Welcoming The 77th Indonesian Independence Day, Bung Karno's Documentary Film Is Made In Surabaya, Eri Cahyadi Plays Soekarno

Mayor of Surabaya Eri Cahyadi (Diskominfo Surabaya)

SURABAYA - The Surabaya City Government in collaboration with a national TV station is working on a documentary about the struggle of the First President of the Republic of Indonesia (RI) Ir. Sukarno. In the film, Surabaya Mayor Eri Cahyadi will play Soekarno.

"The documentary film will be shown on August 13, 2022, as well as celebrating the 77th Anniversary of the Republic of Indonesia," said Eri, in Surabaya, Thursday, July 28.

Eri said the documentary would be made from when Bung Karno was born, went to school, returned to Surabaya City to live together at the HOS Tjokroaminoto boarding house, deepened his Islamic religion, and married the eldest daughter of HOS Tjokroaminoto.

"This is welcome, because the Surabaya City Government is also building a museum related to Bung Karno's House on Jalan Pandean and at HOS Tjokroaminoto's house on Jalan Peneleh, as well as the Siola Museum, and the National House which we will build opposite the Education Museum," he said.

He explained that the collaboration with TVRI was also to collect documentary films of the struggle of the National Heroes from the City of Surabaya which had been made by TVRI to fill the content in the Surabaya City museum. The hope is that Arek-Arek Suroboyo can more easily understand the spirit and drops of blood from the fighters of the city of Surabaya.

"Because Bung Karno was born in the city of Surabaya, the composer of the national anthem Indonesia Raya from Surabaya, the motivator for Budi Utomo from Surabaya, Bung Tomo who moved the spirit of struggle also from Surabaya. Surabaya," he said.

According to Eri, the Surabaya City fighters who shed blood and enthusiasm to seize and defend the Independence of the Indonesian State are the blood of nationalists and religious.

"That's what we will raise with TVRI, we will collaborate in the form of a documentary. Later, Arek Suroboyo when he enters the Bung Karno House Museum or historical places, can better understand how our heroes won independence from the invaders," he said.

Not only that, Eri is also lined up to be an actor who will play the character Bung Karno. Namely, when Bung Karno attended the 25th Honoris Causa (HC) for himself in 1964 at Padjadjaran University (Unpad) Bandung.

"The preparation is done, in that scene, the Rector said that Bung Karno was born in Blitar. Not long after, Bung Karno immediately said that he was born in the city of Surabaya," he said.

Eri said that since childhood he had idolized the figure of Bung Karno. So without realizing it, policies such as labor-intensive programs that he initiated were motivated by Bung Soekarno's book.

"That is how he involves the community to eradicate poverty and ignorance," he said.

Therefore, he invites all citizens of Surabaya to jointly restore the history of Bung Karno's birthplace. It also shows that the City of Heroes is a place for the bloodshed of the fighters who want to liberate the Indonesian nation.

"In the past Bung Karno, HOS Tjokroaminoto, Bung Tomo, Budi Utomo fought against the invaders to win independence, it means that the spirit, togetherness and mutual cooperation from the fire of struggle must be continued to fight poverty, ignorance and unemployment. a film that will be made by TVRI," he said.

Meanwhile, Head of East Java TVRI Station Asep Suhendar said, Indonesian people can watch Bung Karno's documentary on August 13, 2022. Because the film will become one of TVRI's mainstay electronic products.

"From 30 broadcasting stations in Indonesia, TVRI appointed Ir. Soekarno because he is not only a national figure, but has become a world figure who comes from the city of Surabaya and it is hoped that Surabaya can also participate worldwide," said Asep.

To represent Bung Karno, Asep admitted that TVRI chose Mayor Eri Cahyadi to play the character. He considered that Mayor Eri Cahyadi was one of the young leaders who had the passion to advance the welfare of the people in the city of Surabaya.

"At the same time bringing order to Surabaya to be beautiful, because in our eyes he is an extraordinary figure, an extraordinary leader from Surabaya. He has an extraordinary spirit and is still young. We think it is very fitting to play the character Ir. Soekarno," he said.