Indonesia as the biggest Asian country in the world, an archipelago with approximately 17.500 island really counting on social media as their main way of communication. Television as the most famous and the influential media social used globally is also becoming the media for entertainment. Millions of people watch television daily with many intentions while some searching for what’s happening around the world some try to get some entertainment. Television show consisting a lot of genre such as musical, comedy, drama, horror, action, reality show, etc. Comedy show is one of the easiest genre that could be accepted in the society and one of the most successful television program in Indonesia. The Indonesian film production industry first reached its peak in 1980 and Warkop DKI’s series is one of the top most watched movie around that time. With the comedy genre this movie was so famous since 1980 even until present. I pick Warkop DKI movie as my portfolio essay since it’s an interesting movie that never lose from time. The movie is still play even until now in Indonesian national channel. Young and old generation still find that this comedy is funny and acceptable to be enjoyed with their family. Warkop DKI was first formed around 1976 and was planned by Prambors radio team. At first it was just a new concept for Prambors radio program but as the time passed the Warkop DKI started to get work elsewhere not just in radio where they get paid only for a transport money for their first performance. The main member of Warkop DKI group is Wahyu Sardono (Dono), Kasino Hadiwibowo (Kasino), Drs. H. Indrodjojo Kusumonegoro (Indro), and Nanu Mulyono (Nanu). After doing a few comedy performances, the group was first introduced to more publicity through the “Terminal Musikal” show. The result of the show helped them to be more famous and their group name as Warkop DKI known. Warkop DKI was then offered a contract in a lot of upcoming comedy movies at that time. A lot of unfortunate even also experienced by this group such as losing 3 of its members Nanu (1983), Kasino (1997), and Dono (2001). Now Indro is the only man survived and still doing his career as a comedian in Indonesia. Although the name it’s not a Warkop DKI Indro’s doing well until now and was hired to play his comedian role in some new Indonesian movies. During their first movies, WARKOP have a few issues where the movie couldn’t be published internationally. One of the biggest problem they had is because of the copyright issue of Henry Mancini’s song which is “The Pink Panther” that they use in most of their movie. The song Pink Panther itself was so reflecting Warkop DKI movies at that time. The reasons that explain how Warkop DKI movies interesting and so famous Is no other than the group member themselves. Each of the member from Warkop DKI are educated person. Unlike present, it’s not common for people to finish their education Bachelor’s degree. Although it was reported that Dono was shy at first attempt on casting or live comedy show he was the most educated person of them all and have achievement in his education live. This fact is affecting on how usually Indonesia made a comedy movie with relying on the comedian skill to make fun of others or themselves but not for Warkop DKI. The joke they used variety of joke and act to entertain people who watch them from the acting itself to how they used a rhythmic sentence called as “Pantun” in Indonesia.
The first movie I pick for my portfolio essay was also played by the full member of Warkop DKI. The film was released in 1979 with the titled “Mana Tahan”. It’s hard to find many information even in Bahasa language as it was released during time where it’s even hard to access internet. The movie itself was not published with international target audience. The main audience is national teenager and adults since the joke they made was spoken in dialect language. The plot was still not so complex and it was an easy to understand movie for all class of people who’re watching it. The story was about young university students who lived together in another city and was coming from Purbalingga to Jakarta. As they’re living together they meet another friend who’re later becoming best friend. The four of them later grow a feeling to the maid who work for the house owner of that boarding house. One day they found out that the maid is pregnant without any information about who’s the father is. After blaming, discussing and helping each other on the attempt on searching for the one who made the maid pregnant they found out that it was the house owner boyfriend who did it. It’s seems that this movie was not focusing too much on the progression of each character, instead they’re focusing only to the even that have the connection to the main story. A lot of funny scene are actually made funny just by how they act and without intention of making other feels bad or mocking each other.
Manusia Enam Juta Dolar was in my list because at this time Warkop DKI with the help of one of the famous director at that time Ali Sahab try to make a parody of western movie “The Six Million Dollar Man”. The original plot was telling about an astronaut who’re somehow having an accident and was rebuild as semi android where some of his part was change to advanced technology. One of the main reason why this movie was never intended to be internationally published was also because of some part of the the original movie was taken identically such as the soundtrack, special effect, and the scene where the protagonist shown his super power. The Warkop DKI version of “The Six Million Dollar Man” was not identically the same as the original one. For example, while the original story was telling about an astronaut, the Warkop DKI plot was telling a protagonist who’re a policeman and its major focus is the comedy aspect in it.
Manusia Enam Juta Dolar is a movie about Dono as a man with super power. The story began with some policemen who had responsibility to handle crimes in Jakarta, Indonesia capital city. One of the officers experienced an old lady that got her gold accessories stolen. While chasing the thief, the officer got into an accident and had to take into hospital immediately. Doctor said he would not be recovered, but there was one way to save him, changed the officer’s hands and legs with electronic biology technology with the price of 6 million dollars. This surgery approved by his leader, as the officer could become a weapon to handle many crimes in Jakarta. The story then was about professional kidnapping syndicate which kidnaps kids and famous singer that these policemen had to take care off. In this movie, the director and casts tried to bring their characteristics; slapsticks, smart humor and situational comedy, as it linked to social problem that Jakarta was having. For example, economic situation, corruption, poverty, ethnic and race, and also trust issue that people had towards police officers.
Until now Warkop DKI is still leave a mark in Indonesian people as one of the best comedy group. Young and old generation love their role and comedy. While thinking based on this fact Warkop DKI reborn was released in 2016 and was directed by Anggi Umbara. This movie was produced as a tribute to the original Warkop DKI group. Played by young generation this movie intends on reviving the old movie and make a new group based on the old Warkop DKI. This movie also one of a few Indonesian movies that break the fourth wall concept. The character in this movie identically try to represent the old group member even one of the remaining original member was there and taking a role in the movie itself. Although the movie concept was accepted and a lot of people was waiting for the movie to be released, this movie received a lot of bad comment or critic by many people who’re also the fan of old group. The movie was about three men as a CHIPS member, responsible to help police solve many problems in society but because of their act, they always screwed up and cause more trouble. The leader of CHIPS then ordered them to solve one case that was happening. Helped by beautiful and sexy girl, member of French branch of CHIPS, the four of them began a journey to solve the case.
In this movie it seems that the classic Warkop DKI comedy was almost totally change to an average Indonesian modern comedy joke where making fun of people even mocking people race and gender is the main comedy of this movie. Like I mention before, while the movie intended to revive the old comedian group character and style this movie seems like it was directed to be a new movie and using the old group as a stepping stone to be seen by many people. The setting of the movie itself doesn’t fit each other like the attire and the hair style of the protagonist supposed to be from different era from present but all the vehicle and other technology was not adjusted with it.
I picked all these three movie because the identity they have in Indonesia. A lot of people even still have the recording of their radio session when they’re all still working in prambors radio Jakarta. Many young generation was still affected by the old movie and still feel the loss of the deceased member of Warkop DKI. The other thing is how they make a comedy movie without making someone feel bad when they did it. The old Warkop movie concept on producing a comedy movie is very tolerable and accepted by many people in Indonesia regardless their status, gender, and class. The recent movie was failed to impress most of the people who watch it because it was trying too because while the expectation of the old Comedian group, Comedy itself need a creativity and originality to be a reason for it to be interesting and like by the audience. Not to mention the joke itself need to be accepted by the norm and etic that’s run in the society since it was meant to be watch nationally with people from many culture all over Indonesia. The old group was trying their best on finding a new joke and concept and when they try to make a movie based on other movie they try to put their comedy concept in it.