Remembering P. Ramlee

Though born decades after his passing, pupils of SK Francis Light – the film icon’s alma mater – kept his spirit alive. Dressed as the Malay silver-screen legend, they marked P. Ramlee Remembrance Week and the 100th anniversary of his ancestral home.

Photos: ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star

1. Pupils of SK Francis Light – dressed in Tan Sri P. Ramlee’s signature style as well as characters in his movies – visiting his gallery in George Town, Penang. Born Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh on March 22, 1929, the screen icon adopted the stage name P. Ramlee by combining his father’s name, Puteh, with the name he was given in school, Ramlee.

2. Year Four pupils Ilham Mansiv Mohd Hadafi (right) and Mohamad Syahmie Mohamad reading up on the life of P. Ramlee at his ancestral home that also serves as the gallery. Built in 1926, the century-old house, where P. Ramlee was born, features exhibits recreating the living areas where he grew up, alongside displays tracing his early life in Penang.

3. Visitors watching clips from P. Ramlee films at his gallery. During a career spanning the late 1940s until his death from a heart attack in 1973, the actor, singer, musician, filmmaker and composer starred in more than 80 films.

4. Pupils getting a closer look at P. Ramlee’s iconic costumes during a guided tour of the gallery. The three-day celebration brings his enduring legacy to life through talks, discussions and musical performances.