Comedian Butet Kartaredjasa: Feel the power of the smile
Comedian Butet Kartaredjasa: Feel the power of the smile
By Maria Endah Hulupi
JAKARTA (JP): A sincere smile can radiate its warmth not only
to the one you talk to but also to other people around you.
That is famous comedian Butet Kartaredjasa's theory which he
fielded in a recent seminar on the meaning of a smile.
He insisted that a sincere smile could only emanate from an
earnest social interaction. But unfortunately, many people, who
are obliged to smile as a part of their job, are often forced to
display a mechanical smile.
"That kind of smile is nothing but a routine smile which has
no charm thus won't make any difference," he said, in the seminar
titled Senyum dong biar plong (Smile and feel relieved) organized
by Senior health tabloid.
He explained that a "mechanical smile" is made by simply
pulling up the upper lip, displaying an array of upper teeth that
ends up looking like a mere smirk.
"It's not wrong actually, but I see it as a sign of
dishonesty. When I meet such people I always tease them to make
them laugh or at least make them show a sincere and spontaneous
smile. That's what I want," he said.
"But I don't blame them (people who fake a smile), because I'm
not a man whose hobby is playing the blaming game," he said with
former president Soeharto's accent, which is Butet's forte.
The audience burst into laughter.
After a brief explanation on the flirtatious smile to attract
the opposite sex, he discussed the cynical smile, the arrogant
smile before talking about "the smiling general" -- an
affectionate reference to Soeharto.
The general's smile, he said, is "beautiful but heartless."
"This particular man always showed his sweetest smile to the
public and spoke calmly in television interviews. Yet at the same
time his smile concealed ruthless intentions. He would smile when
speaking of vicious murders of many innocent people, stamped as
communist supporters without them being given the opportunity to
defend themselves in court. Many women and children were left
destitute," he said, again mentioning no names.
Once he finished the sentence the audience clapped and
shouted, asking him to be more specific.
Butet paused for a while and changed his facial expression.
"Lha kalo memang Gali itu kejam pada masyarakat, ya sudah kita
habisken saja," he said while the audience exploded in laughter.
The phrase means "If thugs really are cruel and ruthless to the
people, we'll just finish them off"-- again in a Soeharto accent.
Butet's funny comments and anecdotes could enliven a
discussion that would otherwise be boring.
Before the discussion started, Butet, who apparently didn't
feel well, arrived wearing a shawl and a sweat shirt. He sat
quietly at a table and puffed incessantly on a cigarette. He
looked rather melancholy.
"I think people perceive me as a person who always smiles or
makes other people smile. But sometimes I too want to have the
right to frown, especially when I don't feel well like right
now," he said seriously but still with a funny face.
For many, Butet's jovial face is synonymous with nasty jokes.
So even when he grimaces in pain, people around him may think he
is clowning around.
It often happens that when I am angry at my children, they
(his kids) will say 'oh, dad is acting' and they will leave me
alone.
"Like what's happening now ... you don't believe me when I
tell you I'm sick. That's why I'm wearing this shawl and sweater
-- to convince everybody I am not well," he added with a funny
look.
"Urrghh...urrghh" he coughed heavily, which was for real.
"Even my cough is considered part of the act," he sighed to the
laughter of the audience.
He described his life as "full of laughter", even related to
subjects like death or highly sensitive issues concerning
religions "Usually from an informal gathering like this we strike
fresh creative ideas," he said.
When talking about his idols, he said he idolized people who
are "truly respectable, honest and of integrity, unbent by the
corrupt world." Then he mentioned the late Mahatma Gandhi, the
late Romo Mangunwijaya and Pak Jenggot, a resident of Kedungombo,
Central Java, who has defended his small house and fellow common
people from losing their property to make way for a reservoir
project.
And don't think Butet likes just any jokes. He enjoys only
smart, effortless and original jokes that contain something
philosophical for the audience to ponder on.
"I can find them sometimes in the comedy shows of Srimulat,
Ketoprak Humor, Teater Koma and Baso shows," he said.
In his next project he stars in a 13-episode situational
comedy titled Badut pasti berlalu, a love story that adopts
themes taken from prevailing social hypocrisy. His mission is to
lampoon personalities involved in current events.
The program is a joint production between Teater Gandrik of
Yogyakarta and private TV station Indosiar. The shooting started
on July 2 and will continue until late September. The show will
hopefully be aired early next year.
"I play a hypocrite named Ray, which is a short for Ra isin
(Javanese for 'have no shame')," Butet said, citing that the
westernized nick names are used to emphasize the characters'
false personalities.
At one point of the discussion, he admitted that his first
name -- a common name for girls -- was a mistake. "A mistake
which I am sincerely thankful for," he smiled.