Fadli Zon Remembers Ray Sahetapy: A Resilient Artist Who Inspired

Kapanlagi.com - Ray Sahetapy, a senior actor known for his various roles in Indonesian cinema, passed away at the Army Central Hospital (RSPAD) Gatot Soebroto on Tuesday (1/4/2025) night. His departure left a deep sorrow for many, including Indonesia's Minister of Culture, Fadli Zon.

"First, of course, as the Minister of Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, I express my condolences to the family of the late Bang Ray Sahetapy, an artist, a cultural figure, someone I think is complete, whom I have known for quite a long time," he stated when met at the Sentosa funeral home (Gatot Subroto) Block C, Wednesday (2/4/2025).

Fadli Zon reminisced about his relationship with Ray Sahetapy that has been established since the early 1990s. At that time, he often visited Oncor Studio, a theater community initiated by Ray. In fact, the two of them traveled together to Russia in 1996, where Fadli Zon spoke at Moscow State University, witnessed directly by Ray.

"At that time, Oncor Studio was still around, just recently established. So I often came almost every week to his house. And we also went together to Russia in 1996. And Bang Ray also witnessed me speaking at Moscow State University. So I often walked around Russia with him back then," he recalled.

1. Great Loss

As an actor, Ray Sahetapy has had a long and accomplished career. The films he starred in, such as GADIS, A CUP OF BITTER COFFEE, and THE RAID, are proof of his greatness in the world of acting. Fadli Zon also considers Ray to be a tough actor with extraordinary qualities.

"And of course, we feel the loss of Ray Sahetapy, an actor who I think is very tough, and his acting is extraordinary, his achievements are also remarkable when we look at his early films, if I'm not mistaken, GADIS, yes, that one. The early 1980s, A CUP OF BITTER COFFEE, and many more," he said.

Ray Sahetapy's departure leaves a void in the Indonesian film industry. Fadli Zon hopes that there will be many successors who can continue his legacy and continue to draw inspiration from the works he has left behind.

"Yes, we really feel the loss. Because he indeed passed away due to illness, we hope there will be many successors. And he also inspired a lot, I think. Certainly, because his works in film will be eternal with his acting and other aspects that are recorded, I believe they will still be seen by future generations," he said.

2. Love for the Archipelago

One of the hallmarks of Ray Sahetapy, according to Fadli Zon, is his love for the concept of the Archipelago. He always spoke about the strength of that concept and how it serves as a unifier for the nation. His deep thoughts on Indonesian culture became one of the valuable legacies he left behind.

"Yes, we feel a great loss with the figure of Bang Ray. A person who was truly very creative and greatly revered the concept of the Archipelago. Every time we talked, it was always about the concept of the Archipelago. So how the Archipelago is, the strength of that concept is what unites us," he concluded.

Ray Sahetapy will be buried on Friday (04/04/2025) after the Friday prayers, with a procession that will take place at Istiqlal Mosque before he is finally laid to rest at Tanah Kusir.

(kpl/aal/ums)