Singapore's earliest film - a remake of an Indian movie

Though Indian filmmakers have repeatedly been criticised for lifting storylines straight from Hollywood, India has nonetheless inspired Singapore's film industry. One of the earliest films made in the island nation was "Leila Majnum" - a remake of an Indian film!

"It is really extraordinary that Singapore's earliest film was a remake of an Indian film," Bee Thiam Tan, executive director of Singapore's Asian Film Archive, said Tuesday at the ongoing 9th Osian's-Cinefan film festival here.

The film made in 1933 is presumed to be lost and no details about its director and cast are available. It was possibly the first film made in Singapore and the Indian original was made a year earlier.

"The film, we believe, shares the same theme as the classical love story of the two lovers whose love faces opposition," Bee Thiam Tan said.

He added: "Indian filmmakers have very much contributed to the development of Singapore cinema from the 1930s to the 60s. In fact Singapore's first independent film, which was made in 1965, was by an Indian filmmaker."