Updated in the 18th December 2000

So far, 8 films are made on the fantasy story of Alibaba 40 Dongalu. The first movie on this fantasy was made in 1927 in Mumbai. Imperial company has produced this film, which has Sulochana and Jillu in the star cast. BP Mishra directed this film.

After the talkie movie was introduced, Madan made the same fantasy again in Hindi in 1932. This film is made on Madan Theaters banner and it had Nawab and Mukhtar Begum acting in it. Again in 1946, this film is remade as Alibaba by Mohan Pictures. N Shakeel has directed this film. Santha Patel and Prakash did the main leads.

In 1954, Homi Wadia has directed 'Alibaba 40 chor' in Hindi with Shakeel and Mahipal in the star cast. Basant Pictures did produce this film in black and white. The same banner remade this film with the same director in color in 1966. Sanjeev Kumar and L Vijaya Lakshmi did act in this film.

In Tamil too, this film was made in 1942. Originally Alibaba is not the hero. He was just a naïve guy. A Tamil comedian NS Krishnan did act as hero in that film. The same story was remade with MGR and Dr. Bhanumati as star cast later. Incidentally, this film was the first color film in Tamil. They did doctor the Alibaba role to suit MGR image. The same film was dubbed into Telugu too.

B Vithalacharya did make the same film in 1970. Dr. NTR and Jaya Lalita acted as the main leads in that film. Over a period of time, our EVV Satyanarayana reinvented the wheel and made his way with a spoof 'Alibaba Aradajanu Dongalu' with Rajendra Prasad and Apsara (now known as Ravali). Excluding the EVV spoof, this film was made 8 times in India!

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