Exclusive Widi Mulia: Between The Comfort Zone And Personal Hope

Exclusive Widi Mulia (Photo: Bambang E Ros, DI: Raga/VOI)

JAKARTA - Artist Widi Mulia shared the in-depth process behind her role as Denok in the musical film Who He is. He revealed that the characters he played not only had a strong resemblance to him, but were also inspired by a real figure in the film industry who was highly admired. This experience also gave him a new spirit regarding the role of women in the professional world.

When first introduced to the character Denok by director Garin Nugroho, Widi Mulia was given several references from figures in the real world. One of the things that caught his attention the most was the famous costume arranger, Retno Damayanti.

"Oh, it's interesting, interesting. The first time I was introduced to Mas Garin to the character Denok, there were actually several references, 'You're actually an anus'," said Widi Mulia at the VOI office, recently.

"And one of the things that was mentioned was Mbak Retno Damayanti, who likes to take care of costumes. Then when I saw it, 'oh, how come our faces are a bit similar', that's it. Mbak No's hair, we use it, Ms. No, it's more curly, but if I just make it up," he continued.

This reference felt very personal for Widi, because he had long admired the figure of Retno Damayanti.

"Then I was like, 'Eh, it's interesting', because Ms. No is a figure that I've always admired in several previous productions, I've often been very supported by Ms. No, that's it. So, it's fun to have, have a figure who you can admire and in the film project Who is he? You can use this as one of my character references, that's it," he continued.

Apart from being inspired by real figures, Widi also found many similarities between himself and the character Denok, especially in terms of complex and organized personality.

"There are a lot of people who relate to me. So, I'm an individual, when I'm single I'm not married, I don't have kids yet, I'm a complicated person, that's my head. And so I feel bad for myself if I don't manage traffic in my head," said Widi Mulia.

Widi's habits in making journals and schedules are very relevant to the demands of the role of Denok who must manage a large creative team.

"So, I'm used to making journals, I'm used to making schedules, then what do you want to say and, that means I finally set out what the term is, self-organized skills must be good, self-management skills must be good," he explained.

"Well, Denok is actually more so, he not only takes care of himself but he takes care of so many teams. And on the other hand he works with a Screen, Nico is like that. What is really complicated," said Widi Mulia.

"So maybe there are similarities with the way the screen thinks that he can be very familiar, yes, but also he can offer the solutions, that's it. So maybe there are similarities, there are differences, and there are many conflicts between them, that's it," he said.

This similarity really helped Widi in deepening his role. This even prompted him to be more proactive in the creative process, to take the initiative to write song lyrics to strengthen his interpretation of the character Denok.

"It's really helpful (because of the relationship), that's it. Because here we finally have more, I honestly have more notes to ask Mas Garin. 'Mas, how is this? Should you want something like this or that?'. There was even a time when I finally took the initiative to write the lyrics of the song, so I felt it was an important part of my interpretation as Denok, that's the story.

"Because there are several scenes, that's it. If I imagine how come the story is like this and this. I can't sing while singing? Then what do I sing? I've been like that, that's it. For example, what can't be heard, but I have, building acting is me while singing, right? Yes, something is like that and Mas Garin is free, that's it," said Widi Mulia.

After playing the character Denok, Widi Mulia admitted to getting a very strong message and enthusiasm. He felt that the film 'Who's celebrating the role and contribution of women in professional world regardless of age limits.

"Really. I'm happy when women with all their abilities, efforts, whatever they are, in the film Who is this, yes, it's really celebrated, supported, that's it. That he was listened to, that he was still useful," he explained.

He highlighted how age is often a scourge in the world of work. "Because we know that in a professional world, yes, age is like a scourge. If you are at this age, it means you can't. Because now, for example, this world is only controlled by people who are of a certain age. Especially young people, like that," said Widi Mulia.

"And in the film Who is he, by becoming Denok, I'm really encouraged that what's important is your competence, the important thing is how you can adapt to all changes, that's it. And the efforts you make from day to day. That's what determines you are not an age number, that's it. Not a social strata," he concluded.

Widi Mulia shared her unique approach in exploring the role in the musical film Who He is. He revealed that singing is not only an element of a musical, but also an important tool for him to express the emotions of a character that cannot be conveyed only through physical acting. This experience also brought him into an in-depth reflection of the legacy he wanted to leave.

According to Widi, singing gives him room to represent the emotions of the character in a different way, where the tempo and dynamics of the vocals are the keys to interpreting certain feelings.

"Yes, very, very. Things that I can't physically practice in scenes, sometimes I can represent from singing. And even then I still have to process the tempo, don't be late because it means certain emotions, that's it. It takes too long or too fast, that's it," said Widi Mulia.

One of the biggest challenges he faces is when he has to sing live on set. The scene demands very precise coordination between vocals, movements, and technical elements such as cameras and lighting.

"I felt that when we wanted to create a live singing scene, we didn't use it, we didn't record it. That's what I coordinated with Aci, at that time he also played a role in this film," said Widi Mulia.

The complexity of the scene even made the atmosphere tense, including with his co-star, Nicholas Saputra.

"In addition to taking care of the music of the choir in this film too, with Nicho and I were really like, 'Wow, the step', you know the interests of the camera and lighting themselves. 'You have to come here, later this is the applause, from here, oh my!' And I seem to have thought about it, it's been done, but the steps are like, 'see, I have to memorize it again'," he continued.

"And that I remember Nico so much that he was annoyed too, 'Come here! It's finished here there!' That's it. 'Okay!' And it's like the tension is increasing, but on the other hand, we also know that it's not fun to do it over and over again, that's it. And this is actually interesting here, that's it. But, so, what, is it, a really collective moment, that's it. And when we manage to do it, we're also happy, it's working together, that's it. It's really fun," added Widi Mulia.

When asked which one is more comfortable between acting and singing, Widi firmly chooses to sing as his comfort zone. However, he felt he did not have to choose one of them and instead enjoyed the combination of the two in this film.

"It's definitely singing (compared to acting), but we're not now, we're not choosing whether it's comfortable or not and and we don't have to choose that too. So yes, for all of you who want to watch the film Who is he. Everything is mixed beautifully," said Widi Mulia.

In the end, beyond his achievements as an artist, Widi Mulia has more personal and deep hopes about how he wants to be remembered in the future. For him, the most important legacy is not the status of a great actor or singer, but rather his role as a friend and mother.

"I want to be remembered as a good friend, as a empowered mother for her children. And just for me. I don't really care what kind of actor I want to be, what kind of singer I want to be," he concluded.