Indonesia’s Visinema Launches ‘Keluarga Cemara: The Musical’

Visinema Studios, the family division of leading Indonesian entertainment company Visinema Group, is set to make its debut in live theater with “Keluarga Cemara: The Musical.”

“Keluarga Cemara” (aka “Cemara Family”) has previously existed as a classic Indonesian novel about a family facing up to financial hardship, but emerging resilient and optimistic. It has since been adapted as two feature films “Keluarga Cemara” and “Keluarga Cemara 2,” which attracted over two million theatrical admissions, and the recent “Keluarga Cemara: The Series” which played on Disney+ Hotstar Indonesia.

The stage show will be presented with cultural institution Galeri Indonesia Kaya and the Teater Musikal Nusantara. The show will be executive produced by Anggia Kharisma, previously the producer for the film and series adaptations. Cristian Imanuell, head of Studio Visinema Pictures, serves as the musical’s producer alongside Billy Gamaliel from Galeri Indonesia Kaya and Chriskevin Adefrid from Teater Musikal Nusantara.

The show includes innovations such as a guaranteed month-long run, spanning June and July 2024, when most Indonesian stage shows are programmed for a single weekend. It will also English subtitles, in order to widen the potential audience to include expatriate locals and international visitors. Low cost ticketing will start at $13.

“We’re delivering a live experience unlike anything audiences have seen before in Indonesia. We want theater to be as captivating and accessible as pop concerts, becoming an integral part of the urban entertainment landscape,” said Herry Salim, president of Visinema Group and CEO of Visinema Studios.

Visinema Group was founded in 2008 by filmmaker, Angga Sasongko and has since expanded to include production companies Visinema Pictures, Visinema Studio, and Visinema Content, and story distribution through Bioskop Online, and Intellectual Property development.

The company last year saw two of its films, “24 Hours with Gaspar” and “Ali Topan,” selected by the Busan International Film Festival. It has also had commercial success with a rare action blockbuster “13 Bombs,” which scored investment from Korea’s Barunson E&A and this week plays at the Far East Film Festival in Italy’s Udine.