Ayushita and Dennis Adhiswara Become the Talk of the Neighbors Due to Not Having Children Yet

Kapanlagi.com - Ayushita returns to the big screen with her role as Murni in the film COCOTE TONGGO directed by Bayu Skak. In this film, she is paired with Dennis Adhiswara who plays her husband, Luki. This film produced by Tobali Film and Skak Studios tells the story of a couple selling herbal medicine who have yet to be blessed with children. This theme resonates with the lives of many people as it touches on issues that often occur in social environments.

"Well, that’s it, this film indeed wants to capture the phenomenon of nosy neighbors. Nosy neighbors are not only found in real life, but they also exist on social media, perhaps," said Ayushita when met in the Cilandak area, South Jakarta, on Tuesday (15/4/2025).

According to Ayushita, COCOTE TONGGO raises a universal topic that can be felt by all circles. She hopes that the audience can share in the emotional experience of this film.

"That’s why the theme of this film is very universal, everyone can feel it, both offline and online. Hopefully, the charming moments can be felt by all the audience here and they can turn the annoyance of nosy neighbors into a strength to rise again," she said.

1. Take References From the Experiences of Close Friends

When building her character, Ayushita admitted to taking references from the experiences of her close friends. The little things that seem trivial to her can actually represent the real social conditions.

"Maybe because they are older, it’s like they’ve become distant, or perhaps they are too focused on their own lives that I don’t understand. But, for this film, sometimes I actually get insights from my friend who just got married and moved to an area where they didn’t grow up, so it’s like becoming a new resident there," Ayushita said.

From that experience, Ayushita absorbed a lot of input to delve into the character of Murni. Even small comments from neighbors can become a burden for someone.

"I got insights from that, so sometimes, it’s really funny, they’re just moving, and then the neighbors are like 'oh, new TV huh?', even though it’s just moving from their old house, things like that, you know," she said.

2. A Very Relevant Theme

© KapanLagi.com/Fikri Alfi Rosyadi

As a married couple in the film, Ayushita and Dennis carry the burden of characters who often face social pressure regarding offspring. They realize this theme is very relevant and can resonate with many viewers.

"It's just that in COCOTE TONGGO, we both as husband and wife have issues like what was shown in the trailer, that we can't have children, which happens a lot in life, I mean it doesn't have to be with neighbors, even with family, it's often like, 'When? When?' so there's pressure," Ayushita explained.

Meanwhile, Dennis Adhiswara has personal reasons for accepting the role of Luki. He felt it was heavy because the story in this film is very close to his personal life.

"So actually when I was offered this role, it was about 40 days before shooting, really 40 days," Dennis said.

When reading the script, Dennis felt increasingly connected to the story. He felt the lines in the script reflected his personal experiences with his partner.

"Honestly, when I first heard it, I was a bit shocked because it was similar to my personal life, which is currently going through a child program and trying to have a child. I kept wondering about it," he said.

3. Had Doubts, But...

© KapanLagi.com/Fikri Alfi Rosyadi

Doubts arose because he felt that this story touched his emotional side too much. However, that was precisely what strengthened his conviction to take part in this film.

"I kept asking myself repeatedly, am I the right person for this, am I supposed to be here, even though I was having a bit of a panic attack, it felt too close, especially after I studied the script, the lines spoken by our characters and the judgmental character, it felt like something we had heard before," he said.

Dennis then decided to change his perspective so that his role could inspire viewers who are experiencing similar situations. He felt that this film could be a medium to share experiences.

"I was nervous there, but what made me confident was, wait, maybe this feeling is also felt by other couples who are trying to have children, that’s when I immediately changed my perspective instead of being afraid it’s better for this film to follow my point of view, to encourage friends who are trying to have children, so I joined in, and I met all my friends, honestly it felt like storytelling together was really enjoyable," he expressed.

The film COCOTE TONGGO will be released in theaters starting May 15, 2025. This film uses 80 percent Mataraman Javanese and the rest Indonesian, featuring a lineup of actors such as Benidictus Siregar, Asri Welas, and Sundari Soekotjo.

(kpl/far/ums)