The Journey of \'Puang Merdhu\'

Few people are born to work in the arts and Andi Bahar Yusuf was one. After watching an art performance as a child, he believed one day he would perform on the stage. From initiating Sandiwara Petta Puang to Grisbon, he has performed at events on small isles to the grand stage.

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Andi Bahar Yusuf

Few people are born to work in the arts and Andi Bahar Yusuf, 54, was one. After watching an art performance as a child, he believed one day he would perform on the stage. From initiating Sandiwara Petta Puang to Grisbon, he has performed at events on small isles to the grand stage. Yet, he said “I am nobody and not harmful.”

Several days before the 73^rd anniversary of Independence Day, Andi Bahar Yusuf, better known as Bahar Merdhu, was busy coordinating dozens of children at his housing complex in Griya Barombong, Gowa, South Sulawesi. He was taking care of his neighbors’ children, who wanted to participate in a contest he initiated.

After a poetry reading contest, he continued it with an acting competition. The concept was simple. The children were instructed to act out a range of emotions, such as being sad, mad and happy among other emotions. The children were happy and wanted to do it again the next day.

“Come on uncle, we do the apami contest again?” said the fan of Bob Dylan and dangdut music, recalling the children’s reaction. At the veranda of his house, which is shady and full of books, Bahar talked about how he introduced theater to the children. Since 2009, he has run the Grisbon or Griya Seni Barombong workshops, named after his housing complex. The members are children who live at the housing complex, from elementary school to university. The program continues until today. He gives basic theater lessons and has brought a number of members to perform at various places.

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Andi Bahar Yusuf

Like creating a sword from an iron bar, Bahar patiently sharpens the talent of the children and makes them good performers. In 2013, during the National Teenage Theater Festival, Grisbon received awards for Best Actor, Best Performance and Best Director. In 2015, at the National Child Theater Festival, the group received awards for Best Performance and Best Director. In 2017, the group was selected to perform at National Theater Week in Yogyakarta. In August last year, they performed at Makassar Art House for two days. Even though they gave it a comedic touch, their performance titled “Perubahan Cuaca” (Weather Change), explored changes in the archipelago. Strong winds and cyclones were used as symbols of the challenges faced by the nation.  “I am concerned with the current situation,” said Bahar, raising his eyebrows.

“People easily blame each other and refuse to listen to others. Through theater, I tell children to respect and love one another.”

Petta Puang

Long before Grisbon was setup, Bahar had made a name by performing in Sandiwara Petta Puang. Most people in South Sulawesi aged 30 years or older would know his name.

The funny plays that explored local themes and were performed in the Bugis-Makassar language were screened on television and broadcast on radio in the 1990s and 2000s. He was the script writer, director and actor in the group, which exists until today.

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Andi Bahar Yusuf

Sandiwara Petta Puang received a warm reception. It performed everywhere, from small muddy isles to the most luxurious hotel in Makassar. From a party in a remote village to the official residence of the governor. It received payments from Rp 50,000 to tens of millions of rupiah.

The local themes, which were based on real life and were highly critical and widely discussed in public, were welcomed in many places. The themes were packaged in fresh comedy. He described the scripts for Petta Puang as a knife that does not cut. The phenomenon of people who recently returned from the haj, people who pretend to know everything and the panai tradition were all subjects of discussion. He has penned hundreds of scripts.

“I do not remember how many scripts have I produced for Petta Puang,” Bahar said.

Yet, he still remembers vividly where the name Petta Puang came from. It was early in 1992 and he has working for the Mekar Buana theater group, a group he initiated while he was in senior high school.

At that time, Bahar and his group received an offer to perform in a village in Bone regency, about four hours from Makassar. The performance was held in commemoration of the Independence Day. The area is the hometown of his parents, and is rich in tradition.

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Andi Bahar Yusuf

“We performed with an old man there, who was arrogant. He was always right and wanted people to listen. His name was Ibrahim but people called him ‘Puang’ in honor of his seniority. Others called him ‘Petta’. So, we combined it,” Bahar said, laughing.

Petta and Puang are names given to people with noble status among the Bugis.

From there, the name and character of Petta Puang was attached. Going to Makassar, along with his friends he initiated the Petta Puang theater group. They performed at wedding parties, events in the subdistrict and other events in kampungs. They did it happily even without pay. Sometimes, they were paid with meals.

Its aim was to bring theater to kampungs that people could enjoy. In addition, they also tested their maturity on stage. From there, they built their name and later became well known.

A place like home

Bahar’s ability to transform words into scripts, motion into language and notes into songs, and to combine them all on a stage, was not learned over night. He started with a long struggle and sacrifice. In addition to theater, he also reads and writes poems. His poetry book was published several years ago.

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Andi Bahar Yusuf

Bahar, who grew up until junior high school in Jakarta, around Tanjung Priok, spent time as his wished. He often skipped classes, got involved in brawls and then was too afraid to return home. His father was very strict. He often stayed the night at his friend’s house and roamed everywhere.

Life in Jakarta made him tough. Since elementary school, he sold newspapers at Tanjung Priok Railway Station. He also worked as a caddy at the Ancol golf course when he was in junior high school.

He also routinely watched shadow puppet, drama, dangdut and Betawi art shows. One day, his friends invited him to watch dangdut at Ancol Art Market.  From that moment, he often spent time there. He met some top artists, such as Iwan Fals, Doel Sumbang and watched Rendra read poetry.

One day, during a show, he put his name on the list of performers. “I wrote Bahar Merdhu. When the name was called out, I ran away,” he said, laughing.

He knows his voice is far from good. But from that incident, the name Merdhu has been attached to him.

When he was in senior high school, his love of books grew bigger. A book, which influences him much, was Orexas by Remy Sylado. The book inspired him to write a script titled Salah Jalur (Wrong Track) when he was in senior high school.

From reading many books, watching plays and performances, he learned how to translate contemporary situations into fresh drama. Among his scripts are Fatta Mencari Fakta (Fatta Looks for Facts), Buah Semangka & Putri Jelita (Watermelon & Princess Jelita), Mencari Scorlet yang Bermain dengan Sendok dan Garpu (Looking for Scorlet who Plays with Spoons and Forks), Passompe’, Ucok Sitorus and many more.

“Theater is like a house – a place for us to go home. Wherever I go, I miss this home,” he said.

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Andi Bahar Yusuf (Bahar Merdhu)

Born: Makassar, 1964

Activities and achievements: Founder of Sandiwara Petta Puang and Grisbon; Best Director during National Theater Festival in 2013 2014, 2015; Best Director during National Child Theater Festival in 2015; Celebes Award in Theater in 2004; Author of “Tak Sengaja Jatuh Cinta” (Falling in Love, Accidentally) and “Aku Perempuan” (I am Female).