By Adnan Hameed TWA ______ The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia, in collaboration with the ASEAN Committee in Islamabad (ACI), successfully hosted an ASEAN Movie Night event featuring the award-winning Indonesian film "Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap" (Missing Home), directed by Bene Dion Rajagukguk. The event was a delightful fusion of cinema and cuisine, celebrating the rich cultural ties and immense similarities between Indonesia and Pakistan.

In his welcoming remarks, Indonesia Chargé d’ Affaires (CDA) Mr. Rahmat Hindiarta highlighted the event's aim to strengthen friendships among ASEAN family members and to extend this spirit of camaraderie to the Pakistani community. “Moreover, I also wish to transfer the spirit of friendship among us to our brothers and sisters in Pakistan and beyond,” he said. Mr. Hindiarta encouraged Pakistani filmmakers to explore the potentials of the creative economy in Indonesia and the ASEAN region. He elaborated on the significant growth of Indonesia’s film industry, noting, “The film industry is currently the fastest-growing sub-sector of Indonesia's creative economy. The number of moviegoers in the country was more than 55 million in 2023. And in 2023, the local film industry in Indonesia set a new record with 20 movies, each attracting over 1 million viewers. In recent years, the film and entertainment industry in ASEAN countries has experienced robust growth.” The evening began with a video presentation on the ASEAN Summit 2023, held in the enchanting paradise of Labuan Bajo, one of Indonesia's ten new Balis, followed by the screening of "Ngeri-Ngeri Sedap." This comedy film, released in 2022, tells the story of an elderly couple from the Batak tribal family in Toba Lake, North Sumatra, Indonesia. The film humorously depicts the couple's efforts to bring their three sons back home by pretending to divorce. The movie showcases Indonesia's humor, mutual respect, ideal parenting, local wisdom, cultural richness, and the natural beauty of Lake Toba, a UNESCO Global Geopark since 2020.

Guests also enjoyed a variety of Indonesian dishes, including bakso (meatball soup), chicken satay (sweet saucy BBQ), onde-onde (glutinous rice balls dessert), and more. The event concluded with guests receiving goodie bags from Indomie, the world’s largest instant noodle brand, which manufactures in Faisalabad with flavors tailored to the Pakistani market.