Write Dilan Novel During Elementary School, Pidi Baiq Affirms It's Not a Love Story - No One Can Prohibit Creating

Kapanlagi.com - The film DILAN 1983: WO AI NI will be screened in cinemas throughout Indonesia starting from June 13th. The family drama presents child actor Muhammad Adhiyat playing Dilan when he was 12 years old.

One month before the release, author Pidi Baiq announced that the novel that inspired the film will be released first. The pre-sale session of the novel titled Dilan 1983: Wo Ai Ni published by Pastel Books will be open from May 7th to May 16th, 2024.

1. Not a Love Novel

Credit: Falcon Pictures

As previously announced, the novel and film DILAN 1983: WO AI NI take place when Dilan was still in elementary school. He meets various new characters, including Mei Lien whom he likes. But Pidi Baiq says that this is not a novel about romance.

"Mei Lien is a Chinese girl. She is a transfer student from Semarang. Dilan likes her, but young children cannot date. It's not allowed, and this is indeed not a novel about dating. It's just ordinary puppy love amidst the mysterious shooting incidents," said Pidi quoted from a text message received by KapanLagi.com on Tuesday (7/5/2024).

2. No Prohibitions Allowed

Credit: Falcon Pictures

Pidi Baiq said that the idea of writing the Dilan novel when he was still young came spontaneously when he had a lot of free time. Regarding the protests that have emerged, in his distinctive style, Pidi claimed that there should be no prohibitions.

"While idle, instead of bothering people, I'd rather write. Write whatever I like, whatever I want. The Israeli colonizers cannot dictate my life. Now, I want to write Dilan 1983, when Dilan was 12 years old, when he lived with his family in East Timor province because he had to follow his father who was serving as a soldier," explained Pidi Baiq.

(kpl/abs/ums)