Tan Sri Datuk Amar (Dr.) Teuku Zakaria Teuku Nyak Puteh, famously known as P. Ramlee, is regarded as one of Malaysia’s greatest timeless icons. He has left an indelible legacy in the entertainment industry through the songs he composed and the films he produced and starred in. His talents and expertise in the arts are unparalleled, and there will never be another P. Ramlee.
With all that in mind, have you ever wondered how the star was discovered? Who gave him the opportunity to showcase his talents? Who was responsible for the artisan earning the title of legend? Some of you may know the answers, but for those who don’t, let us share the story of B.S. Rajhans, the man who discovered P. Ramlee.
B.S. Rajhans, born in India in 1903, was a film director in what was then known as Malaya. He began his filmmaking career in 1927, making his directorial debut with the film “Krishnabana Tirandaz.” He later moved to Singapore, which was still part of Malaya in the early 1930s, where his career flourished, directing iconic films such as “Leila Majnun,” “Seruan Merdeka,” and “Noor Asmara,” which starred the late P. Ramlee.
However, Rajhans’ journey as a film director was not always easy. He returned to India in the late 1930s after facing challenges with the logistics of producing another film. Not long after, he returned to Malaya and directed “Menantoe Doerhaka” in 1941. His career began to soar when the Shaw Brothers took over Malayan Arts Production and rebranded it as Shaw Brothers Studio. Rajhans’ 1947 release “Seruan Merdeka” was the first film in Malaya to be released after the Japanese occupation.
It was also the first film to feature Malay and Chinese actors together on screen; however, it unfortunately did not perform well due to a lack of exposure and limited resources. Fortunately, the Shaw Brothers found a solution by reopening their studio in Jalan Ampas, which had been closed during the Japanese occupation, and established Malay Film Productions, focusing primarily on producing films for local audiences. Naturally, more films require more talent. In addition to his work in filmmaking, Rajhans also served as a talent scout, seeking fresh faces to transform into superstars.
Now comes the story of how he discovered P. Ramlee. Rajhans first saw the Malaysian star perform in Penang in 1948. Amazed by his talent, the director invited the young performer to join the Malay Film Productions arm of the studio to record songs for soundtracks and lip-syncing actors. The first project he was involved in was “Chinta,” where Rajhans, who directed the film, used Ramlee’s voice for actor S. Roomai Noor to lip-sync. Moviegoers were so captivated by his singing that the filmmaker decided to use Ramlee’s voice again for “Nasib” and “Nilam.”
In addition to singing and composing, Ramlee worked as a crew member for Shaw Brothers Studio for a few years. However, the founders recognised his star potential, noting his phenomenal singing and acting abilities, and were willing to invest in him. In 1950, he starred as the lead actor in the film “Bakti,” and the rest, as they say, is history. As the company expanded, more directors were brought on board, alleviating Rajhans of the burden of producing additional films.
He continued to direct more movies; “Rachun Dunia”, “Dewi Murni”, “Aloha”, and “Bapa Saya”. The renowned movie maker was actually also responsible for directing Keris Film Production’s “Buloh Perindu” in 1953 which later became the first movie in Malaysia to be colourised. Unfortunately, other than his work, there’s little to no information about B.S. Rajhans’ personal life and any details that may have existed have likely been lost to time.
The filmmaker sadly passed away from a heart attack in 1955 at 52 years old while he was driving to his office. His body was cremated on 1st June, the day after his untimely death. To this day, no one has ever claimed to be related to B.S. Rajhans so we probably may never know what his life was like when he wasn’t behind the camera. Whatever the case, although his legacy is overshadowed by the talents he discovered, we still have him to thank for being an important figure in the world of Malaysian cinema and for discovering one of the most iconic entertainers our country has ever witnessed.
Sources: KelabPRamlee, SejarahHidup, FilemKlasikMalaysia, Facebook, Roots
