It's not a malaysian going to space (i still however feel very strongly that it should have been me in that Soyuz) but this is to me an equally as important landmark in the history of malaysian arts. P.RAMLEE THE MUSICAL WAS SOLD OUT FOR THE WHOLE RUN ON THE NIGHT IT OPENED.
Berduyun-duyun people came for the opening night
Needless to say being a musical slut myself, I've seen it twice and all i can say is that, the more i see it, the more i love it and my love affair with our very own legend P.RAMLEE is rekindled again. A man who was leaps and bounds ahead of his time. He knew what he wanted to see in a Malay Movie and he gave his movies all a special something (regardless wether it was one of his better work or his worst). This musical is a celebration of the legend and also a brief insight into his life's journey. The directors did an outstanding job briinging to life the story. Many clever cinematic like techniques were employed for the massive istana budaya stage. I am in awe and forever will be a fan of the outstanding mind belonging to Adlin Aman Ramli and Zahim Al Bakri. Kudos also to the Production designer , Raja Malek for his wonderful set designs and clever staging of them. These are the same people who helped conceptualise PGL the musical. I predict they will all get their respective datukships within the next five years if they keep this up.
As Adlin said while we were talking about the play the other day, it was a daunting task for him to intertwine a script about P. Ramlee's life and his journey through it with his 4 loves within a 3 hour time frame. In my view he did a fine job an no one scene was more memorable than those with his final muse SALOMA played by the wonderful Liza Hanim. Oh my god Liza Hanim is so gila babi good ok! There are moments she even looks like saloma from afar.The directors have done a fine job with her. I look forward for Liza's star in acting to shine even brighter with performances like those.
Power to P.Ramlee the musical.
Afdlin Shauki
