With a wink, Datuk Ramli Ibrahim, 64, says, "I'm looking to create a scandal. My reputation has been too pure recently". It's not so much controversy as an exacting standard that has had the recent recipient of India's Padma Shri award, enchanting local and international audiences alike. Datuk Ramli has been a doyen of dance, renovating and pushing forward the conversation revolving around Malaysia's arts and cultural scene, with an august career spanning approximately 40 years.
While his is a truly venerated name within the artistic community "and despite the incredible amount of accolades and titles under his belt" Datuk Ramli is not one to seek out these laurels.
"I am very organic and very natural in the way I take any title, be it my Datukship or the Sangeet Natak Award, which is, for me, meaningful because it is given by artistes."