Comedian turns singer for Bahasa Kita Kita

Given the Filipino’s music tastes, the Bahasa song Darling by Dodit Mulyanto will never pass muster as the theme of a romantic comedy picture. But the wacky ballad with a truly hilarious video is what Indonesians have been listening to a lot these days.

First because it is sung by Mulyanto, one of the country’s most popular young comedians. Known for his ordinary looks, quiet, shy demeanor and irreverent humor, he is the Indonesian Everyman. He does stand-up comedy, acts in films and is now also a hit recording artist. Darling is his singing debut.

Second, Darling is the theme of the movie Love is Blind or Cintu Itu Buta, which also stars Mulyanto as the oddball Nik and the lovely Shandy Aulia as Diah. The two play unlikely lovers.  They are Indonesians working in Busan, Korea. Diah, who just lost her boyfriend to another woman, is afflicted with temporary blindness. She meets Nik whose kindness and sense of humor help her through her ordeal.  

Do not be surprised if the plot seems familiar. It should be, given the fact that a lot of moviegoers sat through a lot of smiles and tears and were thoroughly entertained by the Filipino movie Kita Kita only a year ago. Truth to tell, Love is Blind is the Indonesian adaptation of Kita Kita. The 2017 Spring Films production that was picked up by Viva Films and which now has theatrical grosses of almost P400M. It is the most successful indie film in local motion picture history. It is also the very first Filipino movie to be honored with a remake by a foreign production and director.

The original Kita Kita stars the award-winning dramatic actress Alessandra de Rossi as Lea and the Mr. Suave contest winner Empoy Marquez as Tonyo. They are the unlikely lovers.  They play Filipinos working in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Lea, who just lost her boyfriend to another woman, is afflicted with temporary blindness. She meets Tonyo, whose kindness and sense of humor help her through her ordeal. Very much like Love is Blind.

Kita Kita is directed by Sigrid Andrea Bernardo, who has been in the business for only a few years and is known for making edgy stuff like Ang Huling Cha Cha ni Anita and Ang Paghihintay Sa Bulong. Alessandra is known for heavy roles.  Empoy is the eternal sidekick to the handsome hero. They all took new roads for Kita Kita and together they made cinema magic in a lovely, sweet to the heart romance that conquered the box-office and has now also invaded foreign shores. Rumors have it that there are now other countries who are also interested in producing their own versions of Kita Kita.

Love is Blind or Cintu Itu Buta of Indonesia is directed by Rachmania Arunita and is produced by Marsio Juwono in partnership with MM2, Reflection Pictures, Ideosource Entertainment and Viva Films of the Philippines. It is set to open in Indonesian theaters on Oct. 10 and will also be shown in other countries in Southeast Asia like Malaysia, Singapore and of course, the Philippines. It also stars Chae In Woo as Jun Ho.

And now back to the theme song of Love is Blind, the ballad Darling half-sung by Mulyanto. It is expected to become a bigger hit after the movie opens. Now that should not surprise anybody.  The love theme is a very important element in romantic comedies. The song chosen is just like an actor playing a crucial role. Bernardo was very successful in her choice of song. It was the soaring ballad Two Less Lonely People In The World by the legendary duo from Australia, the Air Supply, who I must say are big favorites among Pinoys.

The use of Two Less Lonely People In The World in Kita Kita created its own kind of success which just like the picture was an unlikely, wonderful surprise. The original recording from the ‘70s by Air Supply returned to the local hit charts. However, it did not make No. 1 because perched on the top rung for many weeks was Two Less Lonely People In The World as performed by KZ Tandingan for the Kita Kita soundtrack. Needless to say, the song, the movie all helped propel Tandingan’s career to new heights.