'Si Unyil' is back, with a fresh touch
Tantri Yuliandini, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Some 21 years back, almost every child knew Si Unyil, a popular puppet show aired by state television TVRI. Now, while those who had watched and enjoyed the show are already grown up and maybe have kids of their own, a new version of the show will hit the air on Sunday.
The new show, which is expected to once again become a phenomenon for Indonesians of all ages, is named after its main character, Unyil, supposedly the epitome of an ideal Indonesian child.
Many of the show's main characters, even today, have gone on to immortality. Unyil, for instance, became a favorite nickname for a boy.
The names of other major characters have also become by-words in Indonesian society today. Just name Pak Ogah and a picture of an illegal traffic warden standing at an intersection demanding money from passing cars comes to mind. The label is derived from one of the more famous characters of the same name who demands Rp 100 for each service that he does for other people, and when denied, comes back with an "ogah ah" (no way).
Other famous characters include the grouchy Pak Raden and the rujak (fresh fruit with spicy peanut sauce) seller Bu Bariah who is famous for her thick Madurese accent. Both characters have led Soejadi and Merry Hakim -- voices for Pak Raden and Bu Bariah respectively, toward nationwide recognition and stardom.
The new series starts tomorrow, April 21 on private television RCTI and will be aired every Sunday at 10 a.m.
RCTI's section head for media relations Mita Nurani said that despite the fact the show had stopped running since 1992, as an entertainment medium, Si Unyil, was still very much alive and popular.
"Unyil is actually still very relevant to this day and age. The show is still a very good medium to convey educational messages to children," she said in an interview.
With today's popularity of animated cartoons especially from Japan, it is important to revive the popularity of Si Unyil among the younger generation, she added.
"It's a challenge of course, but supported by a strong story line and content, I'm sure that Unyil will gain the popularity it had in the past," Mita said.
To appeal to the younger, Doraemon-lovers of today, Unyil has been given a facelift. Gone are the black peci and sarong, today's Unyil is more hip with up-to-date fashion and does not cringe when faced with a computer or video games.
The new show, unlike the previous dull rural setting, is now set in an urban atmosphere. "We want the new Unyil to be closer to today's children," Mita said.
Best of all, the new Unyil will no longer convey the government's messages, the thing which made the old show's 10- year-old character sound like some 30-year-old man instead of a child.
And physically, the puppets' rigid faces will appear more lifelike with blinking eyes and moving lips.
Si Unyil will still be produced by Perum Produksi Film Negara (PFN) but with different voices. Now, Irvan Adriansyah (previously Bambang Oetojo) is the voice of Unyil, Hamid (previously Setiawan) is the voice of Pak Ogah, Maria CS is the voice of Bu Bariah and Herman W.M. is the voice of Pak Raden. So children, let's check it out.