Happy Salma
Salma in 2012
Born	(1980-01-04) January 4, 1980 (age 44) Sukabumi, West Java, Indonesia
Nationality	Indonesian
Occupation(s)	Actress, writer, theatrical producer
Spouse	Tjokorda Bagus Dwi Santana Kertayasa (2010)
Children	2
Parent(s)	Dachlan Suhendra (father) Iis Rohaeni (mother)
Awards	Citra Award (2010)

Happy Salma (born 4 January 1980) is an Indonesian actress, theater producer and jewelry entrepreneur. In 2020, Tatler Asia named her as one of the most influential figures in Asia.^[1]

Happy Salma started her career in the entertainment industry as an actress in numerous sinetron (Indonesian soap operas).^[2] While pursuing her career in the entertainment industry, she realized her passion in Indonesian literature. She published two short stories books, namely Pulang (2006)^[3] which was nominated for Khatulistiwa Literary Award ^[4] and Telaga Fatamorgana (2008).^[5] Her short stories also featured in Titian: Anthology of Pupular Short Stories (2008),^[6] Lobakan: Short Story Anthology (2009), 24 Sauh Short Story Collaboration (2009)^[7] and Dari Murai ke Sangkar Emas (2009). In addition, Happy Salma wrote a collaborative novel with Pidi Baiq entitled Hanya Salju dan Pisau Batu (2010).^[8] Lately, she wrote and published a creative biography of Desak Nyoman Suarti "The Warrior Daughter" (2015).^[9][10]

Her passion in literature also led her to the theater or art performances. Her first debut on stage in 2007 as Nyai Ontosoroh in a performance entitled "Nyai Ontosoroh".^[11] In 2009, Happy Salma played a monologue "Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk" in Amsterdam, Bern-Swiss,^[12] and Taman Ismail Marzuki, whose story was adapted from the novel Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk by Ahmad Tohari and then followed by another performance, namely "Jabang Tetuko" (2011),^[13] Java War "Opera Diponegoro" (2011),^[14] "Monolog Inggit" (2011 - 2014), "Roro Mendut" (2012),^[15] "#3Perempuanku, Bukan Bunga Bukan Lelaki" (2015),^[16] several theater performances with "Indonesia Kita" ^[17] and again played a role as Nyai Ontosoroh in "Bunga Penutup Abad" (2016 - 2017).

In line with her love and passion in art performances, Happy Salma founded a Titimangsa Fondation for arts and culture,^[18] which produced numerous major performances, such as Nyanyi Sunyi Revolusi ^[19] and Cinta Tak Pernah Sederhana in 2019.^[20]

Happy Salma has received many awards for acting, including: Best Supporting Actress at the 2008 Bandung Film Festival (Rinduku Cintamu),^[21] Best Supporting Actress at the 2010 Indonesian Film Festival (7 Hati 7 Cinta 7 Wanita), Best Supporting Actress and Favorite Supporting Actress at the 2011 Indonesian Movie Awards (7 Hati 7 Cinta 7 Wanita), Best Actress Award by Jakarta Art Institute in 2014,^[22] as well as Best Performance and Best Short Film in Plaza Indonesia Short Film Festival 2016 for short film "Ibu dan Anak Perempuannya".^[23]

Apart from being actress, Happy Salma is a film director. She directed an omnibus film 'Rectoverso' along with Marcella Zalianty, Olga Lidya, Cathy Sharon, and Rachel Maryam.^[24] She directed a shot film "Kamis ke-300" ^[25] and "Ibu dan Anak Perempuannya".

In 2020, Happy Salma directed a series entitled "Masakan Rumah" which were screened in Mola TV.^[26][27]

On 12 February 2022, actress Happy Salma attended the premiere of the competition film "Nana" (Before, Now & Then) directed by Kamila Andini at The 72nd Berlin International Film Festival. According to Hollywoodreporter, "...lead actor Happy Salma offer a precisely calibrated, emotionally nuanced exploration of one woman going through a mid-life crisis in rural Indonesia during the 1960s that both looks and sounds stunning thanks to above-and-beyond craft contributions."^[28]

