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P. Ramlee or Puteh Ramlee (1929- 1973) is particularly well-known across the Southeast Asian region and has even sparked interests among expat film studies researchers for the impact his films have brought to Malaysians and made for his birth country, Malaysia.

The original ‘Madu Tiga’ hit comedy film was produced by Shaw Brothers and released in Singapore in 1964, during which Singapore was still a part of Malaysia.

In 2014, Singapore’s The Straits Times hailed ‘Madu Tiga’ as a classic film, ranked among the top five for the Malay film category.

P. Ramlee, or Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh, was at the helm of the popular comedy that tells the story of one married man, who has a total of three wives. If you’ve lived back in the day, you’d know that films shown were in black-and-white, which gives you a different feel and texture, compared to now, when (nearly) everything is in colour(s) other than the plain and ordinary.

While there are initiatives and effort taken to honour P. Ramlee for his contribution(s) such as the Google Doodle in 2017 (in conjunction with what would have been his 88th birthday, the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) or the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) is hosting a two-day orchestral performance, which will back the film, to be shown simultaneously then.

Those who are familiar with P. Ramlee films would know how the Malay Language was used and spoken back then - with much rhythm, fun but also pride and often flowery and poetic. During his schooldays in Penang Free School, P. Ramlee was conscious and careful of his language, making him rise above many of his peers.  This is what we won’t really have anymore in today’s theatres, as technology tends to make its users shorten and abbreviate lingo, especially when you’re constantly on-the-go but need to deliver something at speed. Also, the generations that came after his will find it tedious to be speaking in such a manner.

At the same time, it’s still good exposure for audiences, both familiar and unfamiliar, to experience the work of P. Ramlee, no matter if you’ve watched it before in a different setting.

The orchestral performance will surely be laboured, but meaningful, as we’re paying tribute to the incomparable Penang-born singer-songwriter and actor-director with Acehnese roots.

Ahmad Muriz Che Rose will serve as the conductor of the orchestra, with power, precision, and his own touch.

Shows will be held on 23 and 24 January 2026 (Friday and Saturday) at 8PM MYT.

Ticket prices range from RM199 to RM449, with upper tier ticket holders (suite), eligible for light refreshments.

MYKAD holders will have to key in the discount code MYKAD10 during the ticket purchase process online to qualify for the 10% off the normal pricing. Seniors can enjoy a 15% discount. Student pricing is also available.

For further enquiries, please do ring the Box Office of the MPO/DFP at 0323317007 between 10:30AM and 6:30PM, except on Sundays and Mondays, during which they’re closed. If you prefer to communicate via email, you can write to boxoffice@dfp.com.my

So, to those who have bought their tickets, you’re in for a comical, hilarious but also symbolic show with a spectacular performance by the talented and hardworking orchestra members.  

The P. Ramlee in concert show is one of the earliest entries of the 2026 season and marks the 28th season of the MPO/DFP.