Misbach Yusa Biran

• Name — Misbach Yusa Biran • Born — 11 September 1933 • Birthplace — Rangkasbitung, Dutch East Indies • Died — 11 April 2012 • Place of death — South Tangerang, Indonesia • Occupation — * Writer • director • columnist • Relatives — Ida Farida (sister)

Biran was born in Rangkasbitung, in the Lebak Regency, to a Minangkabau father and a Bantenese mother. In 1969, he married actress Nani Widjaja. They had six children, two of whom (Cahya Kamila and Sukma Ayu) also went into the film industry.

Biran graduated from Taman Madya Bagian B, in Jakarta. He first began directing plays in the early 1950s, whilst at school, whilst he additionally wrote film reviews and produced literature works. However, after his graduation, he chose a career in film.

• Illustration — Peran Pemuda dalam Kebangkitan Film Indonesia (2009) Biran was an active journalist: he was the Chief Editor of Minggu Abadi (1958–1959), Purnama (1962–1963), and later as an Editor of Duta Masjarakat (1965–1966), Abad Muslimin (1966), and Gelanggang (1967). His literary works included Bung Besar (drama, 1958), which was awarded second prize in a screenwriting competition by the Ministry of Education and Culture in 1958; Setengah Djam Mendjelang Maut (Drama, 1968); Menjusuri Djedjak Berdarah (novel, 1969); Keajaiban di Pasar Senen (anthology of short stories, 1971); and Oh, Film (anthology of short stories, 1973). The latter two story collections were bound and reprinted under the title Keajaiban di Pasar Senen in 1996. Biran launched a book on Teknik Menulis Skenario Film Cerita on 30 January 2007.

Biran died on 11 April 2012 at the Eka Hospital, Serpong, Tangerang, Banten after a prolonged struggle with lung cancer. He was 78.

• Pesta Musik La Bana (1960) • Holiday in Bali (1962) • Bintang Ketjil (1963) • Panggilan Nabi Ibrahim (1964) • Apa Jang Kautangisi (1965) • Dibalik Tjahaja Gemerlapan (1966) • Menjusuri Djedjak Berdarah (1967) • Operasi X (1968) • Honey Money and Djakarta Fair (1970)

• Menyusuri Jejak Berdarah (1967) • Ayahku (1987) • Fatahillah (1997)

His recorded language was Indonesian. He married Nani Widjaja. 4 children are recorded: Sukma Ayu, Cahya Kamila, Nina Kartika and Tita Fitrah Soraya.