Watch Puteri Gunung Ledang

Puteri Gunung Ledang is a historical epic film from 2004, directed by Saw Teong Hin, and it is based on the famous Malay legend. The movie features a star-studded cast including Tiara Jacquelina in the titular role of Puteri Gunung Ledang, M. Nasir as Hang Tuah, and Adlin Aman Ramlee as Sultan Mahmud. The film takes place in the 15th century when Majapahit Empire’s influence is starting to decline, and the Malacca Sultanate is on the rise. This period is marked by a struggle between the Sultanate, the Portuguese, and the local rulers who want to maintain their power. Amidst all of this, Puteri Gunung Ledang, a mystical and powerful mountain princess, decides to leave her enchanted world and make contact with the human world. Her circumstances crossed with Sultan Mahmud Shah's, who is captivated by her beauty and falls in love with her.

The film depicts Puteri's journey from her mountain palace to the Sultan's palace and her growing relationship with the Sultan. The story showcases Sultan Mahmud's fascination with Puteri Gunung Ledang, which leads him to seek assistance from his trusted military commander, Hang Tuah. Hang Tuah is the Malaccan Empire's most distinguished warrior and famed for his loyalty to the Sultan. It is his job to convince the princess to marry the Sultan.

As the story progresses, Puteri Gunung Ledang reveals that there is just one thing that can make her agree with the Sultan's marriage proposal – a unique set of seven items. Sultan Mahmud accepts her terms, and Hang Tuah is tasked with acquiring the seven "things."

Hang Tuah, along with his closest allies and best friends Hang Jebat, Hang Lekir, Hang Kasturi, and Hang Lekiu, embark on a risky journey to retrieve these items. These items include a bowl made of silver and gold, a piece of silk, a sunken flower, a screwpine flower, a rooster with mystical feathers, an elephant of ivory tusks, and a stone bathtub. Each of these items is guarded by powerful supernatural beings, and it takes incredible skill, courage and sacrifice, especially for the fearless Hang Tuah, to obtain or discover their whereabouts.

Along the way, Hang Tuah encounters various challenges that test his loyalty, bravery, and love. He also begins to realize that his tasks on this mission are not only to acquire the magical items but also to stick to the Sultanate, to respect the sovereignty of Malacca, and to give justice to the people. Hang Tuah exemplifies loyalty, bravery, and sacrifice throughout the mission, effectively becoming an exemplar of the many virtues that Malacca’s empire stood for.

Puteri Gunung Ledang, although not present for much of the journey, is always there in spirit, and as the journey progresses, she emerges as a multidimensional character, who is not just a beautiful princess on a mountain. Her character is imparted with dimension, power, and mystery.

The movie showcases the beauty of traditional Malay culture, its customs, beliefs, and folklore. The film also provides a glimpse into the grandeur and flamboyance of the Malacca Sultanate, as well as Malays' way of life back then, which were marked by values such as unity, loyalty, and courage.

Overall, Puteri Gunung Ledang is a beautiful and epic film that showcases the essence of traditional Malay values and culture in a way that is compelling and charming. Saw Teong Hin effectively sets up the tense story about love, loyalty, and sacrifice, paying attention to detail in the visuals and sound, making for an enjoyable cinematic experience.