Momo Latiff
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Marfuah Makarim (1923 – 10 December 2015), better known by the stage name Momo Latiff, was an Indonesian-born Singaporean singer and actress who was active in the 1950s and 1960s. Her successful songs included "Pantai Chinta Berahi" ("PCB" beach, now Pantai Cahaya Bulan) to the music of pianist Dodo Mallinger. Originally a dancer, she was contracted as singer by
Shaw Brothers Shaw Brothers (HK) Limited () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, operating from 1925 to 2011. In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shangh ...
for films such as Putus Harapan (1955) and Pendekar Bujang Lapok (1959).Andrew N. Weintraub, Bart Barendregt · ''Vamping the Stage: Female Voices of Asian Modernities'' 2017 p89 "Momo Latiff, one of the prominent recording artists and entertainers of the pre– and post– World War II days, was born in Batavia in 1923. Momo was invited to join the Dardanella Dramatic Company from Java as a dancer when she was"


Early life

Latiff was born Marfuah Makarim in 1923 in
Dutch East Indies The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies (; ), was a Dutch Empire, Dutch colony with territory mostly comprising the modern state of Indonesia, which Proclamation of Indonesian Independence, declared independence on 17 Au ...
. She moved to
Straits Settlements The Straits Settlements () were a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia. Originally established in 1826 as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company, the Straits Settlements came under control of the ...
in 1939, while in an Indonesian performing troupe on tour in the region.


Career

Latiff was discovered by an executive at
Shaw Brothers Studio Shaw Brothers (HK) Limited () was the largest film production company in Hong Kong, operating from 1925 to 2011. In 1925, three Shaw brothers— Runje, Runme, and Runde—founded Tianyi Film Company (also called "Unique") in Shang ...
which engaged her as a playback singer, leading her singing voice to be used in a movie. She was best known for her role as the wife of a martial arts master in '' Pendekar Bujang Lapok'' (1959), co-starring
P. Ramlee Teuku Zakaria bin Teuku Nyak Puteh (22 March 1929 – 29 May 1973), better known by his stage name P. Ramlee (Puteh Ramlee), was a Malaysian actor, filmmaker, musician, and composer. Born in Penang, Malaya, he is regarded as a prominent icon ...
, S. Shamsuddin, and
Aziz Sattar Datuk Abdul Aziz bin Sattar ( Jawi: عبدالعزيز بن ستار;‎ 8 August 1925 – 6 May 2014) was a Malaysian actor, singer, comedian, and director who is mostly known for his roles in the black and white Malay films of the 1950s a ...
.


Death

On 9 December 2015, Latiff suffered from a high blood pressure and collapsed at her residence in Woodlands. She was rushed into Khoo Teck Puat Hospital where she slipped into a coma due to burst in her brain blood vessel, and died next day at the age of 92.


References

1921 births 2015 deaths {{Singapore-singer-stub