Pramoedya Ananta Toer, also nicknamed Pram, was an Indonesian novelist and writer. His works span the colonial period under Dutch rule, Indonesia's struggle for independence, its occupation by Japan during the Second World War, as well as the post-colonial authoritarian regimes of Sukarno and Suharto, and are infused with personal and national history.
Raden Ayu Siti Hartinah, also known as Siti Hartinah Soeharto or Tien Soeharto, was the First Lady of Indonesia from 1967 until 1996. She was the wife of second Indonesian president, Suharto.
Willibrordus Surendra Broto Narendra, widely known as Rendra or W. S. Rendra, was an Indonesian dramatist, poet, activist, performer, actor and director.
Norbertus Riantiarno was an Indonesian actor, director, and playwright. While in high school, he studied under Teguh Karya and acted in several movies and plays, until he eventually established his own theatre troupe, Teater Koma, in 1977. His works, with their highly political messages, were often censored by Suharto's New Order government. In 1998 he won the SEA Write Award for his play Semar Gugat.
Sekar Ayu Asmara is an Indonesian songwriter, director, and author.
Saman is an Indonesian novel by Ayu Utami published in 1998. It is Utami's first novel, and depicts the lives of four sexually-liberated female friends, and a former Catholic priest, Saman, for whom the book is named. Written in seven to eight months while Utami was unemployed, Saman sold over 100,000 copies and ignited a new literary movement known as sastra wangi that opened the doors to an influx of sexually-themed literary works by young Indonesian women.
Djenar Maesa Ayu, also known as Nay, is an Indonesian novelist, short story writer, actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker. Her work has variously been described as "provocative and lurid", and unique and brave. Because of the boldness of the topics she writes about, Ayu is considered to a member of the informal movement labeled sastra wangi.
Ida Ayu Oka Rusmini, known as Oka Rusmini, is an Indonesian poet and novelist. She is a recipient of the S.E.A. Write Award.
Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet! is a 2008 Indonesian film directed by Djenar Maesa Ayu. Starring Titi Rajo Bintang, Henidar Amroe, and Ray Sahetapi, it tells the life story of Adjeng, who was sexually abused as a child by her mother's boyfriend. Filmed over 18 days after several years of development, the film adapted two of Ayu's short stories from her debut anthology of the same name. Owing to its low budget of Rp 620 million, its cast and crew were mostly amateurs and students, although several established actors appeared at reduced rates.
Sastra wangi is a label given to a new body of Indonesian literature written by young, urban Indonesian women who take on controversial issues such as politics, religion and sexuality. Initiating the movement was writer Ayu Utami's best-selling first novel, Saman (1998), a contemporary view of Indonesian society published two weeks before the downfall of President Suharto. Large numbers of similar works by young women have followed.
Dewi "Dee" Lestari Simangunsong is an Indonesian writer, singer, and songwriter.
Ratna Sarumpaet is an Indonesian human rights activist, theatrical producer, actress, film director, and writer. In July 2019 she was sentenced to two years in jail for spreading hoaxes.
Ruma Maida is a 2009 Indonesian film written by Ayu Utami, directed by Teddy Soeriaatmadja and starring Atiqah Hasiholan, Yama Carlos, Nino Fernandez, and Frans Tumbuan. It details a woman's struggle to save a historic house from a developer; it also shows the life of the house's original owner.
Nirwan Dewanto is an Indonesian poet, curator and cultural critic. He is also known for his depiction of Albertus Soegijapranata in the 2012 biopic Soegija.
KBR is the first independent national radio news agency of Indonesia. It is a unique initiative to assist Indonesia's transition to democracy by facilitating open and informed discussion among millions of people throughout the archipelago. Simply by tuning into their favourite local radio station, millions of Indonesians from across the political, economic and social spectrum can engage in radio debates and, in doing so, influence key issues affecting their lives.
Okky Puspa Madasari is an Indonesian novelist, essayist, and academic known for her portrayals of the social and political conditions in Indonesia. Okky largely focuses her writing on resistance against injustice and the struggle for freedom and humanity.
Semar Gugat is a stage play written by Nano Riantiarno for his troupe Teater Koma. It follows the traditional wayang character Semar as he attempts— and fails— to take revenge against Arjuna and Srikandi for humiliating him by cutting off a lock of his hair while they are under the influence of the demon queen Durga. Completed in mid-1995, the play consists of 559 lines of dialogue spread through 30 scenes. Semar Gugat has been read as a critique of the New Order government under president Suharto. It was first performed on 25 November 1995 after the government withheld permission for several months. After Teater Koma gave an initial two-week run, it was adapted by various amateur groups. In 1998 Riantiarno won a S.E.A. Write Award for the work.
Leila Salikha Chudori is an Indonesian journalist and writer. She won the Southeast Asian Writers Award in 2020.
Sitok Srengenge is an Indonesian poet, actor, and dramatist. Born Sitok Sunarto in Purwodadi, Central Java, he became interested in literature at a young age and was heavily influenced by his village's strong oral tradition. When he moved to Jakarta to complete his university studies, he became involved with the Bengkel Teater under Rendra. Sitok remained with the company for almost a decade, appearing in several plays as he refined his literary style. His first poetry collection, Persetubuhan Liar, was published in 1992.
Diah Mutiara Sukmawati Sukarnoputri is the third daughter of Indonesia’s founding president Sukarno and his wife Fatmawati. Sukmawati is the younger sister of former Indonesian president Megawati Sukarnoputri and politician Rachmawati Sukarnoputri.
