P. RAMLEE - Biography of Almarhum Tan Sri P. Ramlee

BIOGRAPHY OF ALMARHUM TAN SRI P. RAMLEE

AHLI MANGKU NEGARA (A.M.N)- 1962, PANGLIMA SETIA MAHKOTA (P.S.M)- 1990

BACKGROUND

P. Ramlee, whose real name is TEUKU ZAKARIA BIN TEUKU NYAK PUTEH, was born in Penang on the 22nd of March 1929, on the morning of AIDILFITRI for that year.

His father was an immigrant, a sailor from Lhoksemauwe in ACHEH, Indonesia while his mother, CHE MAH BINTI HUSSEIN, originated from KUBANG BUAYA, SEBERANG PRAI, PENANG.

He received his early schooling at the MALAY SCHOOL in Kampung Jawa and later at the FRANCIS LIGHT SCHOOL until standard five.  He subsequently continued his education at the PENANG FREE SCHOOL.

During the Japanese Occupation of Malaya, he was unable to continue with his schooling.  In order to make a living, he worked as an OFFICE BOY at a tine mine.  At the same time, he also enrolled at the JAPANESE ARMY SCHOOL and had brief opportunity to acquaint himself with the JAPANESE LANGUAGE AND MUSIC.  His hardworking and friendly disposition made him popular with the Japanese soldiers.

When World War II ended, P. Ramlee continued his schooling at the Penang Free School, up to STANDARD SEVEN.  He was active in sports and had a liking for football and sepak raga in 1939, he represented his school in the football team.

LOVE FOR THE ARTS
P. Ramlee was born with an ARTISTIC FLAIR.  That was an undeniable fact and it was obvious even in his early youth.

Starting his familiarization in the musical arts at the age of around 13, the UKELELE and VIOLIN were among the early instruments he took up.
He displayed his musical talents with CONTEMPORARY songs and melodious ‘KERONCONG’ tunes together with his friends. It was through this that he received his first commission from Radio Malaya to entertain at social gatherings and events around Penang.  P. Ramlee’s affinity for singing and music overshadowed his academic studies at school; this is widely attested to by the teachers who taught him.

While singing at official functions, P. Ramlee would often be accompanied by a band, such as the Pancaragam Teruna Sekampung (All Kampung Youth Orchestra) and the Bintang Sore.  His melodies voice soon became the talk of the town and soon many wanted to know more about his new star, a thin and pimple faced teenager.

When did P. Ramlee stat using the letter ‘P’ to his name?  It happened apparently when he took part in a singing contest in 1947.  The letter stand for ‘PUTEH’, his father’s name and RAMLEE his father younger brother name.
The first song he composed was none other than AZIZAH.  It was written in 1945 and dedicated to a girl of his fancy by that name.  He gave the song its first public airing at an Agricultural Fair in BUKIT MERTAJAM in JUNE 1948.
Without much difficulty, news of this great new mvoice reached the ears of  BS RAJHANS a well known film dirctor in Singapore.  An offer came from Rajhans which was to change the course of P. Ramlee’s destiny.  He was invited to Singapore to work at the Jalan Ampas Studios for a Malay film production.
Seizing the opportunity, P. Ramlee saw himself moving to the LION CITY, bringing along with him a thousand and one ideas and hope of artistic achievement.

THE FILM WORLD
In Singapore, his voice was initially used in background songs for Malay films.  He was also a CLAPPER BOY andCAMERA ASSISTANT. Noticingt his interest and affinity for acting, his superiors auditioned him and eventually gave him small parts in films.  The first film in which P. Ramlee had a role in was CHINTA, released in 1948.

Apart from Rajhans, other directors who had a part in the progress of P. Ramlee in films included KM Basker, L.Krishnan, BN Rao, Phani Majumdar and S. Ramanathen.  Consequently, after acting in some 20 FILMS (including Nilam, Nur Asmara, Racun Dunia, Takdir Illahi, Juwita, Panggilan Pulau and Hang Tuah), P. Ramlee eventually ventured into FILM DIRECTION, with his first effort PENARIK BECA which was released in 1955.  

