TV stations to air Ramadhan specials
TV stations to air Ramadhan specials
By Rita A. Widiadana
JAKARTA (JP): The fasting month brings religion into all
aspects of Moslems' lives. During Ramadhan, all Moslems should
become more aware of their religious duties and make every effort
to stay within the religious boundaries.
Television stations are aware of this and cater to the needs
of their Moslem viewers. The state and private television
stations compete to present the best Ramadhan programs. Each
station tries to create innovative programs to draw larger Moslem
audiences.
The private television stations bring in celebrities, public
figures and top businesspeople in an attempt to make their
programs more interesting. On offer are talk shows, religious
forums, quizzes, television dramas and music performances.
Zoraya Perucha, Corporate Communications Manager of privately-
owned AN-Teve, said the station has been carefully selecting
programs for the Ramadhan fasting month.
"We have Mutiara Ramadhan (The Ramadhan Paragon) hosted by
famous cartoonist G.M. Sudarta," she said.
Sudarta, from the Kompas daily newspaper, will interview
former minister of home affairs Rudini, rock singer Mel Shandi,
entertainer Dolce Gamalama, former minister of justice Ismail
Saleh, Minister of Health Sujudi and banker I Nyoman Moena. He
will summarize the discussions into caricatures.
Bursa Musik Ramadhan is another AN-Teve program which
features various Moslem musicians. Bursa Musik will temporarily
replace MTV Asia.
Sahur, Sahur has been produced to accompany viewers during the
sahur dawn breakfast. The program features various discussions
involving Moslems in all walks of life. It also includes a direct
question-and-answer session and a quiz for the audience.
Two Islamic films, The Holy Kaaba and The Mihrab, will
highlight AN-teve's Ramadhan package. The Holy Kaaba tells the
history of the Ka'ba in Mecca. The film also tells about Adam and
Eve and all the Moslem prophets. The Mihrab is a story of a wise
grandfather who tries to teach his beloved grandson about life.
The film is enlivened by beautiful poetry reading and song.
Private TV station RCTI will stop screening a number of sex-
orientated shows like Baywatch and Acapulco Heat during the holy
month.
Between Jan. 21 and Feb. 19, RCTI will broadcast 30 episodes
of a television drama entitled Tawakal. It ill be shown at 5 p.m.
Mimbar Ramadhan (Ramadhan Forum), a Koran recital and direct
question-and-answer forum, will be screened just before the fast
breaking time.
RCTI will also air live coverage of the tarawih prayer from
the Al-Haram Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia at midnight. The
program will be followed at 3:00 a.m. by an imported series
entitled Muhammad Rasul Allah (The Prophet Muhammad). The
Ramadhan program will be closed by a Koran recital before the
dawn prayer.
Surprisingly, Indosiar, which aired a very limited number of
Ramadhan programs in l995, will open the Ramadhan fasting month
with various informative programs this year.
Indosiar has chosen members of the Bimbo music group to host
Irama Ramadhan, a 30-minute program of music and interviews. The
program, to be broadcast between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. everyday
during Ramadhan, will feature many prominent ulemas and
celebrities. Among the guests are singers Nia Daniati and Kris
Dayanti, as well as ulemas KH Abdurrahman Arroisi, H. Zakky
Mubarak and Nibras OR Salim.
Irama Rhoma Irama will be hosted by top dangdut musician Rhoma
Irama. Rhoma will present his religious songs and host a talk
show. He will interview celebrities, lawyers, government
officials, athletes, journalists and teachers. Indosiar will
broadcast his program between 6 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Indosiar will also air Bulan Seribu Bulan (The Month of the
Thousand Months), a 30-episode television drama exploring
religious themes from the Hadists and the Koran.
Educational TV station TPI is offering a number of religious
forums such as Mozaik Ramadhan. It will involve ulemas, artists,
businesspeople and other public figures. The program, hosted by
Mira Handayani, will be screened every day at 3:30 a.m., starting
on Jan. 21.
TPI will also screen Bingkisan Ramadhan, a mix between a talk
show, quiz and Islamic forum. The 30-minute program, hosted by
young artists Vini Alvionita and Wess Ibnu Say, will appear every
day before the breaking of the fast. The hosts will interview top
artists Titik Puspa, Nanny Wijaya, Neno Warisman, Marissa Haque
and Ebiet G.Ade, rock singer Harry Moekti, film producer Rahayu
Effendi, writer Motinggo Busye, businessman and artist Setiawan
Jodi, House of Representatives member Aisyah Amini and model
Ratih Sanggarwati.
Viewers are also able to take part in the discussions and
quizzes, either by phone or by sending postcards to the station.
The station will continue its Documentary on Islam and the
Kuliah Subuh morning sermon. In addition to these local programs,
TPI will also run films on the history of Islam, including Al
Bukhari and Rabiah HZ.
Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8 a.m., TPI will visit
Islamic boarding schools throughout the country on Gema
Pesantren .
Unlike the private television stations, which offer attractive
Ramadhan programs, the state-owned TVRI station will present
government-made programs on things like how to distribute zakat
(obligatory donation).
In the first week of Ramadhan, TVRI plans to run Selamat
Datang Ramadhan (Welcome Ramadhan) and Hikmah Ramadhan (The
Blessing of Ramadhan), which will be aired every day just before
the breaking of the fast. Another program, Celah-Celah, features
various religious activities occurring during the fasting month.
SCTV has created many local programs to welcome the fasting
month. Hikayat Pengembara, a story of the wanderer, is a
television drama supported by top artists like Deddy Mizwar, Dewi
Yull, Dwi Yan and Anwar Fuadi. The 30-episode drama, which is
rich with religious messages, will be screened from Jan. 22,
between 5.30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Tiada Tuhan Selain Allah and Di Ambang Fajar, both locally-
produced dramas made specially for the fasting month, will also
be aired on SCTV.