Friends Pay Tribute To The Legendary Pak Sudin

A LEGENDARY comedian, S. Shamsuddin was part of the famous and haunting "Bujang Lapok" starring alongside the late Tan Sri P. Ramlee and Datuk Aziz Sattar, or Pak Aziz. S. Shamsuddin or more fondly known as Pak Sudin passed away at 10.56am today in Singapore.

After the passing of Allahyarham Tan Sri P.Ramlee back in 1973, the famous "Bujang Lapok" trio's torch is now carried by its last surviving member, Pak Aziz.

Attempts to contact Pak Aziz has failed, although it is learnt that he is currently on the way to Singapore to attend Pak Sudin's funeral.

The funeral, according to a report by Astro Awani is set to take place tomorrow 11am at Singapore's Pusara Abadi.

Loving and funny man

mD called up several key figures in the Malaysian film industry to share their personal thoughts on the passing of this magnificent actor.

1. Melissa Saila

Daughter of actress Mariani and the niece of legendary singer Saloma, Melissa grew up in a family of artistes, and recalled Pak Sudin with much fondness.

"I acted with him in a movie called Sepi Terindah back in the early 90s. He was very professional," she told mD.

She recalls Sudin being a jovial person on the set, as well as a very warm and loving man.

"I am most impressed with his professional attitude as a dubber. He loved to ad lib dialogues but directors did not worry at the time, because he was able to repeat his lines during the dubbing session perfectly."

"He will be missed dearly, that's for sure," she added.

2. Mariani Ismail

Mariani, or Mummy as she prefers to be addressed, is a veteran actress, from the glory days of Jalan Ampas, and is still actively acting in Malaysia today.

"Sudin was my best friend," Mariani said.

"We used to share our problems. He was an easy man to talk to."

"He was funny," she added.

Mariani shared with mD that the last time she met Sudin was a couple of months ago, when she visited him in Singapore.

"What I remember most during our acting days was that Sudin loved to rehearse. There was this one movie we did together, "Istana Impian", and we had to sing and dance for a song titled "Orang Bertunang". He insisted that we rehearse many times before the actual shoot just so we won't make any mistakes."

3. Datin Rosnani Jamil

Another veteran actress from Jalan Ampas, Datin Rosnani Jamil, or Mak Nani is married to famous songwriter Datuk Jamil Sulong.

She said her first film with Sudin was "Sedarah" and recalls him being funny and spontaneous.

"There was never a quiet moment on the set if he was around. He also loved to ad lib," she said.

"Remember the opening of the cave scene in "Ali Baba Bujang Lapok"? That was courtesy of Sudin's spontaneity," she added.

Mak Nani recalled living at the quarters on Boon Teck Road in Singapore, saying that when they were all back at home, Sudin kept mostly to himself.

"He was a nice man, but he preferred to be by himself when we weren't on the set," she said.

"When we were on the set during shoots, if he was angry, he would walk off," she added.

Mak Nani was melancholic when she spoke of Sudin's passing, saying that although she knows that's how things are in life, she couldn't help but feel sad at losing a friend.

4. Ruminah Sidek

Fondly known as Mak Mah, Ruminah Sidek is best remembered for her role as Cik Normah in "Anak Bapak" where she starred alongside A.R. Tompel and P.Ramlee.

Mak Mah said she hasn't seen Sudin in a while and is saddened by the news of his passing.

"He was a kind man, someone easy to work with," she recalled.

"He was also moderate in all the things he did, very soft-spoken and loving," she added.

"I pray that his soul be blessed and may he find peace on the other side."

5. Datuk Mustapha Maarof

Veteran actor, Datuk Mustapha Maarof also expressed his shock when asked to comment about Sudin.

"I am definitely saddened by his demise. Although I knew he had been sick for a long time, I still received the news this morning with shock," he said.

Mustapha, who was formerly with Cathay Keris Production in Singapore, started his acting career in the 50s. He was formerly married to another screen legend, Rosyatimah.

"Last I saw him was 4 months ago, he was already quite ill at the time. We definitely just lost somebody who is liked by Malaysians and Singaporeans, and not just by the Malay community, but also the Chinese and Indian."

"His screen antiques, although from old movies, continue to entertain us today," he added.

He expressed his wishes for Sudin's family to stay strong in this tough time, and prayed that Sudin will be blessed in the hereafter.

"I am currently on my way to the airport to catch a plane to Singapore, I will be representing the Perbadanan Kemajuan Filem Nasional at Sudin's funeral," he told mD.

