Nani Widjaja

Nani Widjaja was born on 10 November 1944 in Cirebon, West Java, to Raden Ambari Widjaja.^[1] She took a university education in criminology from the University of Indonesia,^[2] and in 1973 she graduated from an acting workshop from Parfi and the Jakarta Art Institute.^[2]

Marriages, relationship, and children

Widjaja was married to fellow film activist and former director Misbach Yusa Biran, who was the brother of director Ida Farida. He died in 2012. Two of their five children also entered the film industry.^[3] One of them, Sukma Ayu, was best known for playing a tomboy named Rohaye in the sitcom Kecil Kecil Jadi Manten.^[4]

Illness and death

On 1 March 2023, Widjaja was rushed to Fatmawati Hospital, due to shortness of breath.^[5] She was moved to high care unit and started undergoing treatment, monitored by several intern doctors.^[6] Her daughter, Nina Kartika, stated that Widjaja was unable to speak for two months and her health began to deteriorate.^[7] She was diagnosed with dementia and then slipped into coma due to fever and shortness of breath.^[8] Widjaja's condition then began to improve and she underwent tracheostomy on 7 March 2023.^[9]

Widjaja died at Fatmawati Hospital in Cilandak, South Jakarta, on 16 March 2023, at the age of 78.^[10] Her death was announced by her daughter, actress Cahya Kamila.^[10] She was buried at Babakan Madang Cemetery in Bogor, West Java.

During the late 1950s she became interested in acting. She made her film debut in a bit part in Lilik Sudjio's Darah Tinggi in 1960.^[2] During the 1960s she appeared mostly in supporting roles,^[2] though she did have some leading roles, such as in Rd Ariffien's Di Balik Dinding Sekolah (1961) and Misbach Yusa Biran's Menjusuri Djedjak Berdarah (1967).^[1]

During the 1970s and 1980s she was highly active, often taking multiple roles in a single year.^[11] All of her Citra Award-nominated work was completed during this time.^[12]

After the Indonesian film industry collapsed in 1993, Widjaja migrated to television. She acted in such soap operas as Gara-Gara (1993), Bung Besar (1993), Aku Mau Hidup (1994), Mat Beken (1995), Cinta Buat Monita (1995), Masih Ada Kapal ke Padang (1995), Penantian (1997), Gara-gara Plus (1997).^[2] Widjaja returned to feature films in 2007 with Rudi Soedjarwo's Cintapuccino. She has continued to appear in feature films, though at a much-reduced rate. She also remained active on television.^[11] According to the website for Taman Ismail Marzuki, Widjaja's best-known television role was as the Mother (Emak) in Bajaj Bajuri.^[1]

As of September 2013^[update], Widjaja has acted in 111 films; in many of these she played a mother or grandmother.^[11] She has won two Citra Awards for Best Supporting Actress, one in 1978 for Yang Muda Yang Bercinta and one in 1983 for the biopic R. A. Kartini, out of five nominations.^[12] In the latter she portrayed Mas Ayu Ngasirah, the mother of Kartini.^[13]

Source: (filmindonesia.or.id, Filmografi)

• Gara Gara
• Opera Sabun Colek
• Masih Ada Kapal Ke Padang
• Oh Mama Oh Papa
• Tetangga Oh Tetangga
• Mahkota Mayangkara
• Air Mata Ibu
• Cinta Dara kembar
• Menjemput Impian
• Ada ada-Saja (1993-1995)
• Balada Dangdut (Bulan Berkaca)
• Aku Ingin Pulang
• Doa Membawa Berkah
• Doa Membawa Berkah 2
• Wah Cantiknya (1999)
• Wah Cantiknya 2 (2000)
• Si Cecep (2000)
• Cintaku Di Rumah Susun (2001)
• Cintaku Di Rumah Susun 2 (2001)
• Cinta SMU (2002)
• Istri Untuk Suamiku (2003)
• Maha Kasih (2003)
• Pintu Hidayah (2004-2005)
• Bajaj Bajuri (2002-2007)
• Intan as Lastri
• Mawar
• Layar Komedi
• Cahaya Reni
• Kasih
• Mutiara (2007)
• Isabella as Hani (2009)
• Yusra Dan Yumna (2012)
• Tukang Bubur Naik Haji The Series (2012-2017) as Emak Haji
• Anak Sekolahan (2017)
• Orang Orang Kampung Duku (2017)
• Tuhan Beri Kami Cinta (2017)
• Orang Ketiga (2018)

• Nani Widjaja at IMDb