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.