# Mariani (actress)

Siti Mariam binti Ismail (Jawi: سيتي مريم اسماعيل ; 20 April 1933 – 1 December 2015), better known by her stage name Mariani, was a Malaysian-Singaporean Malay actress, singer and model popular during the 1950s and 1960s. She was the older sister of Malaysia's first National Songstress (Biduanita Negara) & actress Puan Sri Saloma and sister-in-law of Malay actor, singer, composer, director, producer Tan Sri Dr P. Ramlee. Mariani was one of the most popular actresses at Jalan Ampas Studios in Singapore at the time, dubbed the "Golden Age of Malay Cinema" at the time. She starred in more than 30 films over her 63-year career span.

## Career

Mariam's career began after winning the Singapore Queen Contest in 1951 when she was 17. She was the first lady to ever hold the title. However, she did not represent Singapore at that time. The show has been a stepping stone for her to engage in acting. After that, she was offered an act by Malay Film Productions, but she refused because her ambition was to be a doctor. After two years, after being persuaded by Saloma, Mariani agreed to act. Her first film was Chemburu directed by S. Ramanathan in 1952. After the success of the movie, Mariani was offered another acting role in the company's films including Palace of Dreams, A Return, Labu Labi, Nasib Si Labu-Labi and Tiga Abdul. After the closure of Malay Film Productions and the separation of Singapore from Malaysia, she continued her acting career at Studio Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur. She starred in many films in the studio like Sweet Mashed Film and Discouraged.
In her later years, Mariani continued to act and her latest appearance in films was Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2 directed by Shuhaimi Baba in 2005. She also starred in various dramas such as Qalesya, Bila Larut Malam and others more. In 2007, she along with her husband, founded a production company, Kus Semangat Sdn. Bhd., which she owned with her husband, until her death in 2015.

## Death

On 1 December 2015, Mariani died after battling with colon cancer, at her home in Taman Kosmo Jaya, Sentul, Kuala Lumpur. She was 82 years old. Her body was sent to Al-Hidayah Mosque in Jalan Sentul and was buried in Jalan Ampang Muslim Cemetery, Kuala Lumpur.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1953 | Cemburu | |
| 1953 | Raja Sehari | |
| 1953 | Istana Impian | Zaiton |
| 1953 | Putus Harapan | Kasma |
| 1954 | Iman | |
| 1954 | Perjodohan | Salmah |
| 1954 | Merana | Rosni |
| 1955 | Empat Isteri | Ramulah |
| 1956 | Hang Tuah | |
| 1957 | Mogok | |
| 1957 | Kembali Seorang | |
| 1958 | Taufan | Salmah |
| 1959 | Saudagar Minyak Urat | |
| 1961 | Sultan Mahmud Mangkat Dijulang | Guntik Istana |
| 1961 | Sri Mersing | Siantan |
| 1962 | Labu dan Labi | Manisah |
| 1962 | Siti Muslihat | Dayang |
| 1963 | Korban | |
| 1963 | Darah Muda | |
| 1963 | Bunga Tanjung | |
| 1963 | Darahku | |
| 1963 | Nasib Si Labu Labi | Manisah |
| 1964 | Tiga Abdul | Hamidah, Sadiq's eldest daughter |
| 1964 | Dupa Cendana | Cendana |
| 1965 | Masam Masam Manis | Rosnah |
| 1966 | Kacha Permata | |
| 1968 | Ahmad Albab | Zahara |
| 1971 | Putus Sudah Kasih Sayang | Rosmah |
| 1974 | Setulus Hatimu | |
| 1980 | Detik 12 Malam | |
| 1981 | Setinggan | |
| 1981 | Perjanjian Syaitan | |
| 1981 | Dia Ibuku | Mak Long |
| 1983 | Dendam Dari Pusara | |
| 1987 | Bayangan Cinta | |
| 1987 | Sayang | |
| 1988 | Perempuan | |
| 1989 | Oh Fatimah | |
| 1989 | Kolej 56 | |
| 1992 | O.C.J. Operasi Cegah Jenayah | |
| 2005 | Pontianak Harum Sundal Malam 2 | Mak Mah |
| 2009 | Santau | Nenek Jelmaan |
| 2010 | Mantra | Bidan |
| 2011 | Khurafat: Perjanjian Syaitan | Grandmother |
| 2011 | Momok Jangan Panggil Aku | Chu Lamah / Saka |
| 2012 | Jidin Sengal | |
| 2013 | Malam... Penuh Bermisteri | |
| 2013 | Kisah Paling Gangster | Tok Wan |
| 2014 | Cara Mengundang Hantu | |

### Television series

| Year | Title | Role | TV channel | Notes |
| 1981 | Drama Minggu Ini: Tok Awang | | TV1 | |
| 1983 | Drama Minggu Ini: Hilang | Mak Cik Leha | TV1 | |
| 2009 | Nenek Kebaya | Nenek Putih | TV3 | |
| 2011 | Terowong | Mak | TV3 | Episode: "Kain Kapan" |
| 2011 | Tentang Dhia | Ku Mariam | TV3 | |
| 2013 | Tanah Kubur (Season 9) | Maklong | Astro Oasis | Episode: "Air Kaki Ibu" |
| 2015 | Kampung Semarah Padi | | TV1 | |
| 2015 | Hello, Mr. Perfect! | Rina | TV3 | |

### Telemovie

| Year | Title | Role | TV channel |
| 2003 | Aisah Lima Puluh Sen | | Astro Ria |
| 2009 | Namaku Bukan Setsuko | Tijah | TV1 |
| 2013 | Cinta Laila Majnun | Mother Khalid | Astro Oasis |
| 2013 | Nur Hikmah | Opah | Astro Oasis |
| 2016 | Dari Kerana Mata | | HyppTV |