P. Ramlee

He made significant contributions to the Malayan-Singaporean film industries, starring in and directing numerous films that are considered classics today. Some of his most notable works include Bujang Lapok (1957), Do Re Mi (1966), and Tiga Abdul (1964). In addition to his film career, P. Ramlee was also a prolific musician, composing over 350 songs. His music often incorporated traditional Malay elements and became immensely popular across Southeast Asia. His versatility and talent earned him numerous awards and accolades throughout his life. Ramlee's legacy continues to remain relevant in the region. His films, music, and his contributions to the cultural heritage of Malaysia, Singapore and the broader Malay-speaking world (i.e. the Nusantara) are celebrated to this day.

• Honorific Prefix — Yang Berbahagia Seniman Agung Tan Sri Datuk Amar • Name — P. Ramlee • Native Name — Arab • Birth Name — Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh • Born — 22 March 1929 • Birthplace — Sungai Pinang, George Town, Penang, Straits Settlements, British Malaya (now Malaysia) • Died — 29 May 1973 • Place of death — Setapak, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia • Resting Place — Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur • Monuments — P. Ramlee Memorial • Other Names — Ramlee Puteh • Education — * Sekolah Melayu Kampung Jawa • Francis Light English School (1939–1941) • Japanese Navy School (Kaigun Gakko) • Penang Free School (1945–1947) • Occupation — * Actor • singer • musician • filmmaker • composer • Years Active — 1945–1973 • Known for — * Bujang Lapok film series • Antara Dua Darjat • Sergeant Hassan • Do Re Mi film series • Labu dan Labi film series • Tiga Abdul • Hang Tuah • Ibu Mertuaku • Works — Filmography • Children — 7 (including Nasir)

He abbreviated his name to P. Ramlee (Puteh Ramlee), taking inspiration from the Tamil patronymic naming conventions, where the initial stood for his father's name (Puteh) and was followed by the name given to him in school (Ramlee).

• Illustration — P. Ramlee's Birth Certificate P. Ramlee was born on 22 March 1929 to Teuku Nyak Puteh Bin Teuku Karim (1902–1955) and Che Mah Binti Hussein (1904–1967). His father, Teuku Nyak Puteh, who was a descendant of an Acehnese wealthy family, migrated from Lhokseumawe, Aceh, to settle in Penang, where he married P. Ramlee’s mother, who hailed from Kubang Buaya, Butterworth, North Seberang Perai and were domiciled at the Sungai Pinang suburb of the capital, George Town (where his birthplace museum still stands today). P. Ramlee received his education from the Sekolah Melayu Kampung Jawa (Kampung Jawa Malay School), Francis Light English School and then to Penang Free School; in all he was registered as "Ramlee" by his father, Reportedly a reluctant and naughty student, P. Ramlee was nevertheless talented and interested in music and football. His studies at the Penang Free School were interrupted by the Japanese occupation from 1942 to 1945, during which he was enrolled in the Imperial Naval Academy (Kaigun Heigakkō). He also learnt the basics of music and to sing Japanese songs during this period with his teacher, Hirahe-san. When the war ended, he took music lessons that enabled him to read musical notations, joining a marching band in his village.

