If the center of entertainment in the United States is called Hollywood, and in India it is Bollywood, Indonesia has Tangkiwood located in the capital city.

The term Tangkiwood is a combination of Tangki, a subdistrict in Taman Sari, West Jakarta, and Hollywood. It is located behind the entertainment center Lokasari, formerly known as Prinsen Park, the forerunner of the many theaters and operas in the modern-day capital.

The term was coined because the subdistrict used to be known as the village of celebrities, home to big names in Indonesia’s entertainment industry, namely the late Bing Slamet, Aminah Cendrakasih and the late Laila Sari.

However, the subdistrict is a stark contrast to the glamorous image of the entertainment industry. 

It is a densely populated area with narrow streets. Many street vendors go back and forth or settle in one place.

Winda Loasita, 39, a local resident who opened a noodle shop in the subdistrict, said that after the elderly celebrities had died, the ordinary local residents felt a difference given that they had lost an alternative source of side income.

“When some actors who played in films or soap operas were asked by their directors to look for extras, these actors would ask some of the residents here to go along to the set. This does not happen anymore,” she told The Jakarta Post recently.

“But those most affected are the family members of the deceased celebrities like Laila Sari. One of her grandchildren who used to be very close to her is still in shock after her death and is not willing to go out of the house.”

Laila Sari was an actress and singer whose career spanned six decades and was the last major celebrity to leave Tangkiwood. She died in November 2017 at the age of 82.

She began her career in entertainment as a stage actress and singer in 1951 and later played in a number of feature films and soap operas. Her husband, Murdadi Iskandar, was an opera performer at Prinsen Park.

Located on the 1-meter-wide Jl. Badila I in Tangki subdistrict, Laila’s house looks decaying with a leaky roof at several points and a dull floor. The words “Hj. Laila Sari”, which used to decorate one side of the house, are now nowhere to be seen.

Her only adopted daughter, Maya Sari, who now takes care of the house, said that unfortunate things have happened since Laila’s departure. Poor financial conditions forced her to divide the inherited house into three sections, two thirds of which have been pledged to the bank.

“My mother was the breadwinner of the family. Since losing both parents, I have to take care of two teenage sons whose father is in prison and one granddaughter from my daughter who has died, all by myself,” she said.

Maya claimed she could not meet all the family’s needs with the odd jobs she does such as helping residents clean up around Tangkiwood. On the other hand, she said, Laila’s artist friends no longer visit the house like they used to.

“When my mother was still alive, many celebrity friends came regularly and helped us. But unfortunately, we have lost contact with them as my mother’s cellphone disappeared in the crowd on the day of her death,” she said.

Maya recalled that Laila was still actively working until her death. She last played in soap opera called Jodoh Wasiat Bapak (Father’s Will Mate) and was even able to perform high-pitched songs in her last days.

“She was an artist with commitment. When she caught the flu, she would insist on going to work because, she said, she did not want to disappoint people. When my father was still alive, they often fought every time my father forbade her to go to work when she was ill,” Maya said.

The only minor or less-known artist left in Tangkiwood now is Idah Hasan, a former drama player who lives not far from Laila’s place.

Although her husband, Jafar, had died 29 years ago so that she has to live alone in a small house less than 15 square meters in size, Idah appears to be in great health and active for someone at the age of 95.

“I worked from my 20s until my retirement when Laila died. Now I can only rely on helping hands from local residents although sometimes I also help some vendors to sell things here and there,” she said.

Idah recalled that in the past, artists who lived in Tangkiwood often hung out near Prinsen Park and some local children were often taught Betawi arts such as lenong (traditional Betawi theater).

However, the wrinkles on her face seemed to represent her testimony that as Tangkiwood may have ended its title as the village of celebrities, some traditional arts have also gradually disappeared in the laudable area. (syk)

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