Teguh Karya facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Teguh Karya
Karya at the 1982 Indonesian Film Festival
Born	Steve Liem Tjoan Hok 22 September 1937 Pandeglang, Banten, Dutch East Indies (modern-day Indonesia)
Died	11 December 2001(2001-12-11) (aged 64) Jakarta, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesian
Education	Akademi Seni Drama dan Film (1954–1955) Akademi Teater Nasional Indonesia (1957–1961) East–West Center (1962–1963)
Occupation	Director, actor
Years active	1968–1998
Notable work	Cinta Pertama Badai Pasti Berlalu November 1828
Style	Realism
Awards	Numerous Citra Awards

Teguh Karya (born Steve Liem Tjoan Hok, 1937–2001) was a famous Indonesian film director. He started his career in theatre, making plays. Later, he directed many popular movies. Some of his best-known films include Cinta Pertama, Badai Pasti Berlalu, and November 1828. Teguh Karya passed away in 2001 after a stroke.

Life and Career of Teguh Karya

Teguh Karya was born Steve Liem Tjoan Hok on September 22, 1937. His birthplace was Pandeglang, in Banten, Indonesia. He was the first child of Laksana Karya and Naomi Yahya. His grandmother had some Bantenese family roots.

Early Life and Education

Teguh went to elementary school in Pandeglang. For junior high, he moved to Jakarta. He found science subjects difficult. However, he was very good at creative arts and history.

He loved learning about drama and film. From 1954 to 1955, he studied at the Academy of Art, Drama, and Film in Yogyakarta. Then, he went to the Indonesian National Theater Academy (ATNI) in Jakarta. He studied there from 1957 to 1961. This is where he gained experience as an actor. Later, he even studied in Hawaii, USA, at the East–West Center from 1962 to 1963.

Starting in Theatre

In 1968, Teguh Karya acted in a children's movie called Jenderal Kancil (General Deer Mouse). At the same time, he worked as a stage manager at Hotel Indonesia. That same year, he started his own theatre group. He called it Teater Populer. It was based at his home in Jakarta. Most of the actors were students from ATNI. He often arranged for them to perform at Hotel Indonesia.

His theatre group became very famous. They put on many well-known plays. These included Pernikahan Darah (Blood Marriage) in 1971. Other popular plays were Inspektur Jenderal, Kopral Woyzeck (Inspector General, Corporal Woyzeck) in 1973. In 1974, they performed Perempuan Pilihan Dewa (Woman Chosen by the Gods).

Directing Films

Teguh Karya started directing movies for adults in 1971. His first film was Wadjah Seorang Laki-Laki (The Face of a Boy). Two years later, he directed Cinta Pertama (First Love). This movie was a big success. It won him his first Citra Award. It also helped launch the career of its main actress, Christine Hakim.

He then directed three more romance movies. These were Ranjang Pengantin (Wedding Bed), Kawin Lari (Elope), and Perkawinan Semusim (A Season's Marriage).

Most Popular Films

In 1977, Teguh Karya made his most successful movie. It was called Badai Pasti Berlalu (The Storm Will Surely Pass). This film was based on a popular novel by Marga T. Many people watched it when it first came out. It also won four awards at the 1977 Indonesian Film Festival.

Two years later, Teguh directed a historical movie. It was an epic film called November 1828. This movie won six Citra Awards. After that, he directed several other films. These included Di Balik Kelambu (Behind the Screen), Secangkir Kopi Pahit (A Cup of Bitter Coffee), Doea Tanda Mata (Two Eye Marks), Ibunda (Mother), and Pacar Ketinggalan Kereta (Lover Left Behind by the Train).

Teguh Karya signing an autograph at the 1982 Indonesian Film Festival.

Television Work

Teguh Karya also directed sinetron, which are Indonesian soap operas. In 1987, he released his first sinetron called Pulang (Go Home). In 1995, he directed another one called Alang-Alang. This TV series was supported by important health organizations.

Later Years and Passing

In 1998, Teguh Karya had a stroke. This caused him to lose some of his memory. It also meant he had to use a wheelchair for the rest of his life. He passed away on December 11, 2001, in Central Jakarta. He was 64 years old.

Influences on His Work

Teguh Karya was inspired by many other directors and stage managers. Some of these important people included Asrul Sani, D. Djajakusuma, and Usmar Ismail. Their work helped shape his own creative style.

His Legacy

Teguh Karya won many Citra Awards during his career. These awards are very important in Indonesian cinema.

In 2005, a special concert was held to honor him. The Twilite Orchestra played songs from his movies. Many famous singers performed, including people he had directed.

Personal Life

Teguh Karya never got married. When people asked him why, he explained that everyone has different "rooms" inside them. These rooms are for things like art, friends, and their country. He believed that the order in which these rooms are filled is different for everyone.

Filmography