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Obituary: Famed Betawi comedian, dancer 'Mpok' Nori dies at 84
Kapanlagi
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Kapanlagi.com
Nuri Sarinuri, the famed Betawi comedian and dancer known by her stage name Mpok Nori, died on Friday due to asthma. She was 84.
Known for her cheerful demeanor and high-pitched voice, Mpok Nori appeared in dozens of television shows, local soap operas (sinetron) and movies.
Mpok Nori ' mpok is Betawi for older sister ' had been hospitalized for two days in intensive care at Pasar Rebo General Hospital in East Jakarta.
Jakarta Deputy Governor Djarot Saiful, former governor Sutiyoso, comedian Entis 'Sule' Sutisna and singer Julia Perez, among others, came to Mpok Nori's home in Cipayung, East Jakarta, to pay their respects.
Djarot said he admired Mpok Nori's contributions in developing the culture of the Betawi, or Jakarta's indigenous people. 'I hope there will be Mpok Nori's successors who continue preserving her legacy,' he said, as reported by tribunnews.com.
Historian and Betawi culture expert JJ Rizal said that Mpok Nori's death was a huge loss to the Betawi community and to the entertainment industry.
'She was a great artist who thrived in the modern entertainment industry and the traditional arts scene,' Rizal said. 'She contributed significantly in preserving mask dances and in bringing Betawi theater into the national limelight.'
Born on Aug. 10, 1930; Mpok Nori started her career by joining a masked dance troupe, moving from one to another village. Later, she joined the Sanggar Setia lenong troupe led by the famous Betawi performing artist Bokir.
For her contributions to Betawi dance, Mpok Nori received an award from the Taman Ismail Marzuki arts center in Cikini, Central Jakarta, in the 1970s and was named an extraordinary lecturer at the Jakarta Institute of Arts in 1988.
She gained wider fame after starring in the television comedy series Pepesan Kosong (Empty Promise) between 1993 and 1995 and went on to star in more soap operas and movies, such as the Get Married trilogy, Bukan Malin Kundang and Sule Detektif Tokek.
Mpok Nori established her own performing arts troupe, Sinorai, which trained more than 50 students.
Syaiful Amri, the leader of Komedi Betawi performing group who worked with Mpok Nori for 20 years, said that the actress had an unflagging spirit to perform, despite deteriorating health in recent years.
'Mak Nori was a kind person, who was very discipline and always on time,' he said.
'The last time I collaborated with her was in Maria Van Engels, about the wife of religious leader Habib Ali Kwitang. At the time, she often had shortness of breath, but she insisted to keep on performing.'
For several hours on Friday, the hashtag #RIP-MpokNori was a trending topic on Twitter locally, with many public figures and celebrities offering their condolences.
'Making other people laugh is a noble job #RIPMpokNori,' Bandung Mayor Ridwan Kamil said on Twitter.
'Thank you Mpok Nori for your art and comedy performances. Your works resound in our hearts,' television host and stand-up comedian Pandji Pragiwaksono said.
Mpok Nori was interred at Pondok Rangon Cemetery later on Friday. She is survived by four children, 25 grandchildren and 23 great grandchildren.
