Film Ayat Ayat Cinta

Mar 10th, 2008, in News, by

The Islamic romance film “Ayat Ayat Cinta”, political Islam, and pesantren prodigies.

The wildly popular novel by Habiburrahman El-Shirazy (download PDF), and now film, Ayat Ayat Cinta (Love Verses), tells the story of young handsome Fahri bin Abdullah Shiddiq (played by Fedi Nuril), an Indonesian student attending Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt, who attracts beautiful young women left, right, and centre, four of them in fact:

  • Nurul (played by Melanie Putria), also an Indonesian in Egypt, the daughter of an important East Java kyai.
  • Noura (Zaskia Adya Mecca), an ungrateful Egyptian girl (Fahri saves her life but she betrays him later).
  • Maria (Carissa Putri) a Coptic Christian living next door to Fahri, who inexplicably converts to Islam at the end of the film.
  • Aisha (Rianti Cartwright), from a wealthy German-Arab family.

In the end Fahri plumps for the rich girl Aisha and they no doubt live happily ever after.

Ayat Ayat Cinta
Ayat Ayat Cinta.

The book and film have been taken up by some on the Islamist side of politics, including parliament chairman Hidayat Nur Wahid of the PKS, who on 7th March met with some of the cast and crew of the film. Hidayat said he hadn’t seen the film, and he hoped there was no violence or pornography in it, but he had read the book and liked it.

Ayat Ayat Cinta novel
Ayat Ayat Cinta novel.

Hidayat said the book’s author, Habiburrahman El-Shiraz, was a good example of a new generation of writers who had attended Islamic boarding schools (pesantren) and who could bring Islamic teachings to the masses. l6

Separately Habiburrahman himself, usually called Kang Abik, 32 years old, says he wants people to know that pesantren schools don’t just teach religion but universal subjects as well.

Habiburrahman El-Shirazy
Habiburrahman El-Shirazy

He has three more Islamic novels due out soon, Langit Mekah Berwarna Merah (Red Sky of Mecca), Bidadari Bermata Bening (Radiant Eyed Angel), and Bulan Madu di Yerussalem (Honeymoon in Jerusalem). l6

Ayat-Ayat Cinta Trailer 1

Trailer 2


92 Comments on “Film Ayat Ayat Cinta”

  1. Sylvester says:

    Maria (Carissa Putri) a Coptic Christian living next door to Fahri, who inexplicably converts to Islam at the end of the film.

    No wonder PKS like this movie.

  2. Aluang Anak Bayang says:

    If I am much younger, I would have auditioned for the casanova role. I have the charisma and the looks. Besides, I was a stud during my younger wild years and would have easily converted dozens of Ozzie sheilas if I had wanted to. I will be happy to help Fedi Nuril with some free pointers if he asked.

  3. Murphy says:

    Why go only for lowly sheilas? If you’re much much younger (like 10 years old), then you would have easily converted dozens of higher authorities. Shame you started so late…

  4. Aluang Anak Bayang says:

    I am talking about Oz Land. Never knew there were ‘higher’ species or ‘ladies’ downunder.

  5. Lairedion says:

    Besides, I was a stud during my younger wild years

    Does this mean you’re not a stud anymore? 😉

  6. Murphy says:

    And I’m not talking about female authorities either.

  7. Cukurungan says:

    Does this mean you’re not a stud anymore?

    How can he stud anymore while he need Viagra just to help his urine trajectory does not fall in his foot

  8. dewaratugedeanom says:

    I suspect this Habiburrahman isn’t a real Submitter. As a good Muslim he should have let the protagonist of his story marry all 4 of them.

  9. Riyoz says:

    ‘No wonder PKS like this movie.’

    Do they ?…..

  10. Ross says:

    Having been dragged unwillingly to see the movie (tonight it’s my turn -off to Slipi to see the latest pocong horror!) I have to admit, grudgingly, to having enjoyed it. It’s well-made, the cast are good, and it shows the reality of a Middle Eastern brutal and corrupt legal/prison system.
    The Islamic stuff is clearly inclined to appeal to a broad audience in a largely Muslim country but it has to be said that the worst sort of FPI-type slob is slapped down by a decent Muslim girl.
    Go see it!

  11. Riyoz says:

    “Having been dragged unwillingly to see the movie (tonight it’s my turn -off to Slipi to see the latest pocong horror!) I have to admit, grudgingly, to having enjoyed it. It’s well-made, the cast are good, and it shows the reality of a Middle Eastern brutal and corrupt legal/prison system.
    The Islamic stuff is clearly inclined to appeal to a broad audience in a largely Muslim country but it has to be said that the worst sort of FPI-type slob is slapped down by a decent Muslim girl.
    Go see it!”

    that good, huh ?….guess I’m gonna have to see it this weekend….

  12. silver says:

    I don’t really like the story, sounds every girls want him …. sound too good to be true.

  13. Ellise says:

    I really like this film. It makes me cry but really carve a memory in my mind. I never see such a film.

  14. mark says:

    Too bad, the soundtrack of this movie taken from another movie’s ost The Schindler List. Doesn’t it ironic ?

  15. Aluang Anak Bayang says:

    Too bad, the soundtrack of this movie taken from another movie’s ost The Schindler List. Doesn’t it ironic ?

    There is no irony about it. I smelled rats when I read the script. One of our observant forumer, dewa, wrote:

    “I suspect this Habiburrahman isn’t a real Submitter. As a good Muslim he should have let the protagonist of his story marry all 4 of them.”

    Allah says in the Holy Qur’an clearly states that:

    “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” Al-Qur?an (4:3)

    Shifty Habiburrahman El-Shirazy must be pocketing from the Jews.

