'Si Doel' still maintains its popularity<\/p>\n
By Sri Ramadani<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Come Monday evening many people are glued to the
\nTV screen watching Si Doel Anak Sekolahan V (Doel the Graduate),
\none of the most popular local programs -- and one of the best.<\/p>\n
Si Doel, a comedy series about the lives of a group of Betawi
\npeople, has long been a favorite among TV viewers. It is even
\nwell-known among Indonesian communities in countries as far away
\nas the Middle East -- a restaurant in Saudi Arabia is named after
\nDoel.<\/p>\n
While Si Doel airs only once a week (Indosiar, 7:30 p.m.),
\nRano Karno, who plays Doel, and other actors from the show, such
\nas Suti Karno -- Rano's real-life sister who plays Doel's sister
\n-- Mandra, Basuki, Aminah Cendrakasih, Maudy Koesnadi and
\nCornelia Agatha, appear in TV commercials every day. They pitch
\nvarious products, ranging from motorcycles, televisions,
\nrefrigerators and washing machines to mosquito repellents,
\nsarongs and balm. In addition, they can also be seen in public
\nservice ads like the Anti-Polio Drive and the School Drive
\nCampaign. Rano was also the first Indonesian ambassador to the
\nUnited Nations Children's Fund (Unicef).<\/p>\n
Si Doel, directed and produced by Rano Karno, was named
\nfavorite and best sinetron (TV program) at the Indonesian
\nSinetron Festival in 1995 and again in 1996.<\/p>\n
The series first appeared on RCTI early in 1994. Following its
\nearly success, sequels began to appear -- again and again.<\/p>\n
The first three sequels included Benyamin Sueb as Bang Beni,
\nDoel's father, a prominent member of the Betawi arts circle. The
\nactor died of a heart attack in 1995 and accordingly the story
\nline was adjusted. Pak Tile, who played Doel's grandfather, died
\nin late-1998 and this was also mentioned in the program.<\/p>\n
Si Doel is the story of a typical Betawi family facing the
\nchallenges of a changing society. Much of the action in the
\nseries takes place in the day-to-day surroundings most people
\nfind themselves in, which is one of the strengths of the program.
\nFocusing on an average family in typical surroundings brings the
\nshow its freshness and sets it apart from other sinetron, which
\noften tell of love intrigues or just sell dreams.<\/p>\n
Doel is the only child in the family to have enjoyed a
\nuniversity education, but he finds it difficult to find a job.
\nHis uncle Mandra drives an old minibus and tries to hide his
\nilliteracy, while trying to win the heart of the next-door
\nJavanese girl, Nunung, the younger sister of Karyo, played by
\nBasuki. (Nunung and Basuki are members of the popular Srimulat
\ncomedy group). Interestingly, Basuki, who does not get along well
\nwith Mandra, falls in love with his niece, Atun.<\/p>\n
As for Doel, he is loved by two women -- Sarah (Cornelia
\nAgatha), who is from a well-off family, and Zaenab (Maudy
\nKoesnadi), a modest Betawi woman.<\/p>\n
It is in Si Doel V, which consists of 26 episodes, that Doel
\nmust decide which woman to choose.<\/p>\n
Si Doel is not an original story. It was based on the wide-
\nscreen comedy Si Doel Anak Modern (Doel, a Modern Guy), directed
\nby the late Sjumandjaja, who examined the ways in which Betawi
\nsociety and culture was changing in accordance with the
\ndevelopment of Jakarta. The movie, which starred Benyamin Sueb,
\nChristin Hakim and rock singer Ahmad Albar, while a comedy,
\ncontained pointed social criticism of the people of Jakarta. The
\nmovie was adapted from the story Si Doel Anak Jakarta (Doel, a
\nJakarta Guy) by H. Aman Datuk Mojoindo.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/si-doel-still-maintains-its-popularity-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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