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SINGAPORE : You can go on and on endlessly extolling the virtues of the late great P Ramlee. But for retired cinematographer Abu Bakar Ali, who spent a great part of his life as both peer and friend to the late director/actor and all-round legendary entertainer, the man could be neatly summed in one word.
As 80-year-old Pak Bakar said: "He's a master."
His life story will be featured this weekend, when a musical about the "master" known both here and across the Causeway will be staged at the Esplanade. P Ramlee The Musical, which was performed last year in Kuala Lumpur, focuses on the life and loves of the Penang-born Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh, who later became one of the biggest names in Malay entertainment.
Malaysian actor Musly Ramlee (who will play P Ramlee in the musical and whom some say is a spitting image of the guy although unrelated) said he would not hesitate at the implausible chance of taking him out for dinner. The 39-year-old said: "I would ask him how he became so successful and what the stories are behind all his films and songs."
CHARLIE CHAPLIN OF ASIA
Yes, many film-makers, musicians and actors have all been influenced one way or the other by P Ramlee.
"He is part of our psyche. Many film-makers who grew up in this region are bound to have had a diet of P Ramlee films in their lives," said Singapore director A Nizam Hamid, 41, whose documentary on Abu Bakar Ali Keronchong for Pak Bakar was screened at the recent Singapore International Film Festival. He had planned a biopic on P Ramlee but it didn't pan out.
"A cynical younger generation may look at his films the music, the style as outdated, but at that time, he was big," he added, noting Japanese director Akira Kurosawa's influence in P Ramlee movies. He was considered the Charlie Chaplin of Asia, because of his ability to sing, compose, arrange, write, direct, among others, which was amazing. The only thing he was not able to do that Chaplin managed to was to produce his own films."
THE STAR AND HIS CRAFT
Pak Bakar knows all about these qualities. He was doing "general work" at the Shaw Brothers' Jalan Ampas studio, when he first met P Ramlee in 1948.
"Very simple" was his first impression of the man who had been discovered by director B S Rahjans. P Ramlee was brought to Singapore as a "playback singer" and supporting actor.
Beginning with 1957's Pancha Delima (Five Rubies), Pak Bakar became P Ramlee's camera man and their working relationship continued until the latter moved to Kuala Lumpur's Merdeka Studio in 1964.
Professionally, P Ramlee lived and breathed cinema, and the crew would sometimes stay up until 3am working on film rushes. "If he wants something and you say 'cannot' that's it, you're finished," the cinematographer said.
P Ramlee was not only adept at the creative side of movie-making but also the technical aspect. He would never rush a shot and would tell Pak Bakar to take his time to get it right.
"He also knew how to make trick shots on the spot. And at that time, there were no computers," said Pak Bakar.
If he wasn't directing, P Ramlee became the go-to guy. For example, even though he was "only" the lead actor in the 1955 film Sarjan Hassan by Filipino director Lamberto Javellana, P Ramlee was asked to fix it up when the Shaw brothers were unhappy with the slow progress.
He would also regale cast and crew with stories of his youth like how he was a veritable "fighter" who wore knuckle busters as a young kid in Penang. Sometimes, he would "read" Chinese comics, and get inspiration from the stories. The multi-lingual director also spoke Tamil and Japanese.
P Ramlee also smoked a lot, according to Pak Bakar. It was stipulated in his contract that he'd get a carton of Lucky Strikes cigarettes every month.
He was also a mahjong enthusiast. "If you play with him after shooting, you will never be able to go home," Pak Bakar laughed.
And yes, the guy was a hit with women. "He's a good-looking man, and his eyes were very powerful, like they had some kind of aura," he said. His looks allowed him to play an Indian or an Arab character, and be readily accepted by the viewers.
He also had the chance to make it big abroad. P Ramlee was a favourite of media mogul Run Run Shaw, said Nizam. The Shaw honcho had wanted to take the Malay director to Hollywood, but P Ramlee insisted on staying put. "He was a very loyal guy," said Nizam.
AND IN THE END ...
But despite the accolades, there's a lesser-known tragic fact about the man: When the star died of heart attack at 44, he was a nobody.
One of Pak Bakar's final memories of P Ramlee occurred just before his untimely death. The superstar of the '50s and '60s, who had been in about 65 films, had some unfinished projects, including Ayer Mata di Kuala Lumpur (Tears in Kuala Lumpur), based on the last song he wrote.
But he did not have enough money, so he got Pak Bakar to tag along with him to Kuala Lumpur, where he tried to sell his ideas to financiers. They turned him down.
Disheartened, Pak Bakar returned to Singapore. Two weeks later, on May 29, 1973, he got a call from someone telling him of his friend's passing. "I cried," he said.
Was it an ignoble end?
Malaysian composer Roslan Aziz, the musical's music director, does not think so.
"Now, it's all about the money. But he didn't care about it. If he did, he would have died with a lot, but he died penniless," said the 47-year-old, referring to man's craving for craft rather than cash. "His attitude towards art is something that can't be matched."
P Ramlee The Musical runs at the Esplanade Theatre from May 17-19, 8pm (2.30pm matinee on Saturday). Malay with English subtitles. Tickets at $40-$100 from Sistic.
You can also catch two of P Ramlee's movies for free: Madu Tiga (June 27) and Bujang Lapok (June 28), at the Stamford Garden, National Museum of Singapore, 8pm. - TODAY/ar
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