Soon after publication the story was adapted for "lenong" (a traditional Betawi form of theatre), and remained popular until after Indonesia's independence in 1945. It was also performed in other traditional theatrical forms. In 1929 Nelson Wong and Jo Eng Sek adapted the story for film. Initially intended as a serial, this version – entitled "Si Tjonat" – starred Ku Fung May as Gouw Nio and Herman Sim as Sing Sang.