Episode 6: P.RAMLEE YANG SAYA KENAL-Special interview with Nona Asiah, former playback singer

Nona Asiah, a pioneering Malay singer, deejay, and actress, was a feminist before her time. She started singing in the 1940s and acting in the 1950s, during a period when most women were seen but not heard. She made her singing debut at 16 on Radio Malaya and retired in 1975 at 45. At the peak of her career in the 1950s and early 1960s, she was often behind the singing voices of the leading ladies in the movies of legendary director P. Ramlee.

In this video, Nona Asiah will share the experience of working as a playback singer and the late P.Ramlee. According to Nona Asiah, P.Ramlee was a very shy person when he first came to Singapore from Penang. He was a very serious man when at work or in the recording studio. He was a very talented man. Nona Asiah bought his piano before he (P.Ramlee) and his wife, Saloma migrated to Kuala Lumpur. His song compositions were simple and easy to sing. He always encouraged others to study music theory as it would be useful to have such knowledge. P.Ramlee offered Nona Asiah a film role but she rejected it because of her busy singing schedule.

Recording: Year 2011
Credit: Shaw Brother (Chinta, Nasib, Nilam, Hujan Panas)