Siti Zainab


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Siti Zainab (31 December 1935 – 21 August 2014) was an Indonesian actress, dancer, and singer. She began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles, and was active from the 1940s until 1980s.

Siti Zainab

Zainab in 1996

Born31 December 1935 (age 88)
Died21 August 2014 (aged 78)

Bengkalis, Riau, Indonesia

Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
Years active1940–1983
Spouse

Zakaria bin Muhammad Amin

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(m. 1956; died )​

Children8

Early life

Zainab was born on 31 December 1935 in Sabak Bernam District, Selangor.[1] She completed her education at religious school and Volkschool, and taking a dancing and singing course with Singaporean actor H. Gong.[1]

Career

Zainab started her career by made her film debut in Matjan Berbisik (1940), a film about two men who are raised as brothers and compete for the love of the same woman, and joined Flat Revue troupe at the age of ten.[2][1] She then joined Royal Opera and Dardanella troupe along with her parents.[3] In 1947, Zainab joined Bintang Berlian troupe which was lead by her parents in Palembang as a singer and dancer.[3] When Palembang was attacked by allied forces for five days, she moved to Lubuklinggau along with her parents.[3] Zainab then joined Sri Budaya troupe which was lead by her parents as a singer and dancer.[3]

During Operation Product, Zainab moved to Jambi and joined Dian troupe along with her parents.[3] She then moved to Singapore and started a contract with Shaw Brothers Studio as a singer and dancer.[3] Zainab later made her Singapore film debut in Nasib (1949), a film about a man who was banished from his home by his elder brother and sister-in-law as a maid, followed by Nilam (1949), a film about Javanese man who leaves his village with a magic protective dagger given to him by his mother eager to discover the world as The Child.[3] She appeared in numerous Singapore production films as a singer and dancer along with famous films stars, such as Kasma Booty and Siput Sarawak.[3] Zainab then starred in Rachun Dunia (1950), a film about a trader who is cheated by an insurance employee as a girl who playing badminton in the beginning of the film. She later starred in Bakti (1950), a romance film which launched her and P. Ramlee career as a supporting role, and Takdir Illahi (1950), a drama film in which she portrayed a young girl who was tortured by her evil stepmother that was portrayed by Siti Tanjung Perak. Zainab made her last Singapore films appearance in Dewi Murni (1950), a romance film in which she appeared as chorus girl at the beginning of film.[3]

In 1950, Zainab returned to Palembang along with her parents.[3] She then joined Ratu Asia troupe lead by Sjamsuddin Sjafei along with her parents on 28 February 1951 and toured in Jakarta as a dancer and singer.[3] She released several songs, such as "Sayang di Sayang" and "Hari Raya" which earned widespread acclaim.[3] Zainab then joined several theatrical troupes, including Nusantara, Irama Mas, and Tri Murti.[1]

In 1951, Zainab was cast by Ali Joego to appeared as a lead role in Taufan (1952), a film about a village girl who came to Jakarta, along with A. Usman.[1] She then appeared as a minor role in Timuriana (1953), a film about the Natuna and Tenggara tribes who live in a calm ocean, followed by appeared as an uncredited dancer in Belenggu Masjarakat (1953), a film about the extramarital affair of a civil servant who is transferred to Jakarta. Zainab later starred in three Perfini commercial films that was directed by Usmar Ismail, the first one being Tiga Dara (1956), a musical films about three sisters who live with their father and grandmother as a minor role, followed by Delapan Pendjuru Angin (1957), a musical films about a film and radio star who has a playboy nature as an uncredited dancer, and Asrama Dara (1958), a musical films about girls dormitory as a dancer.[1] She playing drama around Kalimantan, including staging Nurnaningsih Gila.[1] Zainab served as a member of Urril Ditadjad in Banjarmasin from 1959 until 1966.[1] She also starred in Amor dan Humor (1961) and appeared with Baby Huwae and Rendra Karno, and then starred in Bajangan Diwaktu Fajar (1962), a joint production between Indonesia and Singapore. Zainab then retired from acting for nine years and returned by starring in Hostess Anita (1971) as a minor role.[1]

In 1977, Zainab appeared in three films. She starred as a minor role in Cowok Komersil (1977), a film about playboy man portrayed by Robby Sugara and Darah Daging (1977), a film about a maid who falls in love with a boarding student, and as a supporting role in Para Perintis Kemerdekaan (1977), a film about the struggle for independence which was adapted from a novel titled Di Bawah Lindungan Ka'bah. She made her last film appearance by starring in CHIPS Dalam Kejutan (1983), a comedy film about a group that tackles social problems as a supporting role.

Filmography

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Biran 1979, p. 552.
  2. ^ a b Kristanto 2005, p. 7.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Soelin, Emsjaf (20 June 1951). "Zainab, Bintang Harapan Panggung Sandiwara dari Ratu Asia". Aneka (in Indonesian).
  4. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 25.
  5. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 30.
  6. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 26.
  7. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 47.
  8. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 49.
  9. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 57.
  10. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 62.
  11. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 82.
  12. ^ a b Kristanto 2005, p. 149.
  13. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 160.
  14. ^ Kristanto 2005, p. 238.

General and cited sources

  • Biran, Misbach Yusa, ed. (1979). Apa Siapa Orang Film Indonesia 1926–1978 [What and Who: Film Figures in Indonesia, 1926–1978]. Sinematek Indonesia. OCLC 6655859.
  • Kristanto, JB, ed. (2005). Katalog Film Indonesia 1926– 2005. Jakarta: Nalar. ISBN 978-979-26-9006-4.

Siti Zainab at IMDb

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