Penarek Becha

1955

The Trishaw Man

P. Ramlee As Amran · Directed By P. Ramlee

• Best Film; Best Director; Best Female Artiste (Saadiah); Best Supporting Male Artiste (Salleh Kamil); Best Song, ‘Inang Baru’ — Utusan Film and Sport, 1955

Penarek Becha (also spelled Penarik Beca) is a 1955 film which marked P. Ramlee’s directorial debut. The black-and-white film is set in mid-1950s Singapore. It tells the story of Amran, a poor trishaw puller, and Azizah, a rich young lady. The two fall in love, but their relationship is not approved by Azizah’s father, the wealthy Marzuki. The plot thickens when Ghazali, a gangster, befriends Marzuki after an accident and puts up a false front when he realises Marzuki has a beautiful daughter. Unaware of Ghazali’s background, Marzuki trusts him and disapproves of Amran and Azizah’s relationship.

The film’s themes include social class differences, forbidden love and the oppression of the underprivileged, set against the Singapore of the 1950s.