A classic Malay treat :)

P. Ramlee will be remembered forever our hearts...

P.Ramlee is one of the most famous celebrities of Malaysia from the past. He was an all rounder, an actor, singer, director, songwriter, composer and producer. His endless talent is the main cause of his everlasting fame and name throughout the film industry in Malaysia and even outside Malaysia. Born in Penang, P.Ramlee's house has become a famous tourist spot for tourists as he is considered the icon of Malay entertainment in Malaysia.

I usually do not watch classic Malay movies. However, my very first one was none other than P.Ramlee's "Antara Dua Darjat". I really like the way the movie's storyline is directed, an enjoyable moment for me together with my other classmates as we watched the movie. 

If you have not watched the film, I will tell you how the storyline goes in this blog post. This is my first Malay film too, and I would like to watch more of P.Ramlee's movies again due to the classic touch the movies have. I hope you guys will enjoy it. :)

Tengku Zaleha (Saadiah)

Antara Dua Darjat is the story of Ghazali (P.Ramlee) who falls in love with Tengku Zaleha (Saadiah) on a rainy day when Zaleha's car gets stuck in a pile of mud. Ghazali together with his friends help to release the car. It was love at first sight when both of them saw each other. As time passed, their relationship grew stronger, transforming from friends to lovers. However, Ghazali was a musician and a piano tutor, expert in playing musical instruments such as the piano and the double bass. He was a normal person,living a simple life with his mother and cousin brother. Ghazali is a kind-hearted, down-to-earth and hardworking young man, worth to be made as a life partner. 

Tengku Zaleha is a girl from the higher class, more like the elit society of the Malay population. Her family is rich, arrogant and yet respected by the so-called "normal" or more famously known as the "orang awam". However, her mother is not of the royal blood as she was the mistress of Zaleha's dad, making Zaleha having half the blood of the common class. Tengku Zaleha does not care about her status and she treats everybody equally due to the kind heart of hers. Her dad however is the opposite of her character as he forbids Zaleha from mixing with the people lower to their class. However, it is too late for Zaleha to change her mind as she is already madly in love with a common man. Knowing her rebellious nature, Zaleha's father forbids her to leave the housing premises - she is to be at home at all times.

Dating, lah !!! ;-)

Being the rebel as she always is, Zaleha comes up with a plan....she tells her father that she wants to learn how to play the piano as she is getting extremely bored at home the whole day. Not suspecting her daughter's intentions, he introduces her to a piano tutor who turns out to be Ghazali. Love blossoms as both of them bond during the piano lessons....Much to their dismay, they get caught by Zaleha's arrogant elder brother. Violence starts as they hit Ghazali until he faints and Zaleha is brutally taken away from the scene. I felt like killing Zaleha's brother in that scene....!!! But then I realized it was only a movie...hehehe :P Audiences later finds out that Zaleha passes away, due to the harsh beatings of her father and brother.

Ghazali is shown depressed, but he still awaits his long lost love...he doesn't believe that his love is dead...he can still feel her....And this the story continues...

Love hurts...A lot... :(

After this, there is this interesting time lapse in the movie - something very interesting and rare in black and white movies. Audiences are given a shock when Zaleha returns, yes, she is not dead...In fact she was actually drugged and taken to Singapore by her cruel father. In those tough situations, she murders her brother who tries to kill her mother and in all that Zaleha's father develops shock and becomes insane.  She then acts as if she has lost her memory and does not recognize Ghazali, since she is forcefully married to Ungku Mukri.

Depressed Ghazali's hopes goes in the drain once again as he finds out Zaleha is married to Ungku Mukri, a very rich man from the elite class.However, Ungku Mukri has cruel intentions and has married Zaleha for the sake of her property. It is shown that he has a girlfriend who is pregnant, too. :/ 

At the climax,it is shown that Ungku Mukri dies (shot by Ghazali's friend) while trying to kill Ghazali. Everything gets solved and they live happily ever after.

Not a bad storyline, eh? I think we should watch more Malay movies!! They are worth to be appreciated...

P.Ramlee - A legend forever....