• Illustration — P. Ramlee and his friends upon arrival at Jalan Ampas, Singapore • Illustration — P. Ramlee and Kasma Booty, 1950 By 1948 his journey to Singapore, his first stint, the 19 year-old Ramlee had already won a number of singing competitions, and was writing his own songs and playing the violin in a kroncong band. That year, B. S. Rajhans, a film director for the Malay Film Productions (MFP) came across P. Ramlee at a singing competition hosted by Radio Malaya in Bukit Mertajam, Penang. Rajhans placed Ramlee in a supporting role in his 1948 film Chinta ("Love"), in which he played a villain, and he also performed five songs as a playback singer providing vocals for the lead actor S. Roomai Noor. In 1950, Ramlee played his first major role in the film directed by L. Krishnan, Bakti ("Devotion"). In Bakti, he was the first actor to sing in his own voice instead of relying on playback singer. During the singing scene, Ramlee duet with Siti Zainab, who already appeared in four films with him. In the following films, such as Juwita in 1951 and Ibu ("Mother") in 1953, he became established as a major star of the Malay film industry. Aside from acting, Ramlee was a prolific songwriter, and around 500 of his songs have been recorded, either by himself or by other artists. Ramlee himself recorded 359 songs for his films and records. Among his best known songs are "Getaran Jiwa", "Dendang Perantau", "Engkau Laksana Bulan", "Joget Pahang", "Tudung Periok", "Di Mana Kan Ku Cari Ganti" and "Azizah". The songs Ramlee wrote were featured in his films, performed by Ramlee himself or by other artists. In Hang Tuah (1956) which was directed by B.N. Rao, Ramlee won best musical score at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. P. Ramlee started directing feature films in 1955, the first of which was Penarek Becha ("Trishaw Man"). P Ramlee wrote the screenplay based on a story by Lu Xun, and the film was critically praised as the best Malay film of the year. He also directed and starred in the Bujang Lapok film comedy series. One of these, Pendekar Bujang Lapok (1959), won the Best Comedy award at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival. He also won the Best Actor award for Anak-ku Sazali at the festival. Other significant films he directed for MFP include Antara Dua Darjat, Ibu Mertua-ku and Tiga Abdul. • Illustration — Portrait of P. Ramlee Ramlee's career at the Malay Film Productions in Singapore between 1955 and 1964 was considered his "golden age" when he made his most critically acclaimed films and wrote his best-remembered songs. His compositions reflected a highly cosmopolitanized music landscape that was pervasive in early 20th century Malaya and Singapore, that is the accompanying music of bangsawan and ronggeng theatres plus the keroncong genre. In 1964, he left Singapore after his last film Tiga Abdul for Kuala Lumpur to make films with Merdeka Film Productions, however, he was less successful there and faced constant sabotage from other Malaysian artists. He made 18 films with Merdeka, and his last film was Laksamana Do Re Mi made in 1972. His last song was "Ayer Mata di Kuala Lumpur" ("Tears in Kuala Lumpur") intended for a film of the same name before he died in 1973. In all, Ramlee starred in 62 films and directed 33. When Laksamana Do Re Mi was nominated at the 1973 Asia Pacific Film Festival, P. Ramlee was ignored by other Malaysian artists in attendance, and he subsequently decided to sit with Singaporean artists instead, with foreign artists (from Hong Kong and Japan) giving him more recognition as well.

P. Ramlee was involved in many aspects of his films: as scriptwriter, director, actor as well as music composer and singer. He was involved in 62 films throughout his career as an actor, as well as a number of other films in other capacities.

• Illustration — P. Ramlee Street in Kuala Lumpur Various places are named after Ramlee • Jalan P. Ramlee, Penang (formerly known as Caunter Hall; renamed on 30 August 1983) • Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur (formerly known as Jalan Parry; renamed in 1982) • Bangunan P. Ramlee and Bilik Mesyuarat Tan Sri P. Ramlee at Sekolah Kebangsaan Hulu Klang, Selangor (used as background in Masam Masam Manis) • Jalan P. Ramlee, Kuching, Sarawak (formerly known as Jalan Jawa) • Taman P. Ramlee (formerly Taman Furlong) a townships at Setapak, Kuala Lumpur and George Town, Penang • Pawagam Mini P. Ramlee at Studio Merdeka, FINAS, Ulu Klang, Selangor • Makmal P.Ramlee at Filem Negara Malaysia, Petaling Jaya, Selangor • P. Ramlee Auditorium (formerly known as RTM Auditorium), Angkasapuri • SK Tan Sri P. Ramlee, George Town, Penang (formerly SK Kampung Jawa, his alma mater; renamed on 13 November 2011) • Ramlee Mall at Suria KLCC shopping centre, Kuala Lumpur • Bukit Nanas Monorail station, Kuala Lumpur, formerly known as P. Ramlee Monorail station • Auditorium P. Ramlee, RTM Kuching, Sarawak

The authorities additionally record the headings Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh, Ramlee Puteh, Ramlee bin Puteh, P.Ramlee and Puteh Ramlee. His recorded language was Malay. His recorded confession was Islam.