Bidasari is a 1965 Singaporean Malay-language black-and-white romantic drama film starring Jins Shamsuddin and Sarimah. The film is notable for having dialogue that is written almost completely as rhyming poetry. The story is based on Syair Bidasari, a very popular romantic Malay poem during 18th and 19th century in the Malay world believed to be written as early as 1750. The poem, based on the Kembayat Negara annals and mentioned by Dr. J. Leyden in 1807 as Hikaiat Bida Sari (Bidasari Annals), has some similarities with the western fairy-tale of Snow White published by The Brothers Grimm in their fairy-tale compilation in 1812.

Plot

A merchant and his young son are traveling near by a river when he stumbles upon a drifting boat that contains a baby girl, and a live goldfish in a bowl. The merchant realises the baby is unusual because her life is bonded to the fish: if the fish leaves the water, the baby stops breathing. The merchant adopts the baby and names her Bidasari. Years later Bidasari grows up into a beautiful young woman (Sarimah), while the merchant and his family prosper, believing their good fortune is due to Bidasari's entering their lives.