P Ramlee's house in Penang

Saturday, February 04 2012

4A CAUNTER Hall Road (now renamed Jalan P Ramlee) was the birthplace of one of Malaysia’s most famous son’s, P Ramlee. The house, which is a typical Malay kampung structure, is now a museum to the celebrated artist. It showcases not only P Ramlee's personal artifacts and memorabilia, but many old photographs, movie posters and records. Also within the house's compound is the Kompleks Pustaka Warisan Seni, a performing arts complex with a 300-seat capacity theatre. Read here for further description of the museum / house and view slideshow below for photographs.

The artist was born Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh to Teuku Nyak Puteh bin Teuku Karim and Che' Mah Hussein and was of Achenese descent on his paternal side. He studied at, among others, the Penang Free School.

P Ramlee had his big break in 1948, when BS Rajhans, a Malaysian film director scouting for talents spotted him (Ramlee) performing his rendition of Azizah composed in his early 20s for his first love. His career soon sky rocketed. Read here for his full life story and here for a little trivia on the artist.

Nonetheless, at the age of only 45 years he died of a heart attack. He had acted in over 60 films and directed 37, sang over 250 original songs and won numerous national and international awards. Click here for list of his movies, songs and awards.

The King of Malaysia posthumously conferred upon him the honorary title Tan Sri in 1990. He will always be remembered as an artist that produced movies and songs which appealed to a wide cross-section of the Malaysian society.

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