Lahirnja Gatotkatja

(title translation: Gatotkaca's Birth)

Pracuna rules the Kingdom of Pringgodani, and is so powerful that he demands a goddess from nirvana named Dewi Supraba to be his wife. The gods have no choice but to agree to his request. Supraba then comes down to Pringgodani to trick Pracuna. When Pracuna realizes this, he is furious and threatens to invade nirvana. The gods need to find a new champion and they nominate Gatotkaca, the son of Bima (of the Pandawa clan), whose mother is Arimbi, Pracuna’s daughter.

To protect Gatotkaca, Narada gives the only weapon that can cut Gatotkaca’s navel cord called Konta, for safekeeping. But it is mistakenly given to Karna (of the rival Kurawa clan), instead of Arjuna, who is in meditation. Both battle to get the weapon but Arjuna only gets the sheath.

Baby Gatotkaca, now suddenly a toddler, confronts Pracuna. Initially, Gatotkaca loses the advantage and is plunged into the crater of Candradimuka, but this only makes him big, stout, and immune.

Gatotkaca resolves every problem, including the occupation of Amarta, the Kingdom of Pandawa. The Javanese mythology is told in a narrative style closer to film language, unlike the traditional dramaturgies of Javanese puppet show or ballet. It visually bold to depict flying scenes similar to that of “Superman”. The costumes worn by the actors were basically similar to Javanese ballet, with a little improvisation to make them look “natural”.