In April 1957, Shanghai Haiyan Film Studio was established in Xujiahui, Shanghai. In order to make a name for himself, shen Fu, the director of the factory, decided to make an influential film. After careful consideration, Shen Fu took a fancy to the Yi Sani folk narrative poem "Ashima". However, the film script of "Ashima" had just been written and adapted, but it was forced to stop because of the beginning of the "anti-rightist" struggle. In 1960, Haiyan Film Studio invited the poet Li Guangtian to revise the script of Ashima. But soon after, the movie "Ashima" was forced to be stranded again because Li Guangtian was branded a "right-leaning opportunist".
In 1963, Haiyan Film Studios again organized personnel to shoot the film "Ashima". Liu Qiong was the director, Li Guangtian was the literary consultant, Yang Likun and Bao Sier were the male and female protagonists, and Han Fei, Cui Chaoming and others participated. Due to her outstanding performance in the movie "Five Golden Flowers", Yi actor Yang Likun indisputably served as the heroine of the movie "Ashima".
In 1961, Yang Likun, together with the comrades of the Yunnan Provincial Song and Dance Troupe, accompanied Premier Zhou and Vice Premier Chen Yi to visit and perform abroad. During this period, premier Zhou, who was busy with work, exchanged views with Yang Likun on how to carry out film work many times. During a conversation, After Premier Zhou learned that Yang Likun's performance in the movie "Five Golden Flowers" was voiced by Zhang Guilan, he hoped that Yang Likun would learn Mandarin well while being proficient in acting. Yang Likun took the prime minister's words to heart, and later put a lot of effort into learning Mandarin. In the movie "Ashima", when the camellia flower cast by Aheima's farewell flutters in the rapids, there is a rhyme with the background music: "Water! Why don't you go up! This rhyme was read by Yang Likun herself.
In November 1963, the film "Ashima", which cost 840,000 yuan, finally completed the production of four sample films, and director Liu Qiong immediately sent the samples to the Ministry of Culture for review, which was highly appreciated by Comrade Chen Huangmei, then director of the Cultural Film Bureau. The film "Ashima" created three firsts in the history of Chinese cinema: the first color widescreen stereo song and dance film; the first musical scenery film reflecting the ancient life of ethnic minorities; and the first Chinese film to win the "Best Dance Festival" at the Santander International Music and Dance Film Festival in Spain. In the summer of 1964, Liu Qiong came to the Ministry of Culture again with the sample of "Ashima", and Comrade Xia Yan, vice minister of culture, affirmed the work of the crew after seeing the sample film. However, Xia Yan believes that the current situation, this film reflecting the love story is not suitable for screening in China, and suggests that Liu Qiong take it to Hong Kong to put it away, watch the screening effect and then make a decision.
However, shortly after the film was sent for review, the Rectification Movement of the Ministry of Culture began. Xia Yan and Chen Huangmei, who presided over the film work, were both forced to stand aside and accept criticism. The movie "Ashima", which was regarded as a poisonous weed that "promotes the supremacy of love", was also criticized and beaten into the cold palace. The creators of "Ashima" were also affected. During the Cultural Revolution, Li Guangtian and Luo Zongxian, one of the composers of the film, committed suicide one after another; director Liu Qiong and backing actor and singer Du Lihua were sent to the "May Seventh Cadre School", and Yang Likun, as the heroine of the film, was also inhumanly devastated to the point of insanity.
In July 1978, Chen Huangmei, who had returned to preside over the work, went to Kunming for a meeting, and in a discussion with local education and literary and art workers, he mentioned that he hoped to see the film "Ashima". After the local government arrangement, Chen Huangmei finally saw the movie "Ashima", which has been banned for 14 years. Before leaving Kunming, Chen Huangmei was invited to participate in the Torch Festival held by the Sani in Stone Forest. After seeing the stone statue that resembled Ashima standing in the stone forest, Chen Huangmei shouted at the stone shaped like Ashima according to folklore: "Ashima, Ashima!" "Daddy and Mommy's good, Daddy's good!" When he heard the sound coming back from the valley, Chen Huangmei was left with sad tears.
After returning to Beijing, Chen Huangmei's mood could not be calmed for a long time. Thinking of the banning of the movie "Ashima" and the tragic fate of Li Guangtian, Yang Likun and others, he wrote an article entitled "Ashima, Where Are You?" The article was sent to the People's Daily, calling for the film to be re-screened and to rehabilitate Yang Likun and others. On September 3, 1978, the People's Daily arranged for Chen Huangmei's article to be published in the headlines. Shortly after the article appeared in the newspaper, Shanghai's "Liberation Daily" first published the article "Ashima is around us", introducing the current situation of Yang Likun, an actor who readers across the country are most concerned about. Soon, the Ministry of Culture officially rehabilitated Yang Likun.
On December 27, 1978, the Chinese Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries played the movie "Ashima" at a film reception held to celebrate the first anniversary of the publication of the Sino-US Joint Communiqué on the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations, which was well received by the audience. On New Year's Day 1979, the film "Ashima", which had been banned for fourteen years, was released nationwide and began to show the unique charm of this film.