  16. Pena Budaya says:

    I would not bother to watch the movie. It sounds too melancholy for my taste.

    Please read the following, it was criticized that the movie has failed to adapt the situation in middle east so it looks silly and stupid..

    http://camelisonta.wordpress.com/2008/03/17/konyolnya-aac/

  17. mark says:

    There is no irony about it. I smelled rats when I read the script. One of our observant forumer, dewa, wrote:

    “I suspect this Habiburrahman isn’t a real Submitter. As a good Muslim he should have let the protagonist of his story marry all 4 of them.”

    Allah says in the Holy Qur’an clearly states that:

    “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” Al-Qur?an (4:3)

    Shifty Habiburrahman El-Shirazy must be pocketing from the Jews.

    I think it is such an irony. Schindler List is a famous movie directed by Steven Spielberg, a story about jews with european atmosphere. Ayat-ayat Cinta is a movie with strong Islamic background and situated in Egypt. If the director of ayat-ayat cinta intent to use another movie’s OST, he should take from another movies with similar background and situation. Not just merely took from a success movie which the background and nuance of the story is totally different. This is my argument.

  18. jamal says:

    I really like ayat-ayat cinta’s film. It can make me influenced with the story and also know that love in islam is very fantastic.

  19. Aluang Anak Bayang says:

    @ jamal

    It will be even more fantastic if the male character married all 4 as per Islamic teaching. By ditching the other 3 and married only 1, he is not a good Muslim. Chances of him committing zina is very real. Besides, I suspect Habiburrahman El-Shirazy is trying to discredit Islam by promoting monogamy.

  20. Riyoz says:

    “It will be even more fantastic if the male character married all 4 as per Islamic teaching. By ditching the other 3 and married only 1, he is not a good Muslim.”

    Having more than one wife doesn’t make a person a better muslim than other muslim with only one wife, man…..the surah doesn’t say anything about marrying more than one wife and becoming a better muslim as a result….

    “Marry women of your choice, two, or three, or four; but if you fear that you shall not be able to deal justly (with them), then only one.” Al-Qur?an (4:3)”….

  21. Riyoz says:

    “I think it is such an irony. Schindler List is a famous movie directed by Steven Spielberg, a story about jews with european atmosphere. Ayat-ayat Cinta is a movie with strong Islamic background and situated in Egypt. If the director of ayat-ayat cinta intent to use another movie’s OST, he should take from another movies with similar background and situation. Not just merely took from a success movie which the background and nuance of the story is totally different. This is my argument.”

    now this is too bad…a sad holocaust theme song for a romantic movie…..you’re right, mark….it’s kinda akward….

  22. Riyoz says:

    “I think it is such an irony. Schindler List is a famous movie directed by Steven Spielberg, a story about jews with european atmosphere. Ayat-ayat Cinta is a movie with strong Islamic background and situated in Egypt. If the director of ayat-ayat cinta intent to use another movie’s OST, he should take from another movies with similar background and situation. Not just merely took from a success movie which the background and nuance of the story is totally different. This is my argument.”

    now this is too bad…a sad holocaust theme song for a romantic movie…..you’re right, mark….it’s kinda awkward….

  23. Ricky M says:

    I watched the movie through youtube -thanks to cyber technology, and I have to admit: this movie is good.! Different genre to other movies in Indonesia. Yes, it seemed too good to be true seeing the girls just want him so much, but hey, it happens in reality. Also about the culture and law system in such countries, so true. A bit objected with the scene when Maria changed her faith and did shalat with her husband (I’m not a Moslem, fyi), but hey again, it happens. Faith is a very very fundamental personal right. You can’t force or forbid someone of believing in their faith. All in all, two thumbs up! Looking forward to see great Indo movies coming.
    Cheers,
    Ricky

  24. 4j4x says:

    Yups, i don’t really like the movie… the story’s far away from the original book.
    The book is very good, you should read it.

    ~sorry for my bad english :-P~

  25. Ian says:

    “DI BAWAH LINDUNGAN KA’BAH” directed by Asrul Sani is far better than AAC!

  26. raka says:

    The movie is good. I’ve watched it four times (seriously). Still look forward to watching it again. Hahaha… Well yes, it’s not ‘perfect’ still far better than those indonesian horror and cheap comedy movies. Ayat Ayat Cinta features too many indonesian faces in the movie. It would have been better if they use more arabs coz the set should be in Egypt.
    My favorite scene is the dialogue between Fahri and his absurd cellmate. “Patience and Ikhlas… That’s Islam” (it gives me shiver).

  27. Gentho says:

    I would say that this film is no different than an indonesian kitsch of the 80s entitled ‘catatan si boy’ where the protagonist is typically surrounded by a pack of airhead girls. Like in ‘catatan si boy’ the protagonist – being their focus of interest, desire – narcistically exhibits a kind of superficial religious personality. It’s like doing a masturbation in another form/sense.

    Compared with ‘catatan si boy’, in this punjabi’s version the girls are ‘decently’ dressed though in the real life those barbies who are given the role as decent girls are – of course – not identical with the ones in the film. But as usual the hyper-reality plays its role in that the public and the tabloid here foolishly are more concern with those barbies than with what the film is about.. 😀

  28. Margot says:

    Marrying an unconsious woman, & call it a virtue, that’s what this movie is all about!

  29. Riyoz says:

    I think the movie’s basically ok-lah though part of the soundtracks are taken from other movie (btw is this legal ?), and that the girls all fell in love too ‘easily’ with that guy, too good to be true, euh ? : D but, hey, it’s the movies…perhaps i should read the novel now…

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