"... Salma really has the most astonishingly beautiful face, enhanced with an immense range of expressive subtlety that’s reminiscent of Juliette Binoche, and the curvaceous figure of a young Sophia Loren, or Kim Kardashian if that’s your frame of reference. She also moves with an uncanny, slow grace, like she’s moving according to a frame rate from the silent era."^[29]

In 2022, Happy Salma won Best Female Lead at the 2022 Indonesian Movie Actors Awards (IMAA) for her role as Nana in the film Before, Now, and Then (Nana). ^[30] She also won Movie Actress of The Year by Film Pilihan Tempo 2022 for her role in the film Before, Now, and Then (Nana).^[31]

Beside acting and literature, Happy Salma also manage a jewelry business under the brand Tulola,^[32] which she founded with Sri Luce Rusna and Franka Makarim. Tulola has a very unique concept with design that explore Indonesian literature, culture, and nature. Happy Salma has a role as Founder and Creative Conceptor.^[33] She adapt the initial inspiration to be created into jewelry design. For example, jewelry product that inspired by Indonesian music 'keroncong' is Juwita Malam Collection.^[34] In 2013, Tulola launched "Pitaloka" Collection that inspired by a tale of the Bubat War in 1367 and beautiful Sundanese princess Dyah Pitaloka Citraresmi.^[35] In 2015, Tulola launched "Women of Bumi Manusia" that inspired by a great Indonesian literature namely Bumi Manusia or This Earth of Mankind written by Pramoedya Ananta Toer.^[36] Then, Tulola launched many series of collection including "Lingkaran Semesta" (2016),^[37] "Truth" (2017),^[38] "Ubud" (2018),^[39] "Dewi Sri" (2018),^[40] "Perjalanan Kenangan" (2019),^[41] "Puspita" (2019) inspired by 5 character of Yogyakarta Princess (Putri Keraton Yogyakarta),^[42] "Nusantara" (2019) a collaboration with Indonesian actor Reza Rahadian, Indonesian singer Andien and Eva Celia,^[43] "Dengan Tanganku, Aku Merakit Mimpimu" (2019) inspired by a book entitled "Kuantar ke Gerbang" written by Ramadhan K.H.,^[44] and "Jiwa Penuh Sinar" (2021).^[45]

Tulola now has several stores in Bali and Jakarta, including Seminyak, Kemang, Plaza Senayan, and Plaza Indonesia.^[46] For further information about Tulola Jewelry can be found at www.shoptulola.com

On 3 October 2010, Happy Salma married Tjokorda Bagus Dwi Santana Kertayasa, a man of noble descent from Ubud, Bali.^[47] They married in Puri Saren, Gianyar Regency, Bali. The couple has two children: Tjokorda Sri Kinandari Kerthyasa (b. 2015) and Tjokorda Ngurah Rayidaru Kerthyasa (b. 2018).

She converted from Islam to Hinduism, became queen and member of the Lordship of Ubud after marriage.^[48]

• "Pulang" (2006)
• "Telaga Fatamorgana" (2008)
• "Hanya Salju dan Pisau Batu" (2010), a collaboration with Pidi Baiq
• "The Warrior Daughter" (2015), a creative biography of Desak Nyoman Suarti

Footnotes

Bibliography

• Febrina, Anissa S. (31 August 2009). "Revitalizing the Classics". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• I Wayan Juniartha (11 August 2011). "Festival supports local filmmakers". The Jakarta Post. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• Veda, Titania (12 June 2009). "Reviving a Nation's Literary Heritage". The Jakarta Globe. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma" (in Indonesian). TokohIndonesia.com. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma – Celebrity Biography" (in Indonesian). KapanLagi.com. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma encourages literacy". The Jakarta Post. 15 June 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma explores traditional dance". The Jakarta Post. 3 March 2009. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma returns to silver screen as prostitute". The Jakarta Post. 1 July 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma to release new book". The Jakarta Post. 15 June 2010. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "Happy Salma's Wedding Warrants a Royal Reception". The Jakarta Globe. 18 October 2010. Archived from the original on 28 September 2012. Retrieved 14 August 2011.
• "The high and low of Seven Women". The Jakarta Post. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 14 August 2011.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Happy Salma.

• Happy Salma at IMDb