Jakarta, January 23, 2025 — What does it feel like when parents who have loved and sacrificed so much to see their children grow well suddenly disappear from their lives? Are we, as children, ready to go through life without their comforting nagging and advice? A deeply emotional journey about the feeling of loss is presented in the latest film from Sinemaku Pictures, produced and directed by Umay Shahab, “Perayaan Mati Rasa” (The Celebration of Numbness).
“Perayaan Mati Rasa” follows the story of IAN Antono (Iqbaal Ramadhan). As the first child, Ian fights to achieve his dreams with his friends and works hard to meet the expectations he has built, even though it pulls him away from his family. However, when a major event causes Ian to lose his parents suddenly, Ian struggles to stay strong and buries all his emotions until he becomes numb.
Starring Iqbaal Ramadhan, Umay Shahab, Dwi Sasono, Unique Priscilla, Devano Danendra, Randy Danistha, Abdul Qodir Jaelani, Priscilla Jamail, Tj Ruth, Lukman Sardi, Vonny Anggraini, Donny Alamsyah, Sadha Triyudha, with special appearances by Iga Massardi and Romantic Echoes, “Perayaan Mati Rasa” invites viewers to reflect on the Antono family’s story as they experience an emotional crisis when their lives are shaken by a painful loss.
Ian (Iqbaal Ramadhan) and Uta (Umay Shahab) are siblings with different fates. Ian is still building his music career with the indie band Midnight Serenade, which he formed with Ray Alvero (Devano Danendra), Saka Wijaya (Dul Jaelani), and Dika Ardana (Randy Danistha). Midnight Serenade keeps performing on audition stages, trying to get signed to a label and have their music heard by more people. Meanwhile, Uta is a popular podcaster with a large social media following and has even won an award for her podcast content.
The two paths seem to grow further apart. Ian feels the pressure to chase his dreams while living up to his family’s expectations. Meanwhile, Uta seems to be the ‘golden child’ to their parents, Satya Antono (Dwi Sasono) and Dini Antono (Unique Priscilla). The family only starts to come together when a great loss strikes. This loss becomes a storm that changes their lives, forcing them to create a web of lies that worsens their family crisis.
In his third film, Umay Shahab further demonstrates his storytelling skill through the medium of film. He layers emotions in a subtle manner while assembling a cast that brings the story to life. As producer, director, and actor, “Perayaan Mati Rasa” becomes a work that shows Umay’s personal touch as a filmmaker who is honest in his storytelling.
“Through ‘Perayaan Mati Rasa’, I wanted to tell a more honest story. This story comes from my own fear of losing my parents. Through the characters of Ian and Uta, we will see how the feeling of loss looks from a child’s perspective, from siblings facing their internal conflicts, and how both of them go through this process, which is not easy, but there is an effort to strengthen each other, as they have only each other left,” said producer, director, and actor Umay Shahab.
Iqbaal Ramadhan, who plays Ian, added that his role in “Perayaan Mati Rasa” pushed him to deepen his acting by delivering more subtle layers of emotion that feel convincing and resonate with the audience.
“Ian Antono is a character that I believe offers an important lesson in my journey as an actor. There’s maturity in conveying emotions that are very human, but then processing them into a character that feels believable. That way, the audience can resonate with what Ian is going through,” said actor and executive producer of “Perayaan Mati Rasa”, Iqbaal Ramadhan.
“Perayaan Mati Rasa” also offers a unique approach that is rare in Indonesian cinema today, presenting a band, Midnight Serenade, which not only creates songs featured in the film but also releases them for the public to enjoy. Midnight Serenade, with their song “Laut”, which is also part of the film’s OST, performs at live shows, including at Sinemaku Day 2025 x Festival Perayaan Mati Rasa. This brings a refreshing element to Indonesian cinema, where a band is fully integrated into the story, releasing several singles and an EP, rather than just being a decorative feature for the film’s artistic needs. Iqbaal, along with Devano, Randy, and Dul Jaelani, together created music that became an essential part of the story and the film.
Executive producer of “Perayaan Mati Rasa” and CMO of Sinemaku Pictures, Prilly Latuconsina, stated that her production house continues to grow and evolve by presenting innovative works, including “Perayaan Mati Rasa”.
“‘Perayaan Mati Rasa’ will mark the beginning of a long journey for Sinemaku Pictures in 2025. This year is a crucial point for us to continue evolving and responding to relevant issues in society, not only among young people but across all age groups. In this film, besides addressing conflicts young people face regarding seeking validation within their families and chasing dreams, it also highlights how parenting is important to guide children in developing strong values. We can also learn from what Satya and Dini Antono experience as a married couple,” said executive producer Prilly Latuconsina.
Let’s celebrate “Perayaan Mati Rasa” with Ian and Uta Antono and the songs of Midnight Serenade starting January 29, 2025, in cinemas across Indonesia. Keep up with the latest updates on this film presented by Sinemaku Pictures on their official Instagram account @sinemaku_pictures.
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