Video Archive — Television Program, Indonesia

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Bincang Riang (Chitchatting)
This program is the light version of Curhat Bareng Teh Ninih.  The conversation still revolves around the multi-roles of women, but not so much from the religious point of view.  The program invites experts in various fields to talk about health problems, child development, nutrition, etc.  It is very appealing to young female viewers.

Cantik Muslimah (Stylish Muslim women)
The discussion about “hejab” in Indonesia does not usually revolve so much around the idea whether or not it is oppressive to women.  Although there is peer and family pressure for some women, it is not mandatory for all Muslim women in Indonesia to don it.  In the past, the hejab was viewed as purely a sign of religious devotion and often equated with conservatism.   Today, the view is still valid (it depends on how one wears it) but it is far from true for everyone.  Wearing a hejab is a fashion statement — some wear it with expensive pantsuits and others pair them with very tight low-cut jeans with fake tattoos on their hands.  The permutations are unlimited!

Curhat Barng Teh Ninih (A Heart-to-heart with Teh Ninih)
Teh Ninih is the first wife of Abdullah Gymnastiar (popularly knows as Aa Gym) and the mother of his seven children.  When her husband decided to marry his second wife in 2006, Teh Ninih captured the attention of millions of women in Indonesia by standing next to her husband when he confirmed his second marriage on national television.  Her decision to stay in her marriage sparked either sympathy or anger among millions of Indonesian women.  The angry ones accused her of pushing women back into the old box where they used to be, while the sympathetic ones praised her for her religious devotion and her emotional strength.  This program is a venue for her to share her take on issues related to women, marriage, and family based on her Islamic values.

Jalan-Jalan Jajan (Scenery and Food)
How many families in Indonesia can afford to go abroad for vacation? Perhaps less than 0.5 percent! For average Indonesians, watching a program on places to visit in let’s say the United States is like watching a Bollywood movie –both are pure escapism and far beyond the realm of possibility.  Jalan-Jalan Jajan is an example of many popular television programs focusing on local destinations in Indonesia suitable for Indonesian wallets.  This program shows unique (often exoticized) destinations in West Java.

Kebun Hikmah (Episodes 1-30)
The Garden of Wisdom. This program is syndicated nationally and internationally (Malaysia and Singapore). In the program, Aa Gym is accompanied by a co-host, who reads verses from the Koran and/or Hadith (a collection of stories relating words or deeds of Prophet Mohammad) pertaining to the subjects of the day. Audience members are given the opportunity to ask questions about life and get answers from the host. What makes it interesting is that the questions reveal the common concerns and desires of average Indonesian people across religious, ethnic, and regional boundaries

Keluarga Senyum (Epsiodes 1-40)
Smiling Family. This is a family situational comedy. The family of Mr. and Mrs. Salam is very respectable in their village. They always smile thus earning them the nickname of the smiling family. Like most situational comedy programs, it is critical. The dialog, which is a mix of Sundanese (the vernacular language of West Java) and Indonesian languages, is critical toward the local government of West Java, the Indonesian government, and conditions in Indonesia in general.

Salma (Episodes 1-4)
Salma is a drama series. Salma, the central figure of the story, has to deal with marital problems similar to those anywhere in the world. She is a teacher and a single mother, who has to deal with her estranged husband, who has taken up a second wife. The drama is not only about polygamy in Indonesia, but also about the pressure that a woman has to endure for being legally married but without the presence of the husband. What is fresh in the drama is the character of Salma. She deconstructs the stereotypical image of the miserable, weak and lonely divorced Indonesian woman.

Spirit Kang Dudung (Kang Dudung’s Spirit)
Dudung Abdul Ghani (popularly know as Kang Dudung) is the Executive Director of MQTV, and the brother-in-law of Aa Gym.  As a father of young children he is concerned with their future and that of Indonesian children in general.  He believes that instilling strong motivation in young people to gain financial achievement is as important as fulfilling their moral/religious and social obligations.  His program stresses the importance of love and respect in achieving one’s goals in life.  His guests include entertainers who perform on the program as well as notable individuals.

The below list of videos will be coming soon . . .

RUMAH SAUDARAKU (My Kin’s Houses)
Every so often someone asks this question: Are Muslims allowed to listen to and play music? This program is aimed at answering the question.  Muslims in Indonesia, even the devoted ones, have the freedom to enjoy music and other forms of expression.  Along with music, many people have art works in their homes.  Large segments of the program show interiors of houses where viewers can see what kinds of art are in them.  The houses featured in the program are all owned by Muslim families.

LEZATNYA BERBAGI (The Pleasure of Sharing)
With a population of almost 250 millions, Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, and the word “halal”, often written in Arabic orthography (حلال), can be found on food packages for almost anything from sirloin steak to fish sauce.  This program claims to show viewers beautiful places where they can find tasty and halal food.  The show also presents tips and demonstrations on how to prepare local dishes.  Everywhere in the world people enjoy cooking shows and Indonesians are no exception.

NEWS
Focus on local events in West Java with some national content.