Classic literature turned into a new television drama

Classic literature turned into a new television drama

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

The success of TV Quiz Siapa Berani? (Who Dares?) has propelled
its creator and co-host Helmy Yahya into the limelight of
television production. Now, he embarks into alien territory by
producing TV drama Anak Perawan di Sarang Penyamun (A Virgin in
Bandits's lair).

The TV drama marks a debut for Helmy's production house PT
Triwarsa and is a loose adaptation from classic Indonesian
literature of the same title by famed author Sutan Takdir
Alisjahbana.

"We wanted to do something new for our first production,
something different from other productions, that's why we chose a
theme from classic literature," Helmy said at press gathering
here.

After spending three years producing non-drama television
shows, Helmy said he felt it was time to begin exploring new
drama series.

"But I don't want to just plunge into drama without looking.
I'm not a drama person, that's why I went and looked around for
experienced people," Helmy explained.

Bringing in seasoned actor Alex Komang into the production
does not hurt either. Five-time winner of the Citra (Indonesian
equivalent of the Oscars), Alex will play ruthless bandit
Medasing who falls in love with his hostage, Sayu (played by
Meisya Najelina).

Anak Perawan will focus mainly on the love story between
Medasing and Sayu.

"It won't stray far from the original story, but we explored
more in the family scenes and scenes in the forest," director
Herly Wahyono said.

Cast in a village in South Sumatra, the story tells of a girl
-- Sayu -- who was forced to live with the bandits who had robbed
and killed her father and left her mother (played by Asmiar
Yahya) for dead.

Under the protection of Medasing, the chief of bandits, Sayu
was saved from molestation by the other bandits, including from
the informant Samad (played by Eeng Saptahadi).

The bandits' lair was far into the forest in South Sumatra and
Sayu was too afraid of wild animals in the forest to run away,
instead cooked and cleaned for the bandits.

Being a bandit is precarious and one by one Medasing's
original group dies. Medasing, too, comes back badly wounded
after a raid and had to be taken care of by Sayu.

Medasing is finally persuaded to leave the forest and look for
Sayu's remaining parent in the village. Through the following
days both Medasing's and Sayu's feelings towards each other began
to soften.

"(My role) is about a bandit learning to be civilized," Alex
Komang described, adding that his character was complex with a
blend of good and evil and a dash of "gray area" to measure.

"He's not all white, nor is he all black. A man's character
isn't all that simple, otherwise how very easy it would be for me
to play an all black character," he said.

Anak Perawan began shooting on July 1 and is expected to
screen 26 episodes on private television station Indosiar in
October this year.

Besides Anak Perawan, Triwarsa has also prepared the
production of Cinta Disaput Awan (Love Shrouded by Clouds) -- a
TV drama based on another classic novel Atheis (Atheist) by
Achdiat Kartamihardja, as well as Mentari Rekah (Rising Sun) and
comedy series Tessy "Detektif Partikelir" (Tessy "Private
Detective") featuring famous comedian Tessy.