P. Ramlee
Encyclopedia
Tan Sri
Malay titles
The Malay language has a complex system of titles and honorifics, which are still used extensively in Malaysia and Brunei. Singapore, whose Malay royalty was abolished by the British colonial government in 1891, has adopted civic titles for its leaders....

 Datuk Amar Dr. P. Ramlee, (March 22, 1929 – May 29, 1973) was a Malaysian film actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

, director, singer, songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...

, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...

, and producer. Due to his contributions to the movie and music industry and his literary work, he is often considered the icon of Malay entertainment in Malaysia, Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

, and Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...

 (especially in Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...

 due to his ancestry).

Biography

P. Ramlee was born Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh, on the first day of the Eid festival, which fell on 22 March 1929. His father, Teuku Nyak Puteh, was a sailor from Aceh
Aceh
Aceh is a special region of Indonesia, located on the northern tip of the island of Sumatra. Its full name is Daerah Istimewa Aceh , Nanggroë Aceh Darussalam and Aceh . Past spellings of its name include Acheh, Atjeh and Achin...

, who later married Che Mah Hussain.

He attended Sekolah Melayu Kampung Jawa and Sekolah Francis Light primary schools. Next he went to the famous Penang Free School
Penang Free School
Penang Free School is a secondary school located on Jalan Masjid Negeri , George Town, Penang, Malaysia. Although the medium of instruction is now Malay, Penang Free School was the first English-medium school in South East Asia. It is widely recognised as one of Penang's premier schools and alumni...

 secondary school until the second World War broke out. During the Japanese Occupation years in Malaya, he continued his studies at the Japanese Navy Academy. When the war ended, he resumed his studies in Penang Free School. He was very active in sports.

Career

In 1947, he won the first place in a song competition organized by Penang Radio. Seven years after his acting career started, P. Ramlee directed his first film Penarek Becha. In 1957, P. Ramlee appeared in the first of his Bujang Lapok comedic films, in which he acted along with Aziz Sattar and S. Shamsudin, and which are still popular among modern Malay film watchers.
During his career he directed and acted in sixty-six films, and had more than 360 songs to his credit.http://www.p-ramlee.com/p-ramlee/listm.htm P.Ramlee Songs

He returned permanently to Kuala Lumpur after years with Shaw Brothers in Singapore; however, he would never have expected that his permanent return would mark the beginning of his downfall. His final film was Laksamana Do Re Mi in 1972 and his last song and lyrics before his death in 1973 were Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur
Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur
Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur is a song composed and written by Malaysian Silver-screen legend P.Ramlee. The song would later become his last song before his untimely demise on 29th May 1973, at the age of 44...

(Tears in Kuala Lumpur). In his last song, the lyrics depict his crushed feelings and series of disappointments and setbacks upon returning to Malaysia after years in Singapore.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mrRNYY3imA&feature=related Lagu Terakhir Allahyarham P.Ramlee-Air Mata di Kuala Lumpur

Family

P. Ramlee was married three times. His first marriage was to Junaidah in 1950 but the marriage ended in a divorce four years later. His second marriage was to a member of the Royal family of State of Perak, Noorizan Mohd. Noor in 1955 but it also ended in a divorce in 1961. His last marriage was on 21 November 1961, to Salmah Ismail, a very famous singer known as Saloma.

Death and Legacy

On the 27th of May 1973, P. Ramlee died at the age of 44 due to a heart attack and was buried in Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery
Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery
Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery is a cemetery at the Kuala Lumpur city centre, Malaysia. It is located at Jalan Ampang near KLCC.- Notable burials :*Tan Sri P. Ramlee – Malaysian film actor, director singer, and songwriter. ...

, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

. His untimely death was a huge shock to the nation, and a sense of collective guilt began to spread nationwide, as prior to his death, he had been discredited and rejected by his own nation, citing that he was then a 'has been', and his songs and film were no longer marketable.

In 1986 (13 years after his death), in honor of his contributions to the Malaysian entertainment industry, the P. Ramlee Memorial or Pustaka Peringatan P. Ramlee was built in his home in Setapak
Setapak
Setapak is a major suburb in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Formerly a tin-mining and rubber-growing area, in Malay tapak means 'step' so so Setapak means 'one step', probably referring to the close proximity of the suburb to Kuala Lumpur...

, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

. In 1982, Jalan Parry, in the center of Kuala Lumpur, was renamed Jalan P. Ramlee in his honor. In 1990, he was posthumously awarded the Malaysian honorific title Tan Sri, and later in 2009, the honorific title of 'Datuk Amar' by Sarawak State Government. The Chief Minister of Sarawak, Abdul Taib Mahmud
Abdul Taib Mahmud
Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib bin Mahmud is the fourth and current Chief Minister of Sarawak. He is also the state Financial Minister and Planning and Resource Management Minister. Taib is the President of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu , which is part of the Barisan Nasional coalition...

, an avid fan of P. Ramlee, presented the award to his adopted daughter, Dian P. Ramlee, in a ceremony honoring veteran artists in Kuching.On 31 October 2010, a 90-minute documentary on his life was aired on History Channel Asia.

The P. Ramlee House is a museum situated along Jalan P. Ramlee (formerly Caunterhall Road) in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

, Malaysia. The building is a restored wooden house that commemorates the late P. Ramlee, Malaysia's foremost singer, actor, composer, and director. Originally built in 1926 by his father and uncle, the house had previously undergone successive repairs before being taken over by the National Archives as an extension of its P. Ramlee Memorial project in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...

. Items on display at the house include his life history, personal memorabilia related to his life in Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...

, and items belonging to his family.

Places named in honor of Ramlee

  • Jalan P.Ramlee,Penang (Formerly known as Counter Hall,Renamed in 30 August 1983)
  • Jalan P.Ramlee,Kuala Lumpur (Formerly known as Jalan Parry,renamed in 1982)
  • Jalan P.Ramlee,Kuching,Sarawak (Formerly known as Jalan Jawa)
  • RTM Auditorium (Renamed to P.Ramlee Auditorium nationwide)
  • SK Kampung Jawa,Georgetown,Penang (His alma mater,was renamed to SK Tan Sri P.Ramlee on 13 November 2011)

Awards

His award-winning films are:
  • Anakku Sazali (My Son Sazali): Best Male Actor,4th Asian Film Festival (Tokyo,1957)
  • Hang Tuah (Legend of Hang Tuah): Best Musical Score,3rd Asian Film Festival (Hong Kong 1956) and Official screening at the 7th Berlin International Film Festival
    7th Berlin International Film Festival
    The 7th annual Berlin International Film Festival was held from June 21 to July 2, 1957.-Jury:* Jay Carmody * Jean de Baroncelli* John Sutro* Dalpathal Kothari* Fernaldo Di Giammatteo* Bunzaburo Hayashi* Miguel Alemán hijo...

     in 1957.The first and only P.Ramlee movie to be filmed in color.
  • Ibu Mertuaku (My Mother in-law): Most Versatile Talent,10th Asian Film Festival (Tokyo,1963)
  • Madu Tiga (Three Wives): Best Comedy,11th Asian Film Festival (Taipei,1964)
  • Nujum Pak Belalang (Pak Belalang The Fortune Teller): Best Comedy,7th Asian Film Festival (Tokyo,1960)
  • Pendekar Bujang Lapok (The Three Warrior Bachelors): Best Comedy,6th Asian Film Festival (Kuala Lumpur,1959)
  • Sumpah Orang Minyak (Curse of The Oily Man): Best Black and White Photography,5th Asian Film Festival (Manila,1958)


While his other hononary awards are:
  • Ahli Mangku Negara
    Order of the Defender of the Realm
    The Most Esteemed Order of the Defender of the Realm is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritous service to the country...

     (AMN),conferred by His Majesty Tuanku Syed Putra Jamalullail in 1962.
  • Panglima Setia Mahkota
    Order of the Crown of Malaysia
    The Most Esteemed Order of the Crown of Malaysia is a Malaysian federal award presented for meritorious service to the country. The order was instituted on 15 April 1966. The order has three ranks:...

     (PSM),carrying the posthumous title of 'Tan Sri' by HRH Sultan Azlan Shah in 1990.
  • Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak "Datuk Amar Bintang Kenyalang (Posthumous)" ( D.A.(P) ),carrying the title 'Datuk Amar' by the Sarawak State Government in 2009.
  • Hononary Doctorate in Performance Arts,2005

Films

Here are the films he acted and also directed. Besides than that, he also responsible for composing, creating Music Scores, Original Stories and other in his film. All of his films are now under the property of Shaw Organisation.

