Hold onto your seats as the acclaimed Indonesian film and cult classic Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? makes its return.
The 2002 film is a timeless coming-of-age story that, at its core, is about community.
While the film carries all the hallmarks of a classic romance, it doesn’t shy away from tackling grittier themes such as domestic abuse, government corruption, and – most notably – the growing pains of entering young adulthood.
Die-hard fans of the franchise will be ecstatic to know that Nicholas Saputra, actor of the iconic Rangga in the original film, will still play a vital role in the reboot: returning not as an actor, but a co-producer.
Teaming up with the heads of Miles Films, director Riri Riza and producer Mira Lesmana, the 2025 reboot Rangga & Cinta will be a musical romance drama: retelling the timeless love story between Rangga and Cinta with a melodic twist.
In an exclusive interview with CNN Indonesia, producer Mira Lesmana explained how one of the biggest motivations behind the revival of Ada Apa Dengan Cinta? was to “present a new generation of the Indonesian film industry".
"Indeed, from the beginning, one of the reasons we wanted to retell the story was [because] Riri, Nicho and I chatted and felt that it was time to present new faces of our films for the future of Indonesian films.
“I think the (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta?) story is the most appropriate story because it is a story for the younger generation, teenagers, and the film is also well-known,” Mira said in a press conference in Central Jakarta recently.
Every single casting was a decision that demanded intense and scrupulous deliberation, as recounted by co-director Nicholas in an interview with Tempo.
Nicholas noted how Miles Films had to sift through over 700 auditions before finally narrowing it down to the current cast – a gruelling process that took over six months to complete. – Sinar Daily