The heart-rending movie was well received by the public and the industry, bringing his name into the limelight.  From then on he acted in and directed many other films including box-office hits such as ANAKKU SAZALI, SEMERAH PADI, HUJAN PANAS, BUJANG LAPOK, SUMPAH ORANG MINYAK, SARJAN HASSAN, NUJUM PAK BELALANG, PENDEKAR BUJANG LAPOK, ANTARA DUA DARJAT, SENIMAN BUJANG LAPOK, IBU MERTUAKU, LABU-LABI and MADU TIGA

While in Singapore, he had opportunity to direct 16 films, after which he returned to Malaysia in 1964.  Here, he produced another 18 films, beginning with SI TORA HARIMAU JADIAN  and ending with LAKSAMANA DO RE MIin 1972, his last.

Among the many actresses who have accompanied P. Ramlee on the silver screen are Kasmah Booty, Neng Yatimah, Siput Sarawak, Normadiah, Saadiah, Sarimah, Zaiton, Hashimah Yon, Rose Yatimah, Mariani and Sharifah Hanim.
P. Ramlee directed films bear themes that tend to be engaging and non-stereotyped.  The intelligence of children can be seen in NUJUM PAK BELALANG played by Bat Latiff.  The theme of possible love between the commoner and aristocracy is also well presented in ANTARA DUA DARJAT .

P. Ramlee touched on the issue of Islamic punishment in SEMERAH PADI whereas IBU MERTUAKU focused on the character of Nonya Mansur, an old heartless lady cleverly played by Mak Dara.

P. Ramlee has also taken a satirical view at suspense mystery through his SUMPAH ORANG MINYAKSI TORA HARIMAU JADIAN. Meanwhile his comedies are plentiful and still have audiences laughing today. These includeBUJANG LAPOK, PENDEKAR BUJANG LAPOK, LABU-LABI, MADU TIGA, MASAM MASAM MANIS, DO RE MI, TIGA ABDUL and ANAK BAPAK.  In order to attract no0n-Malay audiences, P. Ramlee picked Vera Wee – an actress of Chinese descent to star in SESUDAH SUBUH. In GERIMIS, he introduced a Tamil - Chandra Shanmugam – as leading actress. and
OF SONG & MUSIC

Apart from his acting and directing, P. Ramlee was also noted as a composer, lyricist and arranger.  This is really what sets him apart as a multi-talented artist without equal.  In composing his songs he often received help from his many contemporaries, including his songs he often received help from his many contemporaries, inclusing lyricists such as S. Sudarmaji, Jamil Sulong, HM Rohaizad and Ainol Jamal.

For musical arrangements his artistic influences included Osman Ahmad and Yusof B.  In all, P. Ramlee wrote some1000 songs during his lifetime.

As mentioned earlier, his early musical interest centred around the violin and the ukulele.  The piano only came into his path a little later.  Apart from Azizah his original compositions were Mi Jawa, Joget Malaysia and Di Padang Kota.
The open-minded P. Ramlee was fond of injecting his music with a variety of beats.  Certain traditional Malay dance beats such as the inang, asli zapin, masri and joget were popular choices.  Alternating with these traditional beats he chose the waltz, rumba, cha cha, the twist. Middle Eastern, Chinese and Hindustani rhythms, he deemed appropriate for his films.

The stories in his songs do not depict sweet love in their entirety.  There are sad songs such as DI MANA KAN KU CARI GANTI, ENGKAU LAKSANA BULAN, TOLONG KAMI BANTU KAMI and JANGAN TINGGAL DAKU.  His ‘beauty’ melodies include the popular AI AI TWIST, BUNYI GITAR, APA GUNA BERJANJI, MADU TIGA andSELAMAT PENGANTIN BARU.
Melodious comedy can be appreciated in ACI ACI BUKA PINTU, NASI GORENG, MENCECEH BUJANG LAPOK, APEK & MARJINA, BILA MAMA PAKAI CELANA, YANG MANA SATU IDAMAN KALBU and DENGAR INI CERITA.  Songs such as GELORA, TIADA KATA SECANTIK BAHASA, DALAM AIR TERBAYANG WAJAHMU, SERI BULAN and SAAT YANG BAHAGIA are romantic songs rejoicing the happiness of couple in love.

One of his many advantages was his ability to deliver his own songs personally, either in solo or in duet with other singers such as Saloma and Normadiah.  This had the effect of leaving a greater impact on the audiences.

