SNIPPETS OF P.RAMLEE'S LIFE

TAN SRI P.RAMLEE PORTRAIT

The proprietary name, Teuku Zakaria b. Teuku Nyak Puteh, mostly known as P.Ramlee. We must be wondered where did he get the name of P.Ramlee right? By right, the letter 'P' stands for Puteh which was his father last name while the word of Ramlee itself came from his father's younger brother's name. He started engaging that name when he performed in a singing contest in year of 1945.

How do you know P.Ramlee at the first place? How was his physical appearance at that moment? From a lean and skinny body, he has turned into fat. There was no specific reason behind his transformation, it was just may be because of great happiness came into his life or might be because there was no overwrought he need to think of. Here he is.

HIS YOUTHFUL AGE               BEFORE HIS DEATH

At the beginning of his film making, P.Ramlee produced non-comedy film. His first directed film was, PENAREK BECHA (1955).

A little bit about this film:

"The story tells us about  a trishaw puller, Amran and a rich young lady, Azizah. She fell in love with Amran but their relationship was not approved by her father 'orang kaya Marzuki'. Ghazali, a gangster entered the scenario when he befriended Marzuki after an accident and put up a false front when he realized Marzuki has a beautiful daughter. Marzuki who did not know Ghazali's background, trusted him and decided to marry Azizah off to Ghazali. Azizah ran away and went to Amran's shed. Ghazali confronted them and Amran's mother was stabbed in the shoulder. When Marzuki found out the truth that Ghazali was a gangster, he called the wedding off but Ghazali threatened to kill and steal his money. Amran brought Azizah to her home and managed to stop Ghazali from running away. Marzuki realized that true beauty lies within and agreed to marry Amran off to his daughter."

P.Ramlee as director and actor in PENAREK BECHA.

Watch it here!

But then, in 1957, P.Ramlee started his first comedy film entitled BUJANG LAPOK. In this film, he acted along with two men which their names are no longer foreign in the ears of society in Malaysia. They are S.Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar. 

A FEW SCENES IN BUJANG LAPOK

Besides S,Shamsuddin and Aziz Sattar, there are some more best friends of P.Ramlee included Latifah Omar, Mariani (his sister-in-law), Datuk Mustapha Maarof, Sarimah, Saadiah, Nordin Ahmad, S.Kadarisma, Ahmad Nesfu and many more. These people helped a lot in making the films great and successful. 

P.RAMLEE'S GRAVE (Al-Fatihah)

Everything that starts will finally end, same goes to human being. Death comes without considering age, place, time and who we are. 29 Mei 1973 was a historical date whereby this popular and ingenious artist died due to the heart problem. He was 44 years old at that time and the age was too young when he gone to face the real Creator. His remains buried in Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetary, Kuala Lumpur. 

In 1982, Jalan Parry which located in Kuala Lumpur city has been renamed as Jalan P.Ramlee for his honor along his lifetime. Not only that, P.Ramlee memorial was set up in Setapak Kuala Lumpur to cherish what he hast contributed towards the homeland of Malaysia especially in Malaysian entertainment industry.In addition, he also received Malaysian honorific Tan Sri award in the early 1990s.

Before his death, P.Ramlee has been poor. His was ignored by his friends and people around him. This hardship began when there was a  payment conflict sparked regarding his production and his popularity became plummeted since the Pop Yeh Yeh rhythm entered the local music arena that did not suit and follow the beat of music during that era.

The poverty of P.Ramlee and wife portrayed when his friend (Aziz Sattar) came to the house and witnessed them ate rice with only fried egg. How sad and poor his condition during that moment, only God and them know. But yet, he never complained or sigh. 

During that critical moment, the husband and wife were approached by people who was seeking for a help because he has no money. P.Ramlee who had only RM200 in his pocket was willing to give all the amount until his wife who was standing beside him became surprised. P.Ramlee did not show any anxiety or worry of losing that money, instead he simply said "we are fine". 

This is such a beautiful sacrifice done by a gentleman artist called P.RAMLEE.