About Asrul Sani
Asrul Sani, 76, Indonesian writer, poet and screenwriter.
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Full Biography
|Asrul Sani (10 June 1926 – 11 January 2004) was an Indonesian writer, poet and screenwriter.
Biography
Sani was born in Rao, West Sumatra on 10 June 1926. His father was Sultan Marah Sani Syair Alamsyah.
Together with Chairil Anwar and Rivai Apin, Sani published Tiga Menguak Takdir in 1950. In the 1950s, together with Usmar Ismail, he founded Akademi Teater Nasional Indonesia (Indonesia National Theater Academy).
Sani's first screenplay was Lewat Djam Malam (After the Curfew) which obtained an award in the 1955 Indonesian Film Festival. His other screenplays that obtained Citra awards were Naga Bonar, Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap (Chase Me, I'll Catch You), Titian Serambut Dibelah Tujuh, and Kemelut Hidup (Life Crisis). Apa Jang Kau Tjari, Palupi? (What are You Looking for, Palupi?) received an award in the Asian Film Festival. His screenplay for Al Kautsar (1977) was the first Indonesian film with Islamic themes in over a decade.
He had become a chairman of Dewan Perfilman Nasional (the National Film Board). After that, the situation of Indonesian cinema deteriorated. He then focused on writing screenplays for soap operas, adapted from Indonesian novels, such as Sitti Nurbaya, Salah Asuhan, and Sengsara Membawa Nikmat.
Sani died on 11 January 2004.
Legacy
Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap (1985) won a Citra award in 1986, Piala Anteman and Piala Bing Slamet. Naga Bonar (1986) won a Citra award in 1987.
Sani received an Anugerah Seni award in 1969 and a Bintang Mahaputera medal in 2000 from the government. According to Ajip Rosidi, he could speak English, Dutch, French, and German.
Content from Wikipedia — licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asrul_Sani
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
- View article
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Asrul Sani's archived record and the sources above.
1.In which location was Asrul Sani born?
- A.Medan, North Sumatra
- B.Jakarta, Indonesia
- C.Bandung, West Java
- D.Rao, West Sumatracorrect
Asrul Sani was born in Rao, West Sumatra on 10 June 1926.
Source: Biography section
2.Who was the father of Asrul Sani?
- A.Usmar Ismail
- B.Ajip Rosidi
- C.Sultan Marah Sani Syair Alamsyahcorrect
- D.Chairil Anwar
The biography states that Asrul Sani's father was Sultan Marah Sani Syair Alamsyah.
Source: Biography section
3.In what year was the book Tiga Menguak Takdir published by Asrul Sani?
- A.1945
- B.1960
- C.1955
- D.1950correct
Asrul Sani published Tiga Menguak Takdir together with Chairil Anwar and Rivai Apin in 1950.
Source: Biography section
4.Which institution did Asrul Sani co-found with Usmar Ismail in the 1950s?
- A.Indonesian Film Festival
- B.Asian Film Academy
- C.Akademi Teater Nasional Indonesiacorrect
- D.Dewan Perfilman Nasional
Asrul Sani and Usmar Ismail founded the Akademi Teater Nasional Indonesia in the 1950s.
Source: Biography section
5.What was the title of the first screenplay written by Asrul Sani?
- A.Al Kautsar
- B.Naga Bonar
- C.Lewat Djam Malamcorrect
- D.Kemelut Hidup
Asrul Sani's first screenplay was Lewat Djam Malam, which received an award in the 1955 Indonesian Film Festival.
Source: Biography section
6.Which Asrul Sani screenplay won an award at the Asian Film Festival?
- A.Sitti Nurbaya
- B.Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap
- C.Titian Serambut Dibelah Tujuh
- D.Apa Jang Kau Tjari, Palupi?correct
The screenplay Apa Jang Kau Tjari, Palupi? received an award in the Asian Film Festival.
Source: Biography section
7.Which film written by Asrul Sani marked the return of Islamic themes to Indonesian cinema after over a decade?
- A.Al Kautsarcorrect
- B.Kemelut Hidup
- C.Sengsara Membawa Nikmat
- D.Salah Asuhan
Asrul Sani's screenplay for Al Kautsar (1977) was the first Indonesian film with Islamic themes in over a decade.
Source: Biography section
8.What position did Asrul Sani hold within the Dewan Perfilman Nasional?
- A.Public Relations Officer
- B.Treasurer
- C.Secretary
- D.Chairmancorrect
Asrul Sani had become a chairman of Dewan Perfilman Nasional.
Source: Biography section
9.Which novel was adapted by Asrul Sani for a soap opera?
- A.Naga Bonar
- B.Sitti Nurbayacorrect
- C.Tiga Menguak Takdir
- D.Lewat Djam Malam
After the decline of cinema, Asrul Sani focused on soap operas adapted from novels such as Sitti Nurbaya.
Source: Biography section
10.When did Asrul Sani pass away?
- A.10 June 2000
- B.20 December 2006
- C.11 January 2004correct
- D.15 August 2005
Asrul Sani died on 11 January 2004.
Source: Biography section
11.Besides the Citra award, which two specific prizes did the film Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap win in 1986?
- A.Piala Anteman and Piala Bing Slametcorrect
- B.Piala Sani and Piala Ismail
- C.Piala Emas and Piala Perak
- D.Piala Garuda and Piala Nusantara
Kejarlah Daku Kau Kutangkap (1985) won a Citra award in 1986, Piala Anteman and Piala Bing Slamet.
Source: Legacy section
12.In which year did Asrul Sani receive the Bintang Mahaputera medal from the government?
- A.1986
- B.1987
- C.2000correct
- D.1969
Asrul Sani received a Bintang Mahaputera medal in 2000 from the government.
Source: Legacy section
13.According to Ajip Rosidi, which of the following languages could Asrul Sani speak?
- A.Dutchcorrect
- B.Arabic
- C.Spanish
- D.Japanese
According to Ajip Rosidi, Asrul Sani could speak English, Dutch, French, and German.
Source: Legacy section
14.Which of these screenplays by Asrul Sani won a Citra award in 1987?
- A.Kemelut Hidup
- B.Naga Bonarcorrect
- C.Salah Asuhan
- D.Titian Serambut Dibelah Tujuh
Naga Bonar (1986) won a Citra award in 1987.
Source: Legacy section
15.What award did Asrul Sani receive in 1969?
- A.Bintang Mahaputera
- B.Piala Bing Slamet
- C.Citra Award
- D.Anugerah Senicorrect
Asrul Sani received an Anugerah Seni award in 1969.
Source: Legacy section
16.Which Indonesian novel was adapted by Asrul Sani into a soap opera along with Sitti Nurbaya and Salah Asuhan?
- A.Tiga Menguak Takdir
- B.Sengsara Membawa Nikmatcorrect
- C.Naga Bonar
- D.Kemelut Hidup
Asrul Sani wrote soap operas adapted from novels including Sitti Nurbaya, Salah Asuhan, and Sengsara Membawa Nikmat.
Source: Biography section
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