DJ Ida Arimurti speaks from the heart
By T. Sima Gunawan
JAKARTA (JP): She kept changing her mind, but then, most kids do.
"As a child, I had many dreams, which changed every time. When I saw a pilot, I wanted to become a pilot. When I could draw a little, I wanted to become an architect," recalled Ida Arimurti.
Today she enjoys great fame as one of the most popular radio announcers in town.
Ida not only gets flowers from her fans, but also food.
"There is a family who often sends me food. Sometimes they prepare it especially for me upon their children's request," she said.
Once she got a surprise call from a woman who demanded to know about Ida's affair with her husband.
"I said I didn't know him, but she didn't believe me. She later came to the studio and told me that she found my picture in her husband's wallet," Ida said.
It turned out that the jealous woman had not asked him about the picture. Things became clear after Ida told her to call her husband and talk to him, who explained to her that he was just one of Ida's fans.
Ida, 30, is on Radio Female 102 FM every weekday morning. She joined the station two years ago after cutting her announcers' teeth for 16 years.
Like most kids, she never thought of a career in radio broadcasting.
Little Ida liked dancing. She learned traditional dances from choreographer Sampan Hismanto when she was an elementary school student. Ida was so good that she was asked to teach at a dance school when she was in junior high school.
She also liked poetry and drama.
"Once I got a leading role in a play performed at Taman Ismail Marzuki," she said.
Artist Renny Djajusman was one of her teachers.
She got her first taste of broadcasting in 1980, when she was a guest announcer at Radio Prambors, then the city's most popular radio station for young people.
"I just wanted to try it," she said.
She started to be serious in 1982, working with Radio Amigos.
In 1984, Radio Prambors hired Ida. Every morning, she and another broadcaster, Krisna Purwana, were heard in Porsi Kamu (Your Portion) and the Ida and Krisna Show, the radio station's best selling program. They talked to listeners and interviewed public figures. People liked her voice, her sense of humor, and, especially, her loud laughter. She became famous.
"Talk naturally. Speak from your heart," is the secret of her success.
Ida and Krisna were going strong when they were offered a new challenge 10 years later. Radio Prambors set up a new broadcasting station, Radio Female, and they were asked to come along.
"My boss said I had no more challenges at Prambors. I had been successful in creating my own image, my color, in Porsi Kamu. My boss said that after 10 years, I must want more," Ida said.
It was 1994, when Ida was 28 years old. Radio Prambors targets 15 to 25 year olds, while Radio Female's audience is women between 25 and 35 years old.
"So, I guess my boss was right. But my house was in Menteng (Central Jakarta), while the new studio was in Serpong (West Java). That was really far. So I told my boss I would move only if the studio was closer. And they moved the radio station to Bintaro (Tangerang, West Java)," Ida said.
"At that time, you can say that there was no commercial in the radio until Krisna and I joined it. And now there is a long queue of commercials. Maybe people are Ida and Krisna fanatics and they look for us."
The Radio Female program is also called the Ida and Krisna Show.
Ida and Krisna have their own roles. Ida mostly deals with the interviews while Krisna jokes a lot. They also have three reporters and a producer. They all make the weekly evaluation and plan together.
"I need reporters to find the data about the people I want to interview. Basically, they give me the raw materials and I make the questions," she said.
Ida enjoys being at Radio Female even though she has to get up before dawn to cook, not only for herself, but also for her colleagues in the studio.
"I bring my breakfast to the studio but how can I eat if my colleagues don't eat?" said Ida, who likes cooking and eats hot meals for breakfast.
The eldest of eight siblings, Ida now lives in a house in Bougenville Garden in Bekasi, with a sister.
At five in the morning she leaves home. Her show starts a few minutes after the six o'clock news, and ends at 10 a.m. She usually stays until noon, and continues her activities in other places.
Her activities include doing commercial voice overs, teaching at broadcasting schools and working as a emcee and public relations officer. Sometimes she speaks at seminars.
Ida likes jogging, aerobics and swimming. At least once a week she plays golf. She loves traveling and has been to most parts of the United States and Europe. She also likes music and movies. She likes listening to Michael Franks, Al Jarrau and Earth, Wind and Fire. Tom Cruise, Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks and Jodie Foster are her favorite actors.
"I like Tom Cruise because he is handsome but I like Robert De Niro and Tom Hanks for their acting," she said.
Her favorite movies are The Sound of Music, Pretty Woman, The Lion King and Star Trek movies.
Ida used to be involved in television. She worked for the state-owned TVRI from 1988 to 1992.
"I resigned not because I failed, but I couldn't concentrate on two things at the same time," she said.
She received some offers to sing and play in television dramas, but refused.
"It's not because I don't feel I can do it. But I don't want people to think that I am a person who wants this and that, a person who wants all," she said.
"I am happy with what I am now. I can play sports, I have time to have fun with my friends. If I have too many activities, how can I manage my time? And what if my album is not good?
"I composed songs. It was a long time ago. I wrote songs for Vonnie Sumlang, Irianti Erningpraja, Neno Warisman, Fariz RM and many others," she said.
Ida said she no longer composes songs because she is never in the mood.
A 1992 graduate of the School of Law at the University of Pancasila, Ida does not seem to be interested in a legal career.
Law
Asked about the government-sponsored broadcasting bill which is still under deliberation by the House of Representatives, Ida said she did not follow the issue closely.
"But I am sure there are things which are positive and negative in the bill," she reasoned.
Indonesia does not have a law on broadcasting. Currently, broadcasters operate under various government regulations, which give the state-run television network TVRI and its sister RRI a monopoly which requires private stations to relay their news program. The controversial bill, which provides no guarantees on freedom of expression, justifies the monopoly.
Ida said the government should give private electronic media a bigger chance to produce their own news, and relax the obligation to rely for news from RRI and TVRI.
"Every second is valuable for private broadcasters, especially during prime time. You know, private broadcasters generate their income from commercials," she explained.
Ida called for more press freedom because Indonesia is a democratic country. On the other hand, she said, the press should not abuse the freedom by reporting sensitive news which might make people fret.
Ida is single and will continue to work after she is married only if her future husband does not mind.
"It seems that he will allow me to work," she said.
What if he does not like her working outside the house?
"It depends on the reason. If I can accept his reason, why not? I don't mind being a housewife because my mother is not a career woman, either. I think it is a noble duty," she said.
"I have a projection for the future, for my future need, husband, children. But I don't want to dream high. I don't want to think like that. I am doing what I can do now. I try to be flexible, make adjustments. If the future condition does not fit me, I don't want to force myself. What is certain is that at this moment I want to go on with my career as a broadcaster. I have to be committed with my work. I have to produce good a show."