Sri Asih (1954 film)

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Sri Asih is a 1954 Indonesian superhero film that is now considered lost. It was directed by Tan Sing Hwat and Turino Djunaedy and stars Mimi Mariani, Ali Joego, Turino Djunaedy, and Nazar Dollar. It is the first Indonesian superhero movie adapted from a comic, Sri Asih, by R. A. Kosasih.

Plot in simple terms: Nani Wijaya travels with her mother to the Semarang train station. After the train leaves, she learns criminals have planted dynamite on a bridge the train will cross. Nani uses a magical charm to become Sri Asih, a flying heroine. She finds the dynamite, throws it into a river, and it explodes. She then pursues and captures the Garuda Hitam gang.

Production and style: The film was shot in black and white and directed by Tan Sing Hwat and Turino Djunaedy, who also acted in the film. It was produced by Gerakan Artis Film Sang Saka, following their earlier movies Pulang (1952) and Rentjong dan Surat (1953).

Release and reception: Sri Asih premiered on June 27, 1954, and was later screened at Capitol Theatre in Singapore about two years afterward. Aneka magazine described it as a bandit-action film with a lot of shooting and car chases.

Remake and legacy: A new Sri Asih film came out in 2022, directed by Upi Avianto, with Pevita Pearce as Alana, a modern version of Sri Asih, alongside Reza Rahadian and Christine Hakim. Najwa Shihab made a cameo as Nani Wijaya, the name of the original Sri Asih heroine. The 1954 film remains notable as Indonesia’s first superhero movie, even though it is now lost.