'Dia' hits the screen, and the street
'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.