Siti Zubaidah

Siti Zubaidah (1962)

DramaHistory

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: B. N. Rao
Writer: Hamzah

Casts

	Nordin Ahmad as Sultan Zainal Abidin
	Maria Menado as Siti Zubaidah
	Siput Sarawak as
	M. Amin as
	Rose Yatimah as Puteri Zaharah
	Mat Sentol as
	Mahmud June as
	Leng Husin as
	Wahid Satay as
	Shariff Medan as
	Haji Arshad as
	Ghazali Sumantri as
	Ahmad Sabri as
	Siti Tanjung Perak as

Crew