Comedian Basuki finds the humor in life

Comedian Basuki finds the humor in life

Emmy Fitri, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If we could choose our path in life, it is almost certain that we
would be born wealthy, have a carefree adolescence, die
peacefully and go to heaven, just like the local saying that goes
lahir kaya raya, muda foya-foya dan mati masuk surga.

However, not all of us have the privilege to have those grand
choices, and neither did comedian Basuki, if he could wish that
when he was still young.

Hardships have been a close companion for him since his
childhood. Although he has conquered a lot of his past, he has
learned from these experiences.

When he was younger, he would pedal his bicycle for three
kilometers to take his parents to work at dusk and later to pick
them up late at night. This was his routine in addition to doing
his homework and babysitting his younger siblings.

His parents both worked at night as performers at Sri
Wanito, a wayang orang (Javanese dance and opera based on
Ramayana and Mahabharata epics) group in Semarang, the capital of
Central Java.

Basuki joined Srimulat group in 1980 after his father, Suwito
Hadiwiryono, quit the wayang orang group when modern
entertainment won over audiences.

Suwito later joined Srimulat group and was popular with his
stage name Pete (a kind of bean with a pungent odor, widely eaten
raw or cooked).

As the eldest in his family, the young Basuki had to help his
parents to survive. He left high school in his second year due to
financial problems. He started a career as a dancer at the wayang
orang group where his parents used to work.

Being a comedian, however, turned out to be his real cup of
tea. His reputation was established there and his career took
off.

"That's what I call jodoh (soul mate). We never know until
we're in the middle of it. I live when I am on stage," he said
recently in an interview.

After he became successful and popular, he still finds it hard
to answer the question why he became a comedian.

"I don't know whether it was a calling, innate talent or if it
was in my veins."

Spontaneity and creativity is his main ammunition to keep on
track and be counted. He confesses though, that he is always
dreaming about being more organized with his joke ideas, which
pop up "anywhere they like".

"Frequently I come across an idea for my jokes but it's too
bad I don't jot them down because when I go to sleep and later
wake up, the idea disappears," he smirked, probably recalling his
unborn jokes.

In Srimulat group, he is paid Rp 5 million (US$555) for a
single episode, which is shown weekly on television, and gets
more for commercials and other appearances.

He drives a Nissan Terrano and lives in the upmarket Cinere
area, a far cry from his early days in Jakarta when he was
renting a room and earning Rp 1,500 per day.

He never charges for his appearances but "my manager does," he
quickly adds.

"I was recently paid with six glasses when I performed at the
Marine Headquarters. I like the glasses anyway. They have the
Marine logo embossed on them."

Compared to the money he earned in the 1980s, Basuki only
laughed and said that he only got Rp 275 an appearance and that
was so valuable to his family.

"It was the first time when I learned about professionalism,
and how I have to be responsible to make audiences laugh, because
that is what they paid for. I always felt that I had to make them
feel comfortable where they were sitting in order to enjoy the
show, and to give them a cheerful feeling, leaving their stress
behind when they went home," said Basuki, now a father of three.

Basuki now turns 46 and is considered an old face in Srimulat
group, but he is one of the leading characters that enlivens the
group. He said that he benefits from the absence of younger
people joining his group.

"Perhaps rejeki (fortune), is still ours. It's not us that do
not support the younger generation. We wish there were new faces
that could replace us," he said.

Young comedians, he criticized, were not coming up with
authentic and original jokes for audiences and some were only
doing gags with big fake moustaches, strange hair styles and
clown costumes.

The ups and downs of life on the stage has also made him
outgoing and being social with his fellow artists.

"You will never find me sitting alone or with friends in a
cafe because that's not me. I am very much a family man. I go to
work and go straight home after work," he said.

Fishing and playing badminton are his passion.

There is a price to pay for his rocketing popularity and
appearing regularly on Indosiar's Srimulat show and his
noteworthy character in Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Si Doel, the
student) sequels.

The annoying but also lovable characters are in contrast to
his serious and reticent traits in real life.

His true character obviously causes him to be distant from his
children, he said. The good thing is, he has gained respect from
them and he rules the household with an iron fist to ensure his
children grow up as good people in this crazy city.

"I rarely see my children because of my professional career. I
often feel a bit guilty," he said, adding that his children, who
are now teenagers, might understand his situation.

If living well and being popular has affected him, the
Surakarta-born Basuki has chosen not to feel bleak, stuck in
poverty, suffering from severe illness and feeling deserted, like
so many of his seniors.

"I don't want to grow old and poor and have to beg for help,"
he said.