P. Ramlee lookalike a big fan of late actor

Best form of flattery: Fairuz bears an uncanny resemblance to P. Ramlee.

PETALING JAYA: He looks and sounds like the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee – which has led many to question Fairuz Misran on whether he is related to the crooner and actor.

The questions came after Fairuz uploaded a video of him singing P. Ramlee’s song Maafkan Kami, which went viral on Monday.

Fairuz, as it turns out, is not new to the world of P. Ramlee impersonation.

The Sabahan won the national Bintang P. Ramlee contest organised by RTM in 2012.

Fairuz, 34, started performing in public at the age of six, when he accompanied his father and his late uncle to sing around Sabah.

Coming from a poor family, he kept entering singing competitions where money was offered as a prize.

“I entered singing competitions almost every month. The money I win I would use for school expenses.

“The first-ever prize that I won was RM50, while I was a teenager, but that was not the top prize. Still, that RM50 meant a lot to me,” he told mStar Online, adding the first song he sang in public was Suci Dalam Debu by Iklim.

Before winning the 2012 Bintang P. Ramlee contest, he entered the same contest in 2010 but did not win.

Rather than give up, he entered the contest again and won by singing Barang Yang Lepas Jangan Dikenang and a duet titled Hancur Badan Dikandung Tanah.

“After winning that prize, I was known for singing P. Ramlee songs, and even until now, I perform his songs on stage,” he said, adding Getaran Jiwa was one of the most requested songs from his audience.

As a fan of P. Ramlee, he has copied his hairstyle and moustache style.

“The public would ask whether I am related to P. Ramlee and I would tell them I am not.

“It’s just because I am such a fan that I style myself like him,” he said.

Fairuz said P. Ramlee was a timeless figure and his songs were unique enough to be enjoyed by people of all ages.

“When I put on a video in his style, at least it can attract youngsters to listen to his songs.

“Of course I can’t replace him, as he was a great person and irreplaceable. I am just using my talent to help the public to keep on being interested in P. Ramlee’s pieces,” he said.