mohamad ismadi b sallehudin | ismadi@aswara.edu.my OR artismadi@yahoo.co.uk | +6013 988 1 777 | studio: 15, Jln Subang Jaya 3, Taman Setia Jaya, Batu 16, Rawang, Selangor
Malaysia .
Malaysia artist, Zulkifli Yusoff and ismadi infront of 'Mengadap Rebab" at MAFE- Malaysia France Art Exhibition at ASWARA 2011
'Mengadap Rebab' Dance:
This opening dance of the traditional theatre performance called Mak Yong is considered to be a court or classical dance due to the nature and performance structure. The very courtly and graceful style, beginning in a seated position, lowered eyeline and finger movements are in keeping with this style. The biggest difference is that here the dancers all face the ‘rebab’ which is stringed instrument played vertically. The lead dancer also sings a haunting song telling of virtue and respect for nature and life.
Deputy Minister of Information, communication and Culture of Malaysia infront of Mengadap Rebab, 2011
here are the video about 'Mengadap Rebab'
info: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vw-HLgfyf4g
'Mengadap Rebab', oil paint on canvas, 8 x 6 ft (2 panel), 2011, MYR 30K. -not including the delivery cost.
P.Ramlee- Pak Mahat baca buku Hikayat Hang Tuah, charcoal on paper, 43x29cm, 2011 MYR 1,500.00
Malaysia’s Beloved P. Ramlee
Article by Dr. Megawati Omar (Malaysia) Blog Correspondent of ASEAN-Korea Centre
There are many Malaysian actors and actresses but the one who is admired by generations since late 40’s is the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee. His poker face in his funny movies wins the heart of many. His good looks win the soul of the romantic.
P. Ramlee, or his real name Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh, was an actor, a singer, a film director, a musician and a song writer. Prolific and multi-talented he was, he, to this day is loved by Malaysians and Singaporeans. Young and old have great admiration for him. Born in Penang, Malaysia on 22 Mac 1929 on the morning of the Aidil Fitri, he was of an Aceh lineage. His father was from Lhokseumawe, Aceh, Indonesia, who married Che Mah Hussein, Malay, in 1925 at Kubang Buaya, Butterworth, Penang. Penang is a state in the North of the Malaysian Peninsular.
P.Ramlee went to a primary school, Sekolah Melayu Kampung Jawa, and later to the Francis Light Secondary School in Penang. As the World War 11 broke, his schooling was disrupted but he managed to go back to school after that at the Penang Free School. During the Japanese occupation in Malaya P. Ramlee learnt to play musical instruments.
Beginning with ukulele, P. Ramlee then played the guitar and the violin under the tutelage of Mr Kamaruddin (a brass band instructor at the Penang Free School). He joined musical bands, Orkes Teruna Sekampung, and later Sinaran Bintang Sore. Out of it he won a singing award ‘Bintang Penyanyi Utama Malaya’ conferred by the Penang Radio Station in 1947. In that contest he used the letter ‘P’ (for Puteh) before his name Ramlee and the name remains to this day.
One of those who encouraged and tutored Ramlee in Malay films was L. Krishnan (the renown director of Malay films in the 50’s and 60’s). His successful acting was inspired by MGR and Sivaji Ganesan, actors in South India.
P. Ramlee‘s first film was Chinta (Love) in 1948. In this movie he was a villain and a background singer. His success soared and later became director of many popular films. One of his most popular films is a comedy, Madu Tiga (The Three Wives). The movie is about a business man, Jamil, who easily falls in love with beautiful women although he is married. Jamil’s roving eyes way is encouraged by his father-in-law hence he marries another two women. Movies directed by P. Ramlee commanded tremendous response by the public since he was brave enough to portray polygamy in a move, a taboo in the Malay society.
Then, he directed another great movie, Anak ku Sazali (Sazali, my Son), in which he acted both as son and father, which had won him the Best Actor Award in the Asian film festival. The movie is about tragic turns of a son, Sazali, who behaves ungratefully that he suffered downfalls from riches to villain. The father, falls into deep sadness after his wife died, excessively and wrongly dotted, Sazali. Sazali eventually turns a gangster. The father, admitting that he has failed as a father, then turns Sazali to police after he (Sazali) killed a person.
P. Ramlee was also a strong believer in social justice, which was portrayed in his movies. Two of such movies were Antara Dua Darjat (Between Two Castes) and Ibu Mertua Ku (My Mother in-law). Antara Dua Darjat touched the heart of two classes in the Malay society, the royalty and the common, was once banned by the government. In these two movies, his co-stars were the late Sa’adiah, a beautiful actress, and Sarimah, another well known actress.
However, towards the end of his life, his creativity suffered a downhill due to failed marriages, political movements of Malaysia and Singapore, and jealousy and rivalry in movie-making. Most of his sufferings were endured after he moved to Kuala Lumpur, the capital city of Malaysia, from the city of Singapore, after the state opted out from Malaysia in 1963.
Other than directing, P. Ramlee also wrote many genre of music. Many of his songs were sung by him and his wife, Saloma. Among the many songs he wrote, one is still played and loved by Malaysians, is Dendang Perantau (A Traveller’s Song). This is an AidilFitri song which is sung in the fasting month before the Aidilfitri festival. Aidilfitri is celebrated by Muslims once a year. Thus it be will be heard and enjoyed once a year in the midst of the festival, touching and moving the hearts of many who lived away from their home towns.
His last movie was Laksamana Do Re Mi in 1972 and he wrote last song and lyrics, Ayer Mata Di Kuala Lumpur (Tears in Kuala Lumpur), in 1973, a few months before he died. Although P.Ramlee had died 38 years ago, his movies and songs live, dearly loved by all. In fact, he is getting more popular each day. The National Geographic featured him in one of its series about Malaysia.
Malaysia artist, Zulkifli Yusoff and ismadi infront of 'Mengadap Rebab" at MAFE- Malaysia France Art Exhibition at ASWARA 2011
Deputy Minister of Information, communication and Culture of Malaysia infront of Mengadap Rebab, 2011
'Mengadap Rebab', oil paint on canvas, 8 x 6 ft (2 panel), 2011, MYR 30K. -not including the delivery cost.
