15 Facts About Roekiah

Roekiah, often credited as Miss Roekiah, was an Indonesian kroncong singer and actress.

Roekiah was born in Bandoeng, Preanger Regencies Residency, Dutch East Indies, in 1917 to Mohammad Ali and Ningsih, actors with the Opera Poesi Indra Bangsawan troupe; Ali was originally from Belitung who traveled with Royal Comedy troupe in 1913, while Ningsih was of Sundanese descent and came from Cianjur.

Roekiah insisted on becoming an actress, despite the opposition of her family, and asked her mother for permission to perform on stage.

Roekiah was admired not only for her voice, but her beauty.

In 1937, Roekiah made her first film appearance as the leading lady in Albert Balink's.

Now jobless and depressed after the death of her mother, according to journalist W Imong, Roekiah "kept silent, constantly musing as if she were mentally disturbed".

Roekiah found the tall and good-looking Djoemala a suitable replacement, and hired him, giving him the stage name Rd Djoemala.

Roekiah's performance received praise from the Bataviaasch Nieuwsblad, which wrote that she had performed well in the difficult role.

Roekiah fell ill in February 1945, not long after completing Ke Seberang.

Roekiah's funeral was attended by the Minister of Education Ki Hajar Dewantara.

Roekiah said that she felt Kartolo was a good match with her, stating that the marriage brought them "great fortune".

Roekiah appeared regularly in advertisements, and numerous records with her vocal performances were available on the market.

One fan, in a 1996 interview, recalled that Roekiah was "every man's idol", while others christened Roekiah as Indonesia's Dorothy Lamour.

Roekiah always left her audiences riveted to their seats when she began crooning her kroncong songs.

Roekiah's films were screened regularly, but most are now lost.