P. Ramlee the Musical. The Life, the Loves, and the InspirationSeniman Agung* Tan Sri Dr P. Ramlee, the legend of the Malay entertainment industry, would be immortalised in a award-winning musical from the producers of the acclaimed Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical. It is back by popular demand in Singapore, after its hugely successful debut in Kuala Lumpur last year. Behold the Legend as he returns to the birthplace of his ingenuity!
I've heard of the P. Ramlee the Musical since its first production last year. It roused my interest immediately especially since it is produced by the same people who brought to us the greatly acclaimed Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical, which I truly enjoyed watching, and changed my mindset of Malay theatre in general. I was thus rather disappointed that it was only staged in Kuala Lumpur that year. Though a few months back I chanced upon its website which proudly declared it would do a second running, this time round in Singapore and KL, due to popular demand, and the 35th anniversary of the late P. Ramlee's passing.
In the words of Tiara Jacquelina, the musical's executive producer, she got "chills" just thinking about the prophetic journey the production made making its way to Singapore, which was where the legend made his name and mark. Singapura being the hub and heart of the Malay film industry then, now fondly remembered as the Golden Days of Jalan Ampas (the road name where Shaw Brothers' Malay Film Productions was located).
For a rather belated buying of the tickets, we got pretty good seats. Special Occasions Friend Isrin Anak Datuk J would have looked fabulous and fit right in with a nice kebaya to rival the makciks. And as expected, the musical was not a disappointment at all, but of huge entertainment value and a sheer tribute to the Father of Malay Films. P. Ramlee is arguably so well loved by the Malay community that I believe saying a single bad thing about him would have been seen as taboo at the very least. 
His Life, Loves and InspirationTrue to the musical's tagline, the story-telling of P. Ramlee's life is shown through his loves in various parts of his lifetime, and thus his inspiration for his music and films. Though I would still say P. Ramlee the Musical cannot beat Puteri Gunung Ledang: The Musical in terms of its epic scale, this is perhaps the latter is considered a period production, which almost always have the upper hand bias. P.Ramlee the Musical is actually good in its own right, meticulously documenting his life journey to stardom and his legendary endeavours which was history itself in the making. The musical starts with a backdrop which is designed to bring us make to the golden years, and heck it did!
The Living Legends - P. Ramlee and Saloma
It cannot be denied that the backbone of the musical was truly held by pretty impressively by Musly Ramlee, a famous impersonator and P. Ramlee look-alike, who brought the legend to life, and very much alive and kicking. I have no offence to Sean Ghazi (who played the role last year, possibly due to his international profile), but i feel Musly Ramlee was really impeccable in imitating the nuances of the legend, from his mannerisms to his singing style. Liza Hanim was equally commendable in bringing Saloma (the 50s-60s version of pre-Siti Nurhaliza) to life, she being the life-partner and last wife of P.Ramlee. My particular favourite was when they sang Senandung Kasih, their trial duet in the play. It was truly as if you're listening to the legendary couple themselves!
Another worthy mention is the use of real (albeit obviously reproduced) newspaper and video footages plus posters which all in all brings out the essence of the times. It exults the authenticity of the age thus brings legitimacy to the play.
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The Mystery of Azizah
Azizah is well-known as the name of P. Ramlee's love interest in Penang before he came to Singapore. Some even confidently name her his first love. Her details however remains a great mystery till this very day. The character was acted by Siti Nurhaliza in its first season last year (thus also adding interest to the musical, it being Siti's first theatre exposure) but is replaced by actress Emelda in the recent one. It is perhaps befitting for the producers to ask Siti Nurhaliza to play the mysterious first love of the Legend, she being the epitome of great beauty and innocence. Azizah came to light because it is the name of the song P. Ramlee composed in honour of her. It was this very song which he performed that made Malay Film Productions director BJ Rajhans scout him out and offered him to go to Singapore, as accurately acted out in the musical. This song was also a theme song of the film Penarek Becha (The Trishaw Man), the first-ever Malay film directed by a Malay (P. Ramlee), who named his heroine Azizah. This is despite the fact he was already married to Norizan (who was his second wive, after his divorce with Junaidah, his first). In the musical, it is depicted that this move made Norizan extremely jealous.
This truly intruiged me, for it shows how much an inspiration Azizah was to P. Ramlee, even after his rise to fame and respect (befitting too of the musical's direction in tying his life, loves and inspiration). And truly, "Azizah" was almost as though a good luck charm to him, prophetically the song he was scouted from, and strategically his first directed film.
Roughly translated:
(original version)
Azizah
The beauty of your face
And your round eyes
No doubt will fill young men
with joy
The sweetness of your smile
and pearly white teeth
My girl, oh Azizah
The stout of your nose
and your curly hair
Makes young men
yearn for your love
Oh Azizah
The beauty of your face
is the delight of the eyes
Not unlike an angel
from Paradise
Thinking of you
in my sleep at night
Unrests the heart of young men
Oh Azizah.
End of Part 1 of the 2-Parts "P. Ramlee Returns to Singapore" Special
