May 2025 saw the preview of a movie fully funded by the Group of Koperasi Syariah Benteng Mikro Indonesia (Kopsyah BMI). Scheduled to open for public viewing from the 21st August 2025, ‘The Sun Gazer: Cinta Dari Langit’ is based on a novel by local Islamic finance doyen Muhammad Gunawan Yasni.
Produced by local studio Warna Pictures with several leading Indonesian actors, this movie is pitched as being family-friendly with Muslim religious values, highlighting the positive impact of cooperatives, MSMEs and Islamic economics, Muhammad shared with IFN Investor.
Backed by a Mudarabah contract for IDR3.5 billion (US$211,910), Kopsyah BMI will first be reimbursed through film screening returns. Thereafter, the cooperative gets 40% of net profit while the rest is split evenly between Warna and Muhammad.
“As any cinema screening period is usually for two months, we anticipate total ticket sales to be received before the one-year Mudarabah contract expires in November 2025, which will more than cover the initial investment amount and generate a decent profit.”
Muhammad said the partners expect the earnings inflow to continue even after November 2025 as secondary distribution options are already being negotiated – including in-flight movies and on cable networks.
This confidence is underpinned by positive audience reception at the premier screening, which has led to Kopsyah BMI members – numbering over 300,000 – being urged to attend public movie screenings, and to also bring along family members, relatives and friends.
Although this may not be the first fully Shariah-funded movie – given that animations and religious epics had been produced before – Muhammad said the movie is partially inspired by his life journey in Islamic finance, as fictionalized in the novel ‘Sang Penatap Matahari’ (The Sun Gazer) published in 2018 which generated sales of over 10,000 copies.
Also, Muhammad is a member of Indonesia’s National Sharia Board in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, central bank and the Indonesian Financial Services Authority, or Otoritas Jasa Keuangan (OJK), task force. The latter authority crafts rules, regulations and laws for corporate and government Sukuk issuances along with Shariah capital and money market in the archipelago.
With both the novel and movie further gaining legitimacy from Muhammad’s Islamic credentials, talks have already begun on possible sequels and other movies using similar Mudarabah contract investments in Indonesia, said Muhammad.
“The movie and creative industry can be viable investment opportunities if done right and according to Shariah principles,” Muhammad emphasized. “Entertainment can bring about positive values; we have seen that happen with both education and religious dramas.”
