16 September 2007 (2007-09-16) – 9 April 2024 (2024-04-09)
Para Pencari Tuhan (The Godseekers) is an Indonesian television series created by Deddy Mizwar. The series focuses on a musalla caretaker Bang Jack (portrayed by Deddy Mizwar) and people living around him as they learn to practice Islamic value in their lives. It is first aired on 16 September 2007. It is aired only every Holy month of Ramadan, during suhur on 03:00–04:30 WIB in Season 1–6, and 03:00–04:00 WIB in Season 7–present and during iftar on 18:00–19:00 WIB (in Season 1–6 and season 13) on SCTV. This show also features a Telequiz. As of 2023, the series had 453 episodes across sixteen seasons and had been renewed for the seventeenth.[1] In 2023, it received a record for Longest Continuous Ramadan Religion Series from Indonesian World Records Museum.[2]
Premise
The series originally focuses on three ex-criminals, Chelsea, Barong, and Juki who have recently been released from prison and are unable to go back to their previous lives. They soon find themselves in a musalla and let its caretaker Bang Jack (portrayed by Deddy Mizwar) guide them. The series also has several subplots taking place in the same village, such as Ustad Ferry's job as a television presenter, the romance between Ferry's sister-in-law Aya and her old friend Azam, and the economic struggles of two best friends Udin and Asrul who have a mixed relationship with the rich businessman Jalal. Over the seasons, there are changes in the character lineup and eventually the original village is destroyed by a flood in the eleventh season. Later seasons focus on Bang Jack, Jalal, Udin and Asrul along with new characters in new settings.
Cast
Main
Season 1
Deddy Mizwar as Ahmad Zakaria "Bang Jack", H. Husin Tabi'at (season 12), Nagabonar (season 12)
Series writer Wahyu H.S. said that in 2007, SCTV wanted to air a soap opera during sahur time instead of the more common variety show. Wahyu and Citra Sinema creative team pitched a story about three ex-convicts who learn Islam from a marbot after being released from prison yet rejected from their old lives. The original pitched title was Belajar Insyaf (Learning to Repent), but after SCTV asked for a title change, it was changed to the final title Para Pencari Tuhan, which was suggested by the producer, Deddy Mizwar.[3]
Prior to the thirteenth season, Deddy Mizwar said that many actors, such as Idrus Madani and Agus Kuncoro, stopped appearing because they moved to another production houses. Deddy also believed that it would be hard to insert old characters into a new story when their arc have ended.[4] A similar sentiment was expressed by Deddy before the fifteenth season; he said that the story arc for old characters would revolve around the same theme all over again.[5]
Casting
In thirteenth to fourteenth season, Syakir Daulay were cast to play Ustad David.[6] Betari Ayu to portray Zahro.[7] Yasamin Jasem was selected to portray Alexandria.[8]
In fifteenth season, Lavicky Nicholas was roped in to play Habib. Dinda Kirana was chosen to play Matahari.[9] Dea Lestari and Tio Pakusadewo was cast to play Lara and Galaxy.[10] Maudy Koesnaedi was cast as Nurjannah.[11]Andre Taulany joined the cast as Deo.[12]
Reception
Viewership
According to AGB Nielsen data, the first season of Para Pencari Tuhan gained 32% share in average dan was watched by nearly all age demographics.[13]
SCTV's public relations said that Para Pencari Tuhan third season gained 20.7% share per episode.[14]
During the promotion for the seventeenth season, SCTV's Deputy Director of Programming, Banardi Rachmad, said that the fifteenth season gained 21% share and the sixteenth gained 26%.[15]
^Wahyu H. Sudarmo (16 June 2016). "Lahirnya Sebuah Sejarah" [The Birth of a History]. In Pradikha Bestari (ed.). Para Pencari Tuhan (in Indonesian) (1 ed.). Jakarta: Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia. ISBN9786024240929. Retrieved 12 April 2023.
^Ahmad Faishal Adnan (26 November 2023). Natisha Andarningtyas (ed.). "Daftar pemenang piala Anugerah KPI 2023" [List of Anugerah KIP 2023 winners]. ANTARA (in Indonesian). Retrieved 28 November 2023.
^Aguslia Hidayah (5 November 2008). "Para Pencari Tuhan Diputar di Jepang" [Para Pencari Tuhan Is Screened in Japan]. Tempo.co (in Indonesian). Retrieved 12 April 2023.