The film’s primary strength lies in its nuanced portrayal of its protagonist. KH. Hasyim Asy’ari, played with remarkable gravitas by Ikranagara, is not depicted as a one-dimensional holy man or a firebrand revolutionary. Instead, he is a frail, aging scholar who initially preaches patience and religious devotion. His famous pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Tebuireng, Jombang, is a haven of prayer and learning. The film carefully establishes this peaceful world to later shatter it. The arrival of the Japanese occupation forces, who replace the Dutch, forces Hasyim into a painful evolution. He must reconcile his deep-seated belief in non-violence and religious piety with the brutal reality of romusha (forced labor) and religious desecration. A pivotal scene shows the Japanese forcing Hasyim to bow in respect—a severe violation of Islamic teachings on prostration reserved only for God. It is this spiritual humiliation, not just physical suffering, that galvanizes him. The film masterfully shows that the Kiai’s eventual call for jihad is not a leap into extremism but a slow, agonizing, and logical conclusion drawn from a shattered moral universe.
is a prestigious Indonesian biographical drama film released in 2013 that chronicles the life of K.H. Hasyim Asy’ari , the influential founder of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU). Directed by Rako Prijanto and produced by Rapi Films, the movie serves as both a historical record and a tribute to the "Jihad Resolution" that sparked Indonesia's fight for independence. Plot Overview and Historical Context film sang kiai
(2013) is a powerful Indonesian biographical drama that chronicles the life of K.H. Hasyim Asy'ari , the revered founder of Nahdlatul Ulama (NU) . Directed by Rako Prijanto The film’s primary strength lies in its nuanced