'Dia' hits the screen, and the street

Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

If one should happen to drive through Jl. Jend. Sudirman in Central Jakarta, it is likely that one would see a billboard for new TV drama Dia (Her).

This might seem a little odd because no other Indonesian TV dramas, known here as sinetron, have ever bothered to advertise their programs on a billboard.

With thousands of other TV dramas offered by television stations these days, maybe MD Entertainment's approach is the right one to get the public curious about the production house's first sinetron.

A star-studded production, at first glance Dia might just be another sinetron selling the big names of Ari Wibowo, Teuku Ryan, and Lulu Tobing, for lack of a strong storyline.

"I can't tell you what is special about the sinetron, you will have to find that out yourself," the producers said, explaining further that whether each drama about romance, Betawi (indigenous Jakarta residents) culture, or family dramas, each genre of sinetron had its own followers.

The producers, Dhamoo and Manoj Punjabi, said they were not only selling the stars but the story as well, as "if the story's lame, people will not watch it even if it is studded with stars."

The title Dia has two meanings -- it means "her" or "she", but is also short for Nadia, the female interest of the story played by Lulu Tobing.

The story is a classic love triangle. Popular campus girl Nadia falls in love with Isma (Teuku Ryan), the only son of a rich father, who attends the same university.

As the two plan their wedding, an old flame, Ivan (Ari Wibowo) arrives on the scene and attempts to capture Nadia's love, playing on Isma's weaknesses and mistakes.

The conflict arises because Nadia's mother is an employee at a company owned by Ivan's parents and is a close acquaintance of the family. Nadia is torn between two interests, her love for Isma and her mother's wish that she and Ivan be united.

"The story starts off with campus life, but then progresses to household conflicts," private TV station Indosiar director Riyadi Paryanto said. He said the 8:30 p.m. time slot was specifically chosen because the sinetron was more adult orientated.

Dia premiered on July 24, 2003, and will air every Thursday on Indosiar at 8:30 p.m.