Journalist Rudy Badil, Warkop's 'mystery man'

Amir Sidharta, Contributor, Jakarta

At the funeral of Dono, a member of the famed WarKop (Warung Kopi) comedy group who died of cancer at the end of December, the group's spokesman, Indro, reminded the public that WarKop consisted of Nanu, Kasino, Dono, Indro and Rudy Badil.

The first three members of the group have died. Now, Indro, who we know has always been the leader of the group, and Rudy Badil are the only survivors. But who is Rudy Badil?

Question: What is your current profession?

Answer: Since 1979, I have been a journalist working for the Kompas daily. (Every Saturday, Rudy Badil's witty column on social issues, Sana-sini, is published in the newspaper).

Q: What was your involvement with the WarKop group?

A: I founded Warung Kopi (WarKop) as a radio program for Radio Prambors Rasisonia, along with Nanu Mulyono (who passed away in 1983), Kasino Hadiwibowo (who died in 1998), then Dono Wahjoe Sardono, and Indrojoyo.

Q: When was the program aired?

A: The program was aired every Thursday night from 1973 until around 1979, before Warkop made its first feature film (Mana Tahan, 1979). The group's members played the role of radio station "anchormen" in a two-hour talk show, aired between 8 p.m. and 10 p.m. They criticized the situation in various cities and countries, often even touching on New Order politics. The anchormen were Acing (played by Kasino), and his uncle Ubay (Indro), while I played the role of Bang Kholik, the father of Tulloh (Nanu). The others were the discussion friends of Mas Bei (Kasino), Koh Acong (Kasino), John Batak (Nanu) and Mas Slamet (Dono).

Q: How did you get involved with the group?

A: The other members of the group were my friends who studied at the School of Social and Political Science at the University of Indonesia (UI), Rawamangun campus. I studied at the School of Literature, and I was also their senior in UI's Mapala (Student Nature Lovers) group. We used to join in student gatherings, especially during orientation week, on camping trips or other festivities that involved "books, partying and love".

Q: What was so special about WarKop?

A: Warkop pioneered "brainy humor" as opposed to slapstick buffoonery. You needed to use your brain to be able to "get it". This group also brought campus conservation into the talk show, and featured jokes and funny anecdotes that were "intellectual". Sometimes, it would mock famous songs by truncating them and blending them into other songs. For example, once the group sang Michael Jackson's Ben but suddenly it became Titiek Puspa's Surat Undangan.

Warkop's use of puns originated on campus, and so this group also became one of the mediators in the use of prokem (slang), in which the words "gua" (I) was altered to "ogut", "bapak" (father) into "bokap", and "tentara" (soldier) into "tentokar". This language survives until this day.

Q: What did you think of Warkop's entry onto the silver screen?

A: Of course, that marked the decline of the group's original style, which eventually did disappear, because it had to submit to the requests of the director and his cheap scenario.

Fortunately, the group still managed to take part in some stage shows and other events, so Warkop's original form survived until the Bagito group emerged, followed by other urban and campus comedians.

Q: Was there any friction between those who did not take part in the film and those who acted?

A: Not at all. Instead, I always received an honorarium from each film as a goodwill gesture, as I was one of the group's founders. I also received a minicab, a CJ7 jeep and an expensive watch, in addition to cash.

Q: But you eventually joined Kompas? Was that after or before the first Warkop film?

A: I did take a look at the first scenario of Warkop's "scary" comedy film, Mana Tahan, which was directed by Nawi Ismail. Before joining Kompas, in 1978-79, I interned as assistant director for Teguh Karya's November 1828 and Slamet Rahardjo's Rembulan dan Matahari in 1980. Therefore, my mind continued to be "idealistic", and frankly I was afraid of playing in films because I felt I did not have the talent and I never wanted to become a "movie star". Instead, I always wanted to take part in adventures in forests, crossing rivers and climbing mountains!

Q: How was your relationship with the members of the group before Nanu, Kasino and Dono passed away?

A: We always met, talked and exchanged ideas. Sometimes, I still acted as a "gag writer", who were scarce in those days.

Q: Does your experience with WarKop affect your work today?

A: Yes, it gives me the spirit to always look for new ideas and present them in a kind of "brainy" humor, so that it does not become too serious and dry.