If AZIZAH was his first song, then his swansong must surely be AIR MATA DI KUALA LUMPUR, written not long before he took his final breath.

LOVE & MARRIAGE
P. Ramlee was married three times.  His first wife was Junaidah, daughter of actor Daeng Haris.  Married in the early 50’s after the film BAKTI, their relationship fell apart even though they had a child, Nasir.

In February 1955, he married the second time to Norizan.  This marriage too was shortlived and ended in divorce.

P. Ramlee later took to a singer named Salmah Ismail whose stage name was Saloma.  They got married in November 1961.  In Tembeling Road, Singapore.  This third marriage was considered an ideal match because they were so right for each other, even in their duets.

The marriage lasted till his death.  On the 29 of May 1973, a solemn calm settled upon the Malay arts community, as the nation’s ‘ARTIST SUPREME’ was laid to rest.

It is true that language sometimes cannot express the greatness that P. Ramlee has sowed for the nation.  Even in death the legend of P. Ramlee shall long be remembered.

AWARDS & TITLES
P. Ramlee’s stature in the arts is evident in the variety of awards he received at national and international levels.  His earliest success came when he was named BEST SONGWRITER at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Hong Kong in 1956 for the film HANG TUAH which was directed by Phani Majumdar.

In acting, his first accolade came in the form of BEST ASIAN ACTOR  for the film ANAKKU SAZALI in 1957.  A year later, his film direction of SUMPAH ORANG MINYAK  bagged the trophy for BEST PHOTOGRAPHY, also at the Asia level.

P. Ramlee reached the peak of his fame when he was named THE MOST VERSTILE TALENT at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Tokyo in 1963.  He received this honour for the film IBU MERTUAKU.

The unstoppable man further made history when three of his directions – PENDEKAR BUJANG LAPOK, NUJUM PAK BELALANG and MADU TIGA – were proclaimed BEST ASIAN COMEDY in 1959, 1960 and 1964 respectively.
In honour of his invaluable service to the arts, P. Ramlee was awarded the AHLI MANGKU NEGARA (AMN) by the third Yang di  Pertuan Agung of Malaysia, HM Tuanku Syed Putra Alhaj ibni Almarhum Syed Hassan Jamalullail, in 1962. 

In 1990, he was posthumously awarded the honoured title of PANGLIMA SETIA MAHKOTA (PSM)‘ARTIST SUPREME’ a national role model for the country’s artistic community. which carries the title ‘TAN SRI’, from the ninth Yang di Petuan Agong of Malaysia HM Sultan Azlan Muhibbuddin Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Yusuf Izzuddin Shah Ghafarullahu-Lah.  With this second royal recognition, he is now undoubtedly the nation’s

The Nationel Archieves did not forget his immense contributions.  In 1984, his final home along Jalan Dedap in Setapak, Kuala Lumpur was renovated and extended to become the P. RAMLEE MEMORIAL LIBRARY.  Also refurbished was the humble home where he was born in Penang, which today is a subject of study by his fans and students of art alike.  The Malaysian government has also named several roads after him in Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Kuching.

Apart from that, his name adorns the hallways of several important buildings such as the P. RAMLEE AUDITORIUM  at Angkasapuri (the nation’s broadcasting centre), the P. RAMLEE MINI-THEATRE at the National Film Corporation (Finas) as well as the RAMLEE MALL in the Petronas Twin Towers, the tallest building in the world.

Specially for the music lovers, a business group, Renong Berhad together with EMI Malaysia jointly produced a special instrumental album called THE BOLSHOI BALLET ORCHESTRA PRESENTS TAN SRI P. RAMLEE in 1998.  This was the very first time an orchestra of such high international recognition recorded pieces of P. Ramlee’s ‘ evergreen’ melodies into an album with high quality.

On 15 August 1998, the P. RAMLEE FAN CLUB  was launched to bring together the many followers and lovers of his work, as well as to ensure that the treasures left us by the great man be preserved.
FILMS OF P. RAMLEE

 

The following is a list of P. Ramlee films, in alphabetical order.

