Ahmad Albab

Ahmad Albab
The one-sheet for Ahmad Albab.
Directed by	P. Ramlee
Written by	AR Tompel P. Ramlee
Starring	P. Ramlee AR Tompel Saloma
Music by	P. Ramlee
Cinematography	Abu Bakar Ali Mustafa Yassin
Edited by	Johari Ibrahim
Release date	1968
Country	Malaysia
Language	Malay

Ahmad Albab is a 1968 Malaysian comedy-drama film directed by, written by and starring Malaysian artiste P. Ramlee about an arrogant and materialistic man who marries off his outspoken daughter to a poor villager to teach her a lesson. The story is in the style of traditional Malay folktales with an underlying moral message. The movie features real-life husband and wife P. Ramlee and Saloma acting opposite each other.

Mashood (AR Tompel) is a rich man who believes that happiness cannot exist without wealth, and that he has the power to control both. Mashood has three daughters: Zahara (Mariani) and Suhara (Mimi Loma) share his life philosophies, but Mastura (Saloma) does not and frequently clashes with their father. Mashood decides to prove his beliefs by marrying off Zahara and Suhara to two young men (Muharram and Safar) from wealthy families while Mastura is married off to a poor goat-herder named Syawal (P. Ramlee).

Syawal and Mastura live a simple but happy life together in Syawal's village. One day while Syawal is herding his goats, one of them wanders away. He follows it into a cave, where he sees a large chest of a treasure. A djinn appears and tells Syawal that the treasure belongs to Ahmad Albab, who is the only person who can claim it. Syawal obeys the djinn and leaves.

Elsewhere, Muharram (Tony Azman) and Safar (Karima Latiff) have used up their wives' dowry and decide to steal from a jewellery store, pretending to their wives that their business has boomed. Using this money, they buy the goats that Syawal is herding, putting him out of a job. However Mastura has started up a small farm next to their house, and this becomes their new livelihood.

Mashood's birthday arrives, and he invites his daughters and sons-in-law to the celebrations, where they are required to give him a birthday present. Muharam and Safar give him fancy presents which pleases Mashood. As for Syawal, he presents a packet of salt and a packet of sugar, which Mastura explains represents their love for him. Mashood is angered by this, saying that love should be like jewels and gold. Then Mastura presents to her father a meal she had cooked for him. Mashood attempts to eat it but the food tastes bad, as it has been cooked without salt or sugar. Mastura explains that this is the meaning behind their present, for although salt and sugar are simple things, without them even the most delicious dish tastes bad. Mashood reluctantly accepts Mastura's explanation, but warns them that they won't be able to pull this trick the following year.