Suresh posted something interesting on Johan Jaafar's take on P. Ramlee films.
Here's my take on the post:
"We should really look at P Ramlee movies from its historical context. It was a time where women very much had a traditional role, and it was portrayed as such. What needs to be analysed is not how women were portrayed then in the context of society today, rather in the context of his time.
Women had a predominant role in his stories. Check out 'Musang Berjanggut' - where P Ramlee as a prince set out far and wide to search for an appropriate and worthy wife, and settles on a brilliant and cunning woman, who was able to subdue a testosterone-driven cabinet. Even the negative roles such as the mother in 'Ibu Mertuaku' was a strong character - a matriarch who was rich, able to command authority within her family, albeit in a negative way.
I would say that Johan Jaafar has not done his homework. Artists like P Ramlee created his art as a reflection of society then, interspersed with his own take on where the society should go. Given the focus of society then, perhaps the aspirations of Malays then were not material wealth, rather a harmonious society. Who are we to say that this intention did not 'contribute much towards building a strong race which had self-confidence and integrity'?"
Addendum:
It is interesting to note that all his movies had strong anti-colonialist sentiments. Note that the rich and powerful then were often portrayed as British-accented locals who dressed and lived in that manner. There was a strong message to be proud of how you are, in the dialogues and the songs that celebrated diversity of local culture.
it is interesting to observe these so called "intelectuals" make commentaries about events that took place half a century ago in present day context. i guess it is so much easier to make "after the fact comments" rather than work on something that on our own in our time.
one can easily look at P. Ramlee films in a different light from JJ's views if we consider they are still popular 50 years on unlike many newer films that are forgetable, at best.
but, when you make comments that are "different" from the others, you get noticed. nowadays, it is important for people to be noticed especially if you have not been in the limelight for sometime. after all, it would not have been great news if a paper presented at an academic seminar merely looks at the positive virtues of P. Ramlee's films since this have been presented many times before.
Posted by: hussin at 2003年12月09日 00:08the late p. ramlee was my no. 1 favourite malay artist. i love all his movies, and i enjoy very much his songs. he had such a wonderful voice (reminds me of nat king cole).
the other malay artiste i like is the late sudirman haji arshad.
Posted by: lucia at 2003年12月09日 13:51HE IS GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT
Posted by: Choong Chan Fong at 2004年08月24日 14:24