Poet and director Asrul Sani laid to rest

The Jakarta Post, Jakarta

Renowned poet and film director Asrul Sani was buried in the Menteng Pulo public cemetery on Monday after his body was taken to the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center for a prayer ceremony at around 10 a.m.

His sister-in-law Ratna Sarumpaet, who is a noted playwright, said Asrul had once said he did not want to be buried at the Heroes Cemetery, even though many said he deserved it for his outstanding achievements.

"He preferred to be buried in a public cemetery," Sarumpaet was quoted by Antara as saying.

Those who paid their last respects at the arts center included film directors, poets and artists such as Christine Hakim, Nani Wijaya, Leny Marlina, Putu Wijaya, Jajang C. Noer, Chaerul Umam, Hary Capri, Cok Simbara and Idris Sardi.

Senior journalist Rosihan Anwar and former Jakarta governor Ali Sadikin were also present.

Asrul passed away at around 10 p.m. on Sunday night at the age of 76. He had been chronically ill. Ten minutes later his elder brother Chairul Basri also died at his home on Jl. Prambanan in Menteng, Central Jakarta.

Asrul was survived by his wife, actress Mutiara Sarumpaet, and three sons and three daughters.

Rosihan Anwar said that with the death of Asrul, the nation had lost a "rare figure" with capabilities in various fields.

"He was a big figure, particularly in developing arts in Indonesia," the senior journalist said.

A similar comment was made by film director and dramatist Putu Wijaya, who said Asrul was a talented artist who had achieved many great things.

Asrul was working on the concept for a television series titled Kejarlah Daku (Chase Me), based on his movie Kejarlah Daku, Kau Kutangkap (Chase me, I'll catch you), which won him the Piala Citra award for best movie in 1986.

Born in Rao, West Sumatra on June 10, 1927, the founder of the Indonesian Play Academy (ATNI) was widely known as a prominent figure in Indonesia's literary and film world.

With two other Indonesian modern poets, Chairil Anwar and Rivai Apin, Asrul wrote the masterpiece Tiga Menguak Takdir (The Three Reveal Fate).

Besides writing poems, Asrul also wrote short stories, literary essays, and translated several great literary works into Indonesian.

He also wrote and directed his own plays.

The first movie he directed was Titian Serambut Dibelah Tujuh (A hair-thin bridge divided by seven) in 1959. But his masterpieces were Di Bawah Lindungan Kabah (On the sanctuary of Ka'bah) and Apa yang Kaucari Palupi? (What are you looking for, Palupi?), the latter won him the 1970 Asian Film Festival's best movie award.