TV stations offer special Idul Fitri packages

TV stations offer special Idul Fitri packages

JAKARTA (JP): To welcome Idul Fitri (Lebaran) on Feb. 9 and
Feb. 10, the nation's six television stations are offering a
variety of programs for TV audiences across the country.

State-owned TVRI and its Programa 2 along with private
stations TPI, RCTI, SCTV, Indosiar and AN-teve will present shows
with social and religious themes for those spending the holidays
at home with their families.

TVRI has come up with an Idul Fitri package called Nikmatnya
Mudik Lebaran (The Joys of Going Home for Lebaran), featuring
artists from the Srimulat group, Pelita group and the Betiga
group. The comedy will be shown tonight at 10:40 p.m.

Puisi, Gerak dan Lagu (Poetry, Dance and Song) is the
station's other special program that will be aired live tomorrow
at 12:30. Vina Panduwinata, Rita Effendi, Camelia Malik, Rafika
Duri, Puput Novel, the Jimmy Manopo Band and other musicians will
make appearances.

RCTI has more programs to offer and will start with coverage
of Takbir Akbar, a public gathering to glorify the Lord on the
eve of Idul Fitri, and Gema Takbir l997. The two shows will be
broadcast tonight starting at 7:40 p.m. until 10:30 p.m.

Gema Takbir will feature 700 youngsters from 67 orphanages in
Jakarta. The show will be supported by 42 artists, including
Gilang Ramadhan, Dwiki Darmawan, Gito Rollies, Krisdayanti, Eet
Shayranie, Ita Purnamasari and Rita Effendi and Maudy Koesnaedi.

The show will incorporate various folk music elements from
Gending Bali (Balinese songs), Rebana, bedug (a local drum),
Rampak Gendang and other forms of traditional percussion.

On Sunday and Monday, RCTI will air "farewell" episodes of its
popular sinetron (TV drama) program Si Doel Anak Sekolahan (Doel
the Graduate). Both episodes of Si Doel, which will resume next
season, will be broadcast at 7:30 p.m.

Hajatan Besar (A Big Party) will entertain audiences who tune
in RCTI on Tuesday night (Feb. 11) at 7:30 p.m. Titik Puspa, Gito
Rollies, Bagito group, Tarzan, Timbul, Nunung, Mamik and Cici
form the nerve center of the comedy dealing with the Wiro family.

RCTI will also carry a concert of Malay-Deli music. Produced
by Jay Subyakto and arranged by musician Erwin Gutawa, the
concert boasts a lineup of top artists like Chrisye, Yana Julio,
Ike Nurjanah, Fahmi Shahab, Iis Dahlia, Yuni Shara and Dewi Gita.

The station has not overlooked junior viewers. RCTI has
prepared an operetta called Silaturahmi presented by the Jakarta
Dance Company, the Elfa Choir and young violinists Didiet Aditya
and Sanggar Aga.

'Sinetron'

SCTV, will focus on sinetron with religious themes, including
Seharum Nafasmu Ya Ramadhan, to be aired on Sunday at 5 p.m.

Comedy lovers should tune in Sunday at 3 p.m. for Kena
Batunye, starring Titi Dwi Jayanti, Eddy Riwanto and Nazar Amir.

Lebaran Ya Lebaran on Sunday at 1 p.m. will present a mix of
traditional and modern music by artist such as Kris Dayanti, Mel
Shandy and Gito Rollies. It will be highlighted by a percussion
performance, traditional Terbang Gidor from Lamongan, East Java,
and traditional dance group, Pentasindo.

No less interesting is AN-teve's Idul Fitri lineup. Ketupat
Betawi, the work of the Empat Sekawan comedy group, airs Sunday
and Monday at 8 a.m.

Indosiar has prepared Semarak Takbir for Saturday at 7:40 p.m.
The program, dealing with the lives of people living in slum
areas, will feature the music of Bimbo, Chrisye, Rafika Duri,
Novia Kolopaking, scholar Emha Ainun Nadjib and poet Taufik
Ismail.

Education station TPI will show Helolai on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
The 48-minute children's program was jointly produced by TV
stations in four ASEAN countries, including Indonesia's TPI,
Brunei Darussalam's Radio Televisi Brunei, and Malaysia's TV 3.
Children from the four countries will present colorful folk songs
and dances in celebration of the Idul Fitri, play traditional
games and give lessons on how to make handicrafts like paper
umbrellas and angklung, a musical instrument made from bamboo.

TPI will also carry performances by the Twilite Orchestra on
Monday Feb. 10 and Saturday Feb. 15, both at 7:30 p.m. For the
first time, the orchestra will blend classic, pop and qasidah
(Arabic style) music.

Addie M.S., the conductor, said the orchestra will present a
number of religious songs, including Sang Penyeru (The Caller),
performed by the Pravita Sari Qasidah group. Dangdut singer Iis
Dahlia, together with the Twilite Chorus choir group, will
perform Bimbo's Anak Bertanya Pada Bapaknya (A Child Ask His
Father), while Elfa's Singers will perform Elfa Seciora and Wieke
Gur's Raihlah Kemenangan (Reach for Victory). The orchestra will
also perform Malay songs such as Timang-Timang Anakku Sayang,
performed by Evie Tamala, and Mochtar Embut's Bulan Ramadhan.
Teenage group AB Three will perform Suaramu, a pop song with a
religious touch. (raw)