“Cigarette Girl” (Indonesian: Gadis Kretek) is an Indonesian television series that intertwines romance and historical drama, set against the backdrop of Indonesia’s tobacco industry. The narrative spans two time periods: the 1960s and the early 2000s, exploring themes of love, ambition, and societal challenges.
Plot Summary
The story begins in 2001 with Raja, a terminally ill kretek manufacturer who reflects on his long-lost love, Jeng Yah. He urges his son, Lebas, to find her as he wishes to fulfill his dying wish. This quest leads Lebas to a kretek museum where he meets Arum, a doctor intrigued by a photo of her mother Rukayah, who is revealed to be Jeng Yah’s sister Dasiyah.
In the 1960s, Dasiyah is the ambitious daughter of Idroes Moeria, owner of Kretek Merdeka company. She dreams of creating new kretek flavors but faces gender-based restrictions in her patriarchal society. Her life changes when she meets Raja, an employee at her father’s factory. They fall in love and work together on developing a rose-derived flavor for kreteks. However, Dasiyah is pressured into an arranged marriage with Seno, another tobacco manufacturer’s son.
As political turmoil escalates in Indonesia during this period, their love story becomes increasingly complicated. After various trials including imprisonment and betrayal involving their families and business rivals, Dasiyah eventually marries Seno but faces tragedy when he dies in duty.
Years later, Raja marries Purwanti but remains haunted by his past with Dasiyah. The narrative culminates in emotional reunions and revelations about lost love and stolen recipes that connect both timelines.
Ultimately, “Cigarette Girl” is not just a tale about tobacco; it delves into the struggles for personal freedom and identity amidst societal constraints while highlighting Indonesia’s rich cultural heritage.
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