KUALA LUMPUR, June 23 -- Dear You has emerged as one of China's biggest surprise box-office successes of the year, with its emotional tale of migration, family and shared South-east Asian heritage striking a chord far beyond mainland China.

First released in mainland China on April 30, the film has grossed more than 1.5 billion yuan (RM893.37 million) against a modest 14 million yuan production budget, making it one of the year's most remarkable sleeper hits.

The story explores the Teochew (Chaoshan) diaspora, cross-border migration across South-east Asia, and the historical practice of qiaopi - remittance letters sent by overseas Chinese migrants to their families back home.

Directed and co-written by Lan Hongchun, the film features a...