6. Noraini Ibnu

Noraini Ibnu is a producer at Klasik Nasional, RTM's radio station that plays classic Malay hits. Noraini, or Kak Ani is also the wife of famed singer, Herman Tino.

"Sudin is like Panadol," she told mD.

"Whenever we feel sad or down, all we have to do is watch his films and we will immediately feel better. That is why to me, he is just like Panadol," she added.

"I am saddened by his passing and the loss of a bright star in the Malaysian film industry," she said.

Who was Shamsuddin Dali?

Born in Pasir Panjang, Singapore, his father hailed from Malacca while his mother was from Geylang in Singapore.

Pak Sudin started out as a laborer to help his family. In 1948, after visiting Malay Film Productions (MFP) studio at the famed Jalan Ampas, he was spotted by director BS Rajhans, and was offered as a film extra for the movie 'Chempaka'.

He was paid three dollars.

A few days later, Sudin applied for odd jobs with MFP and was hired as a set carpenter. His salary was fifty dollars a month.

While serving as a set carpenter, Sudin was also offered small roles in several films, either as an actor or a dancer.

Little did he know that would be the start to a career that catapults him to the remarkable role of a Malaysian legend.

Sudin's first film with P.Ramlee was "Aloha", further proving to studio owners at the time that he is a talented comedic performer who is able to deliver spontaneous lines and repeat the performance during the dubbing session.

In "Aloha", Sudin played the comedic role of P.Ramlee's best friend.

The turning point for Sudin's acting career came when P.Ramlee was given the honor to direct a comedy film in 1957. The film was the first in the soon-to-be famous "Bujang Lapok" series.

The "Bujang Lapok" series

Who can forget the black and white classics "Bujang Lapok", "Pendekar Bujang Lapok, "Ali Baba Bujang Lapok" and "Seniman Bujang Lapok"- produced by Jalan Ampas Studio in Singapore - in the early 1950s and early 1960s.

Millions have seen these movies in Malaysia, Singapore and even Indonesia, and most don't mind seeing them over and over again until now.

Kids are also hooked with Pak Sudin, P. Ramlee and Aziz Sattar despite in today's modern age of high technology and computers.

Why? Simply because movies back then were made with the heart and soul of its actors and directors, as well as the entire crew.

Many are able to relate to the dialogues with ease for obvious reasons.

The main man may be P. Ramlee but Pak Sudin and Aziz Sattar played massive roles in making the "Bujang Lapok" series successful.

Each one of them brought their own  unique style to make movie goers laugh, and carry on laughing despite years have passed since the movie first hit the silver screen.

Sudin (left) and Aziz in the classic movie 'Ali Baba Bujang Lapok'Perhaps, yes just perhaps, the best in the series was "Äli Baba Bujang Lapok", directed and written by P. Ramlee.

It was based on the famous folklore "Áli Baba And The 40 Thieves".

Pak Sudin played the rich but greedy Kassim Baba with Aziz Sattar as a younger Ali Baba, who is poor and lazy.

P. Ramlee played the leader of the thieves.

Although "Ali Baba Bujang Lapok" is a story that took place in an unidentified country with a Middle-Eastern setting, it is filled with deliberate anachronisms which are used for humor.

Among them are bicycles, motorcycles, trucks, a Vespa scooter, telephones and guns.

When on leave, the 40 thieves dressed as various anachronistic characters, amongst them a cowboy, and a World War 2-era Japanese soldier.

And, there is also a reporter! This is when Ali Baba pretended to be one, sitting up on a tree, as he chanced upon the thieves' lair.

In addition, the 40 thieves seem to function as a proper business, offering members health benefits, performance-based bonuses and overtime pay.

Like the above anachronistic items, these are played for humorous effect, like the leader of the thieves turns down a Sunday job because it is a public holiday.

When the irate customer threatens to find other thieves, the leader warns that if he does so, the Thieves' Union will take action.

Besides, the movie is also notable for mocking the legal status of cannabis and opium in Malaysia for humorous effect.

This was depicted in a scene where Kassim Baba's maid Marjina is buying some belacan at the city market, where the seller claims that selling cannabis and opium is legal but belacan is illegal, as it is smuggled from Malaya.

This movie is simply out of this world.

"Bujang Lapok" forever.

Source : http://www.malaysiandigest.com/news/36-local2/361501-friends-pay-tribute-to-the-legendary-pak-sudin.html