(Titles in Bold are the films acted and directed by himself, and other film he acted unless stated):

1972
  • Laksamana Do Re Mi (Warriors Do Re Mi) - Final film, reportedly the one among all films that had the lowest budget. Nominated in 1973 Asia Pacific Film Festival in Singapore.


1971
  • Jangan Tinggal Daku (Don't Leave Me)
  • Putus Sudah Kasih Sayang


1970
  • Gelora
  • Dr.Rushdi


1969
  • Bukan Salah Ibu Mengandung
  • Di Belakang Tabir (Behind the Scenes)
  • Enam Jahanam (Six Plunderers) - Inspired by Akira Kurosawa's Seven Samurai.


1968
  • Gerimis
  • Kanchan Tirana
  • Anak Bapak (Like Father,Like Son)
  • Ahmad Albab
    Ahmad Albab
    Ahmad Albab is a 1968 Malaysian drama-comedy film directed by, written by and starring Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee about an arrogant and materialistic man who marries off his outspoken daughter to a poor villager to teach her a lesson. The story is in the style of traditional Malay folktales with...



1967
  • Keluarga 69 (The 69 Family)
  • Sesudah Subuh (After Dawn)


1966
  • Nasib Do Re Mi
  • Sabarudin Tukang Kasut (Sabarudin the Cobbler)
  • Do Re Mi


1965
  • Masam Masam Manis
  • Dajal Suchi (as an Extra)


1964
  • Tiga Abdul
  • Madu Tiga
  • Ragam P.Ramlee
  • Sitora Harimau Jadian (Sitora The Tigerman)


1963
  • Labu Labi
  • Nasib Si Labu Labi


1962
  • Ibu Mertuaku (My Mother in-Law)


1961
  • Seniman Bujang Lapok (The Over-aged Bachelor Artistes)
  • Ali Baba Bujang Lapok (Ali Baba Bachelors)- Parody of 'Ali Baba and Forty Thieves'.


1960
  • Antara Dua Darjat-This films depicts the problems between the social classes in Malaya at that time.


1959
  • Musang Berjanggut
  • Pendekar Bujang Lapok (The Over-aged Bachelor Warriors)


1958
  • Sarjan Hassan (Sergeant Hassan) - P Ramlee took over directorial duties after the pullout of original director Lamberto V. Avellana.
  • Sumpah Orang Minyak (Curse of The Oily Man)


1957
  • Bujang Lapok (The Over-aged Bachelors)
  • Pancha Delima (as Narrator)


1956
  • Anakku Sazali (My son Sazali)
  • Semerah Padi (This films tells the upholding of the Islamic Law in the village of Semerah Padi)
  • Hang Tuah
    Hang Tuah (film)
    Hang Tuah is a 1959 Malay feature film directed by Phani Majmudar. It is the first Malay film to be fully shot in Eastman color film.It was released to public on 28 January 1956...

    -Recognized as the 1st Malay film shot in Eastman Color.


1955
  • Penarek Becha (The Trishaw Puller)- Directorial debut
  • Abu Hassan Penchuri (Abu Hassan the thief)


1954
  • Merana
  • Perjodohan
  • Panggilan Pulau (The Call of the Island)


1953
  • Hujan Panas (Downpour in the Sun)
  • Ibu (Mother)
  • Putus Harapan (Hope is Lost)


1952
  • Sedarah
  • Patah Hati (Heart-broken)
  • Anjuran Nasib
  • Antara Senyum dan Tangis (Between Smiles and Tears)


1951
  • Juwita - His 1st Film as an Editor & Assistant Director
  • Sejoli
  • Penghidupan


1950
  • Aloha (Supporting Actor)
  • Takdir Illahi (God's Destiny)-one of the songs in this film, 'Di Renjis Renjis Di Pilis',would later become of the most famous songs sung at a Malay wedding ceremony,besides 'Selamat Pengantin Baru',later sung by his wife Saloma.
  • Bakti
  • Rachun Dunia -His 1st film as the Main Actor


1949
  • Nilam (Supporting Actor)
  • Nasib (Supporting Actor)
  • Noor Asmara (Supporting Actor)


1948
  • Chinta
    Chinta
    Chinta is a 1948 film directed by B.S. Rajhans and produced by Malay Film Productions. It was released on 31 October 1948. The term chinta literally means 'love' in the Malay language.'-Plot:...

    (Love) - His debut film.

Links

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