Inul: Keeps on 'drilling' in the rain

Text and photos by Tarko Sudiarno

With a voluptuous figure and wicked hip shake, dubbed the "drill" dance, that makes Latin diva Shakira look like an innocent school girl, dangdut singer Inul Daratista has been catapulted to stardom among Indonesians.

She has become the talk of local households, and the sales of her CDs have soared along with the publicity over her dancing style.

Hailing from the dangdut (local music with strong Arab/Indian influences) scene in Pasuruan, East Java, Inul, 24, also appeals to many given her rags-to-riches story.

Conservatives and religious leaders, however, blasted her, calling her performances "immoral". Islamic authorities in several provinces have banned her from doing any sort of "drilling" in their regions, while the Indonesian Ulemas Council (MUI), has advised Inul to repent to Allah by ceasing all forms of bodily movement while performing.

Surakarta's local administration, however, recently allowed her to perform at Taman Sriwedari park, on the strict conditions that she would limit the "erotic dancing" and that her outfit was properly modest, not the painted-on, skin-hugging latex she seems to prefer.

But alas, Mother Nature works in mysterious ways. As heavy rain pounded the open-air venue soaking Inul and everybody else, her erstwhile modest outfit suddenly became a skin-hugging, see- through affair that would have made the Victoria's Secret girls jealous. So the show went on, as the rain seemed to both embolden and enliven her and the "drill" went into hyperspeed. She seemed to be sending the message, if Mother Nature condones it why should uncelestial puritans be so critical.