Facts about 'GADIS KRETEK', a Love Story Wrapped in History that Becomes the First Original Indonesian Netflix Series

Kapanlagi.com - Good news for you film enthusiasts, because some time ago Netflix released a teaser video on the Netflix Indonesia's Youtube channel. Uploaded on August 23, 2023, this popular streaming service introduced their latest series entitled Gadis Kretek.

This 1 minute 41 seconds short video showcases a story set during the colonial era starring Dian Sastrowardoyo and Ario Bayu. This series, which will be aired on November 2, 2023, is eagerly awaited by many fans.

Curious about the story of this series? Check out some interesting facts about Gadis Kretek below!

1. Synopsis of Anti-Mainstream Wrapped in a Historical Story

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The release of the music video Gadis Kretek apparently caught the attention of the public because it used the backdrop of 1960s Indonesia. The synopsis of this series tells the story of Soeraja, the owner of the Djagat Raya kretek factory, who often calls out the name 'Jeng Yah' when he is dying. However, this figure is not Soeraja's wife, so their three children search for the woman who is often referred to as their father to the remote areas of Central Java.

In the midst of their search, Soeraja's children are actually taken back to their father's past, where he had a romantic relationship with a girl named Dasiyah, a visionary who is skilled in making kretek, which is none other than Jeng Yah herself. Besides knowing the love story of Dasiyah and Soeraja, this journey also reveals secrets and the history of their family's kretek factory.

Interestingly, this story also involves three generations spanning from before to after the independence of Indonesia. In those times, Gadis Kretek will also showcase the history and development of kretek cigarettes in Indonesia.

2. First Original Netflix Series in Indonesia

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Aside from having an interesting storyline and setting, the Gadis Kretek series is one of the first original Netflix series from Indonesia. Produced by BASE entertainment and Fourcolours film, this project has apparently been worked on since 2022. This web series, directed by Kamila Andini and Ifa Isfansyah, can be watched and enjoyed by all Netflix subscribers globally.

3. Acclaimed Novel Adaptation

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This original Indonesian Netflix series is apparently an adaptation of a novel by Ratih Kumala, published in 2012. Not just any novel, Gadis Kretek has received the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa Award in the same year, which is an award in the Indonesian literary world founded by Richard Oh and Takeshi Ichiki since 2001. 

4. Inspired by the Story of the Author's Family Who Once Established a Kretek Cigarette Factory

The story of Gadis Kretek itself is inspired by the author's grandfather's past, who once established a kretek cigarette factory in those times. However, this home business located in Central Java unfortunately had to close down. This story by Ratih Kumala was written and dedicated to her late grandfather, along with his children. 

5. Shining the Spotlight on Women's Role

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The character highlighted in the story of Gadis Kretek is also quite interesting, as it focuses on a successful woman in the kretek business. This is a unique fact as the majority of the kretek industry is dominated by men. Additionally, there are not many Indonesian works that depict a skilled female cigarette maker.

6. Starring Dian Sastro and Other Popular Indonesian Artists

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This series also involves a number of popular Indonesian artists. The character Jeng Yah, who is the main character of Gadis Kretek, is played by Dian Sastrowardoyo, along with her co-star Ario Bayu as Soeraja.

In addition, Netflix also collaborates with Putri Marino to portray the character Arum, a hardworking girl with a great curiosity. Actor Sheila Dara also contributes to portraying the character Purwanti. Other talented actors such as Tissa Biani, Arya Saloka, and Ibnu Jamil are also ready to greet the audience with their acting abilities.

(kpl/oiv)