Warkop (an abbreviation of Warung Kopi, meaning "coffee stall"), previously Warkop Prambors (1973 - 1986) and Warkop DKI (1986 - 1997) were an Indonesian comedy group that enjoyed success in radio, film and television from 1970s to 2000s. They soon burgeoned as the country's top comedy group, surpassing Srimulat[id] and Bagito Group. Unlike other comedy groups of its time, Warkop was the only one whose jokes were considered intellectual. Understandably, they were all educated people from renowned universities and actively involved in campus activities, a rarity at the time. Their jokes and witticisms suited the tastes of young people: critical, mischievous, and silly.[1]
In end of September 1973, Kasino Hadiwibowo (Kasino) and Nanu Mulyono (Nanu) performed comedy at the "PerkampunganUniversitas Indonesia" (University of Indonesia Villages) a student camp in Cibubur. Their humorous performance caught the attention of Temmy Lesanpura, a University of Indonesia senior who was then head of Prambors Radio. He then invited them to appear on a show with Rudy Badil called "Obrolan Santai di Warung Kopi." This program is aired every thursday night from 20.30 - 22.30 and containing packaged in the form of short student jokes, folklore, and even parody songs.[1]
A year later, Wahjoe Sardono (Dono) joined the show and Indrodjojo Kusumonegoro (Indro) is also joined to this group 3 years later. Warkop Prambors began to appear on television screens through the program Terminal Musikal -Tempat Anak Muda Mangkal, directed by Mus Mualim, on New Year's Eve 1978, from there they often appeared on TVRI.[1] Unfortunately, Rudy Badil decided to stepped down due to stage frige.[2] He later focused to become Kompas journalist until his retirement in 2005 and passed away in July 11, 2019.[3]
Film era
In 1979, Warkop making their film debut entitled Mana Tahaaan[id]. At the time, their personnel are potraying their radio characters respectively (Dono as Slamet, Kasino as Sanwani, Indro as Paijo and Nanu as Poltak). This film successfully gathered an audiences of up to 400,816 viewers.[4] But after one film, Nanu decided to stepped down for academic reason and pursued a solo career. He later appeared in another film Kisah Cinta Rojali dan Zuleha[id] before he passed away in March 22, 1980 and was buried in Tanah Kusir Cemetery.[5] The remaining members continue to produced most of their work over 1979 – 1995, starring in 34 comedy films and 1 docudrama film.[6][7] On average, two film titles are released each year ahead of EidMubarak and New Year's Eve celebration.[1]
To this day, people still often referring Warkop films as "Dono films." Indro, representing Warkop, investigated this phenomenon by consulting a psychologist. Indro concluded that the word "Dono" is easy to remember because it consists of two syllables and is also placed at the beginning of the acronym "DKI", which is associated with Warkop DKI.[8]
Television era
In 1996, Warkop start to produced a comedy soap opera called 'Warkop DKI' produced by Soraya Intercine Films[id] and broadcast on Indosiar. This soap opera features Warkop DKI with Karina Suwandi[id] as Dono's sister and Indro's wife and Roweina Umboh[id] as Kasino's wife. But one year later, Kasino rarely seen and occasionally appears wearing a wig (because he suffering brain tumor and he is undergoing chemotherapy at the time) before finally passed away in December 18, 1997.[9]
Without Kasino, they are unable to using Warkop DKI (because DKI stand for Dono, Kasino and Indro) and change their name to Warkop and produced another soap opera called Warkop Millenium[id]. Contrary to first soap opera, this is more likely to a made-for-television format and directed by a various directors (even Dono himself). On December 30, 2001, Dono passed away due to lung cancer and was buried in Tanah Kusir Cemetery,[9][10] leaving Indro as a sole member of Warkop. In 2004, Soraya Intercine Films[id] producing another soap opera called Warkop (unoficially titled Cewek Oke Cowok Oke[id]) and lasted for 14 episodes.
Post Warkop era
On March 13, 2019, Falcon Pictures[id] started a spinoff project called "Warkop DKI Reborn[id]" and starring a different actors who potrays Dono, Kasino and Indro respectively (Indro himself is not involved along with the character Dono and Kasino, but he is potraying another character and serving as an executive producer). Falcon Pictures can produced this, because Falcon Pictures are also buying some of the Warkop film's copyright (see footnotes for the further explanations).
Containing 2 sides. Side A recorded live in Jakarta & Bandung, while side B recorded live in Pontianak. Also contained parody songs for the first time.
Recorded only 3 members for the first time, after Nanu stepped down (despite Nanu's photo is remain intact in this album, taken from the film Mana Tahaan...)
Recorded using Warkop DKI name for the first time (DKI stand for Dono, Kasino and Indro)[1]. Also include quote "tertawalah sebelum tertawa itu dilarang" (please laugh before laugh is forbidden) for the first time. Indro explained that this slogan emerged when the personnel felt worried because the comedy they presented was considered dangerous to some parties, especially during New Order[13]
Most Warkop films were unable to be distributed internationally due to copyright infringement concerns. Including the unauthorized or uncredited use of Henry Mancini's The Pink Panther theme song, although the symphony's melody in some films has been altered to avoid a significant similarity.
In 2021, some of the titles were available on Netflix[14] and Disney+.[15] But start from February 10, 2026, some of the titles in Netflix will be deleted from the catalogue.
First time Warkop using sketch comedy during credit title (unlike the previous films, a credit title is appear from start and throughout before the film begin).
First time Warkop using quote "tertawalah sebelum tertawa itu dilarang" (please laugh before laugh is forbidden) as ending credit (along with "Gadis Lambada" as a soundtrack)
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