B. N. Rao

Pontianak Gua Musang

The story evolves around Amran and Rohani who are a couple who have slept together one night in front of Gua Musang. Amran then went off to sail but to cover up the shame he brought Rohani on the outskirt are of the village. On his return he was surprised not to have found Rohani there. He found out soon enough that Halimah killed Rohani because she wanted Amran. As of that Rohani’s spirit haunts Halimah in her dream in a form of a tiger.

Gul Bakawali

It tells the story about the adventures of Taj and his friend Mubarak in search of the Bakawali Flower to cure the eyes of the King who suddenly went blind when he saw Taj's face. He went through many trials and temptations during the adventure including from a charismatic witch (Princess Jenuh Hati). Finally he met the Bakawali Flower which can only be found in the forbidden garden belonging to Princess Saharazad which is strictly controlled by the fierce Jinn

Siti Zubaidah

Siti Zubaidah is based upon the 19th century poem 'Syair Siti Zubaidah Perang Cina'. It centers on Siti Zubaidah, the wife of Sultan Zainal Abidin, who is left defenseless after her husband is taken hostage by a Chinese empress. She eventually allies herself with Princess Rukia of Yunnan, who had fled her own palace under threats of sexual assault. Taking matters into their own hands, they adopt male identities and lead a military conquest across China to rescue the Sultan. Directed by B. N. Rao and starring Maria Menado, the Cathay production borrowed from both of its niches at the time: the film language and costume styles of Malay cinema and Chinese wuxia films, resulting in an imagined reality fusing both visual cultures. At the core of the myriad garbs, armour, accessories and makeup donned by the characters, the tale chronicles the adoption of transformative identities to overcome adversity, enact justice and revenge.

Laila Majnun

Qais and Laila fall in love with each other when they are young, but when they grow up Laila's father doesn't allow them to be together. Qais becomes obsessed with her, and his tribe Banu 'Amir and the community gives him the epithet of “Majnun” ("crazy", literally "possessed by jinn"). When Qais asked for Laila’s hand in marriage, her father refused because it would be a scandal for her to marry someone considered mentally unbalanced. Soon after, Laila was married to another noble and rich merchant. When Qais heard of her marriage, he fled the tribal camp and began wandering the surrounding desert.

Yatim Mustapha

Third Queen jealous of Queen youngest beloved King, with which he plans to defamed. King and Queen Youngest poisoned and killed accused sentenced to life imprisonment. Youngest son of the Queen of Light and Tengku Tengku Asmara has become a victim of circumstance and had to leave the palace.

Jula Juli Bintang Tiga

Jula Juli Bintang Tiga is a fairyland princess who married a king. King Dhasyahalan when the Shah was sworn in secret Jula Juli Bintang Tiga uncovered cause he disappeared and left a baby boy, Prince Baharum Shah.

Tiger Ghost

Produced by Cathay-Keris, this omnibus of three stories (with different directors) was adapted from mystery tales featuring Detective Inspector Latiff (S. Roomai Noor), a character created Pelham Groom, a former British officer and genre writer who settled in Singapore. Latiff’s ‘Watson’ is a female Chinese forensic doctor (Mary Lim), and the first story 'Mud on Her Shoes' hinges on the romance between an English expat and a Malay woman. The second story is the titular 'Hantu Rimau'. The third tale ’Double Knock Out’, heralded as the first depiction of a local boxing match, was shot in Happy World (later renamed Gay World), one of the night-life amusement parks known as the ‘Worlds’. 'Mud on Her Shoes' directed by L. Krishnan, 'Hantu Rimau' directed by B.N. Rao, 'Double Knock Out' directed by S. Roomai Noor

Mahsuri

Mahsuri is a Malay film produced in Singapore in 1959.It was produced in Black and white. Ti was based on a local Malay folklore.. The script was written by the first Prime Minister of Malaysia, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra and was bought by Cathy Keris at RM10,000.

Sumpah Pontianak

The original "Pontianak" was made in 1957 directed by B.N. Rao and starred Maria Menado.The film was such a hit that in quick succession, two sequels were made "Dendam Pontianak" aka "Revenge of Pontianak" later in the same year (1957) and "Sumpah Pontianak" aka "The Curse of Pontianak") in 1958,both with Maria Menado."Dendam Pontianak" started the trend of introducing more than one supernatural being into the story,the other character being an old witch Nenek Kebayan(The Old Woman of the Forest)and by the time "Sumpah Pontianak" was made that had increased to four-female vampire Pontianak,an Orang Hutan(Wild Forest Man),a kind of bird-lizard creature and a Hantu Raya or "King Ghost"."Sumpah Pontianak" is an entertaining Malay horror movie with cheap special effects.The main female character Comel is infected by been infected with sumpah pontianak,the curse of the vampire and the villagers begin to die!