Film (Original Title)	Film (English Title)	Release	Starring P. Ramlee	Directed by P. Ramlee	Written by P. Ramlee	Music by P. Ramlee
Abu Hassan Penchuri	Abu Hassan The Thief	1955	X			X
Ahmad Albab	Ahmad Albab	1968	X	X	X	X
Ali Baba Bujang Lapok	Ali Baba in Burlesque	1961	X	X	X	X
Aloha	Aloha	1950	X
Anak Bapak	Like Father Like Son	1968	X	X	X	X
Anak-ku Sazali	My Son, Sazali	1956	X			X
Anjuran Nasib		1952	X
Antara Dua Darjat	Between Two Classes	1955	X	X	X	X
Antara Senyum Dan Tangis	Between Smiles and Tears	1952	X		X	X
Bakti	Devotion	1955	X
Bujang Lapok	Three Bachelors	1957	X	X	X	X
Bukan Salah Ibu Mengandung	Not The Fault Of The MOther Who Became Pregnant	1969	X
Chinta	Love	1948	X
Dajal Suchi	Devotion	1965	cameo			X
Di Belakang Tabir	Behind the Curtain	1969	X
Do Re Mi	Do Re Mi	1966	X	X	X	X
Doktor Rushdi	Doctor Rushdi	1970	X	X	X	X
Enam Jahanam	Six Plunderers	1969	X	X	X	X
Gelora	Storm	1970	X	X	X	X
Gerimis	Drizzle	1968	X	X	X	X
Hang Tuah	The Legend of Hang Tuah	1956	X			X
Hujan Panas	Rain of Heat	1953	X			X
Ibu	Mother	1953	X			X
Ibu Mertuaku	My Mother-In-Law	1962	X	X	X	X
Jangan Tinggal Daku	Don't Leave Me	1971	X	X	X	X
Juwita	Juwita	1951	X			X
Kanchan Tirana	Kanchan Tirana	1955	X	X	X	X
Keluarga 69	Family 69	1967	X	X	X	X
Labu Dan Labi	Labu And Labi	1962	X	X	X	X
Laksamana Do Re Mi	Warriors Do Re Mi	1972	X	X
Love Parade	Love Parade	1963	X
Madu Tiga	Three Wives	1964	X	X	X	X
Masam Masam Manis	Sourness and Sweetness	1965	X	X	X	X
Melanchong Ke Tokyo	Travelling to Tokyo	1964	cameo
Merana	Suffering	1954	X
Miskin	Poverty	1952	X			X
Musang Berjanggut	The Bearded Fox	1959	X	X	X	X
Nasib	Fate	1949	X
Nasib Do Re Mi	The Fate of Do Re Mi	1966	X	X	X	X
Nasib Si Labu Labi	The Fate of Labu and Labi	1963	X	X	X	X
Nilam	Nilam	1952	X
Noor Asmara	Noor Asmara	1949	cameo
Nujum Pak Belalang	Pak Belalang the Fortune Teller	1959	X	X	X	X
Pancha Delima	Pancha Delima	1957	narrator	X	X	X
Panggilan Pulau	Call of the Island	1954	X			X
Patah Hati	Broken-Hearted	1952	X
Penarik Becha	The Trishaw Man	1955	X	X	X	X
Pendekar Bujang Lapok	"The Three Bachelors as Warriors	1959	X	X		X
Penghidupan	Life	1954	X
Putus Harapan	Lost Hope	1953	X
Putus Sudah Kaseh Sayang	Love is Gone	1971	X	X	X	X
Rachun Dunia	Poison of the World	1950	X
Ragam P. Ramlee & Damaq	The Antics of P. Ramlee & Damaq	1964	X	X	X	X
Sabarudin Tukang Kasut	Sabaruddin the Cobbler	1966	X	X	X	X
Semerah Padi	Semerah Padi	1956	X	X	X	X
Sedarah	As Blood	1952	X
Sejoli	Fun	1951	X
Seniman Bujang Lapok	The Three Bachelors as Actors	1952	X	X	X	X
Sarjan Hassan	Sergeant Hassan	1958	X	X	X	X
Sesudah Suboh	After Dawn	1967	X	X		X
Siapa Salah	Who's Guilty?	1953	X			X
Sitora Harimau Jadian	Sitora the Man-Tiger	1964	X	X	X	X
Sumpah Orang Minyak	Curse of the Oil Man	1958	X	X	X	X
Takdir Illahi	God's Plan	1950	X
Tiga Abdul	The Three Abduls	1964	X	X	X	X

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