the 1980 Olympics in Moscow — a tournament that Malaysia ultimately did not play in as the nation supported the US-led boycott of the Soviet Union. In its defence, Ola Bola is not a documenting (or rewriting) history but a movie inspired by true events and the country’s multiracial football team.

Malaysians who recognised this leapt to Ola Bola’s defence when news got out that the film received 14 nominations at the 28th Malaysia Film Festival — the local equivalent of the Academy Awards — but not for the main awards. Instead, the movie (and Jagat, which earned nine nominations) was placed under the Best Non-Malay Film, Best Director for Non-Malay Film and Best Screenplay for Non-Malay Film categories for being “not in the Malay language”.

Local comedian Afdlin Shauki took to social media, announcing his boycott of the event for the language segregation. CIMB Group Holdings Bhd chairman Datuk Seri Nazir Razak and AirAsia Bhd group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes were among corporate chieftains who supported the move via their respective social media platforms.

“Respect. I was aghast to hear that my favourite, Ola Bola, and others can’t compete for best Malaysian movie. Why the segregation? Change will only happen because individuals like Afdlin make a principled stand, well done!” wrote Nazir on Instagram in August last year.

“When will we realise our strength against the world is our diversity. Come on, Malaysia. The world is changing,” Fernandes commented. “Enough segregation, more inclusiveness.”

Ola Bola was given a special jury’s award (Anugerah Khas Juri 1) at the film festival. It also took home the awards for best costume (Elaine Ng and Weng Shum), best original music score (Ong San and Alex San) and best original theme song (Arena Cahaya — Zee Avi and Rendra Zawawi).

Arena Cahaya also won the award for best original film song at the 53rd Golden Horse Awards in Taipei last November. Ola Bola also won the award for best editing at the 57th Asia Pacific Film Festival in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, last month.