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.