Directing

B. N. Rao

No biography available.

Known For

Sumpah PontianakSumpah Pontianak · 1958
Sumpah Pontianak
★ 8.01958
MovieHorrorMusic
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!
Gelora HidupGelora Hidup · 1954
Gelora Hidup
★ 8.01954
MovieDrama
A classic from Malaysia publish in 1954
Putus HarapanPutus Harapan · 1953
Putus Harapan
★ 8.01953
Movie
Fatimah been force to marry with Ismail to pay his brother debt. Will Fatiimah leave his lover Ismail?
Woman VampireWoman Vampire · 1957
Woman Vampire
★ 10.01957
MovieHorror
1957 Vampire/ghost horror/drama from Malaysia
Revenge of the SpiritRevenge of the Spirit · 1955
Revenge of the Spirit
★ 10.01955
MovieHorror
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.
Tiger GhostTiger Ghost · 1959
Tiger Ghost
1959
MovieCrimeHorror
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
Hujan PanasHujan Panas · 1953
Hujan Panas
★ 8.01953
MovieDrama
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.
MahsuriMahsuri · 1958
Mahsuri
★ 9.01958
MovieDrama
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.

Filmography

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Sumpah PontianakSumpah Pontianak · 1958
Sumpah Pontianak
★ 8.01958
MovieHorrorMusic
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!

Director

Tiger GhostTiger Ghost · 1959
Tiger Ghost
1959
MovieCrimeHorror
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

Director

Hujan PanasHujan Panas · 1953
Hujan Panas
★ 8.01953
MovieDrama
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.

Director

Siti ZubaidahSiti Zubaidah · 1962
Siti Zubaidah
★ 9.01962
MovieDramaHistory
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.

Director