Revenge of Pontianak

After the success of Pontianak, Balakrishna Narayana Rao (B. N. Rao) directed and released a sequel to his horror film – Dendam Pontianak. It came out in the same year as Pontianak, and Menado reprised her role in this sequel.

Woman Vampire

1957 Vampire/ghost horror/drama from Malaysia

Misunderstanding

1957 / Salah Sangka / Misunderstanding / B. N. Rao / Keris

My Brother

Date first general impressions: 1956 Pattern movie: Black and White. Malay Film Productions Ltd. ... Film Company

Revenge of the Spirit

Fear and panic descend upon the city when a couple fell to their deaths from a tall building. The perpetrator was discovered to be Kalsom, a ghost spirit, who is seeking vengeance for a series of cold-blooded murders the couple committed. This is probably the first supernatural horror film made in Singapore-Malaya.

Abu Hassan The Thief

Abu Hassan is a person who lives on stealing and just wonders about in the city with his dear friend Kassim from one place to another place steling stuff to make a living. One day as they were wondering in the city of Baghdad, they were stunned at the beauty of Princess Faridah who passed by escorted by her bodyguards. Abu Hassan dreamt that one day he could marry her. He was so into her that he wanted to meet her but impossibly enough the whole palace was guarded tightly and there was surely no way in. But his dream came true when he stole a magic cane. How far will he go with his dream of meeting the Princess?

Merana

Things get complicated when Amir returns from the city and tells his mother that he's going to marry Aminah a girl from another village not Rosini. THis wasn't accepted by his mother but in the end they got married. Unfortunately the day Amir brings back his new wife to meet his sister, Faridah was caught in a terrible accident and had passed away. His mother has accused Aminah for bringing bad omen into the family.

Perjodohan

1954 / Perjodohan / Matchmade / B. N. Rao / Malay Film Productions

Gelora Hidup

A classic from Malaysia publish in 1954

Who is Guilty?

Jamil (P. Ramlee) is the son of a wealthy family in Kuala Lumpur who falls in love with their maid’s daughter Norma (Normadiah). His class-conscious parents, however, do not approve of their relationship. Noorma and her mother are given a sum of money and sent back to their kampong. This prompts Jamil to quit his family and its riches to seek a reunion with her beloved Norma. Soon, they are happily married and pursue a frugal lifestyle. With the death of his mother-in-law and the arrival of his newborn son, Jamil struggles to make ends meet with his job as a painter. He overworks and strains his eyes so much that he goes blind,

Who is Guilty?

Jamil (P. Ramlee) is the son of a wealthy family in Kuala Lumpur who falls in love with their maid’s daughter Norma (Normadiah). His class-conscious parents, however, do not approve of their relationship. Noorma and her mother are given a sum of money and sent back to their kampong. This prompts Jamil to quit his family and its riches to seek a reunion with her beloved Norma. Soon, they are happily married and pursue a frugal lifestyle. With the death of his mother-in-law and the arrival of his newborn son, Jamil struggles to make ends meet with his job as a painter. He overworks and strains his eyes so much that he goes blind,

Hujan Panas

Amir is a waiter who dreams of becoming a well known composer. He admires Aminah the singer at the place he works. He requests of her to sing his songs but she refuses. Hasnah the cashier at the restaurant pity's Amir being ridiculed by Aminah when he confesses his love for her. On the other hand Hasnah as well has feelings for him. One day an opera owner heard of Amir's songs and offered him to work at his place. Amir requested that he would go if only Aminah was to follow along. Zakaria manage to make a deal and they both worked togetthon many songs and Amir became popular since then. Aminah on the other hand began to like him. They ended up getting married and had a son, Nana. Amir loved his son so much that he gave all his attention to his son not knowing of his wife's affair with a man named Hassan who happens to be Amir's close friend. Hassan in the end managed to talk Aminah out in leaving Amir and bringing her child along.

Putus Harapan

Fatimah been force to marry with Ismail to pay his brother debt. Will Fatiimah leave his lover Ismail?

Prahalada

Based on 'Vishnu Purana', the film deals with the story of Prahlada and his devotion to Lord Vishnu.