Nji Ronggeng

Amidst the election rivalry of two villages for the village head post, Cigugur and Cijulang, a troupe of Ronggeng artists, with its prima donna, Sari, arrives at the sub-district center for their regular performance. Sari and Dadang, the son of the Village Elder of Cijulang, are in love with each other. Dadang is also running as a candidate in the village head elections. But Ohim, the son of the Cigugur Village Elder, is also madly in love with Sari. He gets even more daring after a humiliating incident when he tries to touch Sari’s hair bun on the ronggeng stage. The touching of the hair bun is one of the rituals in the traditional art of Ronggeng. Dadang’s father is angered by his son’s relationship with Sari, since it could jeopardize his candidacy as the head of the village.

Directed by Alam Surawidjaja, Nji Ronggeng leans on a strong ensemble — Chitra Dewi, Dicky Zulkarnaen, Sandy Suwardi Hassan — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 1969.