Indonesian arts news: Performer Den Baguse Ngarso passes away

Susilo Nugroho, a veteran performer and comedian widely known as Den Baguse Ngarso, has passed away in Yogyakarta. He died at his home in Mantrijeron on Monday, September 21, 2026. Family members reported that he had been active and receiving guests as recently as Sunday afternoon before experiencing chest pains late that night.

In other cultural news, director Yosep Anggi Noen has addressed the stigma surrounding arthouse cinema in Indonesia. Denying the notion that arthouse filmmakers do not care about audience numbers, Anggi stated that viewership is essential for the sustainability of the craft. He highlighted the success of previous films like ‘Istirahatlah Kata-Kata’ and ‘Marlina si Pembunuh dalam Empat Babak’ as evidence of a positive trend in the genre's reception.