”BONDRES”a Funny Bali Drama. You Have to Know !

About Bondres Bali

Bondres is one of Balinese traditional arts. Initially, Bondres was a distraction in mask art in Bali. However, it later emerged as a separate performance, separate from mask art. From this then emerged the typical Balinese law of humor or better known as babondresan. Kesnian Bondres is estimated to have existed since the 1080s, and gradually developed into a separate show that prioritizes the typical Jokes or jokes from the Bondres itself. In that era, Bondres was mostly used as a more educative extension media. This is believed because by delivering it through the jokes or jokes media, the messages to be conveyed will be more acceptable to the public.

In babondresan, the audience will be treated to a story line, but this plot is only a guide because what is more highlighted is the jokes or jokes of the babondresan artists tucked in the messages to be conveyed. Plus the use of language that is more familiar (so popular), so that people are easier to understand, and this is what makes Bondres get a place in the hearts of the people so that the message is conveyed. Bondres itself comes from the Balinese word, which is Abnyol which means funny. However, some sources state that Bondres is an abbreviation of Bondo Merenges which means irregular scratches. This is related to the shape of Bondres’s face which is mostly polished irregularly.

Further explained, in various performances in ancient Bali, Bondres was not the main player. But the cast is extras. The main story usually refers to the lamp or the story that is delivered in a performance. For example, in Calonarang there are Ngeseng Waringin, Kautus Rarung lights, and others. “So, Bondres only translates and displays humor so that the audience does not get bored,” he explained. In Bondres art, it is divided into several types, namely Bondres who use tapes and Bondres who do not use tapels or who are polished using make-up material, so it looks like it was drawn. What is unique in Bondres art is the absence of a standard that regulates how this art should be run. However, there are some things that must be considered, namely the moral message, philosophy, and being able to educate the viewing audience.

However, in this day and age, Bondres art is increasingly soaring. In fact, this art can stand alone without hand in hand with the basic arts like ancient times. Not infrequently the public or official events use Bondres to meet the entertainment element at the event being held. Like the birthday party teruna teruni, Healthy Walk, and various types of other formal events. The development of Bondres art has changed the wheels of art in Bali. Previously the main star was a handful of Balinese artists who became certain figures in every classical performance, such as paramedics, kartala, and punta. “But now it is Bondres who is an important element in a traditional Balinese performance, if not, there will be less demand,” explained the lecturer at the ISI Denpasar.

In fact, if you talk about Panca Mask, Drama Gong, and all kinds of classical performances, there will be less demand. “Even if there is, we can be sure it is a community that has existed in the heyday of classical art in Bali,” he added. Art Bondres which stands alone, began to be known since the 1990s. Where the pioneer is Ngurah Suparta who is a teacher at one art school in Gianyar Regency. To meet the invitation to art in Berlin, Germany, at that time, it was asked to display Balinese drama, but in a short time. So, cut the main story of the Bondres staging related to some of the original performances. So, what was taken was just funny, the role of paramedics, kartala, punta and others were not included.

Art that continues to experience this development, of course is the work and innovation of Balinese artists. Surely this development should be something positive going forward. “Where, in performing art without a standard, Bondres should not forget himself and be obliged to insert education, positive learning, the value of Hindu religious philosophy in addition to funny packaging that is entertaining,”