Sad News, Mbah Poncho Who Starred In Pilgrimage Film Dies At The Age Of 105

Mbah Ponco (Photo: IG @bewe_bw)

JAKARTA - Ponco Sutiyem or familiarly called Mbah Ponco, actor in the film Pilgrimage has died at the age of 105 years. The director of Pilgrimage, BW Purba Negara couldn't help but feel sad. He announced the departure of Mbah Ponco through black and white photos and expressions of sadness.

"Thanks to Mbah @poncosutiyem. Mugi pinaringan kaswargan jati. We are all saddened. Thank you for the masterpiece of acting to bring @filmziarah to life, a work that we will always remember," he wrote Wednesday, January 5.

In another upload, Purba Negara uploaded a photo of Mbah Ponco's tomb with an umbrella and flowers on the tomb. "Sugeng to follow Mbah Ponco Sutiyem," wrote the director who is usually called BW.

The film Ziarah tells of Mbah Sri (Ponco Sutiyem) and their grandson, looking for Prawiro Sahid, Mbah Sri's husband. Prawiro himself previously said goodbye to Mbah Sri when he entered the war during the second Dutch Military Aggression, and died on the battlefield.

After that, Mbah Sri searched for her husband's grave to remote areas of Yogyakarta and Klaten, Central Java. Mbah Sri's goal, so that someday she can be buried next to her husband's grave. "His grave was visited in Ngawen 1 place, Mount Wijil 3 places, Bayat 1 place, Klaten 1 place," he explained.

Mbah Sri's way of finding Prawiro's tomb used a number of methods, such as using the mystical method of using a keris, to show which direction he should walk. In addition, Mbah Sri also asked veterans of one era where Prawiro was buried.

Whenever looking for Prawiro's grave, Mbah Sri always brought flowers. The flowers will be sown, if her husband's grave is found. But if the flower has not been found, he takes it home.

Even though he made his acting debut in the film Ziarah when he was old, Mbah Ponco was nominated for the 2017 ASEAN International Film Festival and Awards (AIFFA) film festival.