Nai Djenar Maesa Ayu

Acting

Nai Djenar Maesa Ayu

Born 1973-01-14 · Jakarta, Indonesia

Nai Djenar Maesa Ayu (born January 14, 1973 in Jakarta) is an Indonesian novelist, short story writer, actress, screenwriter, and filmmaker.

Acting credits

Suzzanna: Witchcraft poster
7.2

Suzzanna is determined to exact revenge on Bisman, the cruel village ruler who killed her father with black magic. To achieve this, she learns black magic, but realizes Bisman's power is immense. In the midst of her efforts, Suzzanna falls in love with Pramuja, a religious man who doesn't know her secret, forcing her to choose between pursuing her revenge or sacrificing him for love.

Suzzanna: Witchcraft

2026

Grave Torture poster
6.6

When a violent act kills her parents, Sita vows to debunk the idea of supernatural torment after death — a fixation that leads her on a dark quest.

Grave Torture

2024

The Corpse Washer poster
6.6

Lela, a mortician, finds something odd about the body of her mother who died suddenly. Trapped in sacred tension and a tense horror journey, Lela discovers another oddity in the body of the corpse she was bathing.

The Corpse Washer

2024

On Your Lap poster
7.8

Sartika, a pregnant young woman, moves away from her city hoping to provide a better future for her child. She meets Maya, a coffee shop owner in Pantura. Maya takes care of Sartika and helps with her deliveries. After Sartika gives birth, Maya manipulates her into working for her as the "Kopi Pangku" waitress, a job that requires her to serve coffee on a man's lap, until one day she meets a fish distributor truck driver named Hadi and falls in love. Will she find happiness?

On Your Lap

2025

Danyang Wingit Jumat Kliwon poster
4.0

Ki Mangun Suroto, an ambitious puppeteer, seeks ancient knowledge for wealth and immortality. Citra, is recruited as a sinden but chosen as a sacrifice. Training hard to fund her sister treatment, Citra faces terrifying events.

Danyang Wingit Jumat Kliwon

2025

Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra poster
8.2

Set in 1960s Java, a young Javanese woman betrays her teacher, falls in love and must face dire consequences.

Gowok: Javanese Kamasutra

2025

The Book of Sijjin & Illiyyin poster
7.6

As a child, Yuli witnessed her parents die at the hands of a mysterious force after her mother became possessed. Branded a cursed and unwanted child, she survived and grew up under the roof of her father's other wife Ambar and her daughter Laras, enduring constant humiliation. Fueled by vengeance, Yuli performs a forbidden ritual. As the dark magic takes root, the world around her begins to unravel.

The Book of Sijjin & Illiyyin

2025

The Mediterranean Sea poster
7.0

After a student's scholarship falls through, her academic dreams lie in a life-changing offer: marry into a family in exchange for tuition.

The Mediterranean Sea

2024

Kartini: Princess of Java poster
6.2

A woman of nobility battles patriarchal norms in order to improve educational access for women in early 1900s Indonesian society.

Kartini: Princess of Java

2017

Pamali: The Little Devil poster
7.6

When Putri's mother suddenly disappeared mysteriously, she decided to trace the available clues to find her mother again, starting from walking through a haunter forest, an abandoned factory, until arriving at an old house which turned out to be inhabited by "tuyul" and the terrifying black "kuntilanak".

Pamali: The Little Devil

2025

Suri poster
NR

Suri (a representation of Mahsuri and ‘penunggu’) submits her whole being to an old yet charming kampong house and vows to remain devoted for better or worse. Every once a month, Suri performs a ritual that she believes will strengthen the bond between her and the house. In return, the house blesses her with beauty and grace. As she ages, Suri loses her sense of identity and starts to give in to temptations. The story then follows how Suri battles between facing her personal desires and tending to the house.

Suri

2017

Gundala poster
6.2

Sancaka has lived on the streets since his parents left him. Living a hard life, Sancaka survives by thinking about his own safety. When the condition of the city gets worse and injustice rages throughout the country, Sancaka must decide whether he continues to live to look after himself or rise to become their oppressed hero.

Gundala

2019

Di Bawah Umur poster
6.8

A new student, Lana comes to the most favorite high schools in Jakarta. Her innocent and fresh beauty catches the eyes of the young guys there, especially the school’s bad boy, Aryo.

Di Bawah Umur

2020

Love Potpourri poster
NR

Eight stories are interwoven including the story of a child who works hard just to get a bottle of clean water and a pair of roller skates. Then there are siblings who sell pirated DVDs and start fighting each other when the younger one only wants to drink Starbucks coffee. The third story is about the daughter of a prostitute who has a crush on her moral studies teacher. Then we meet a Japanese man who is hungry for true love and meets a karaoke girl and we hear the story of a lowly-paid television director who is looking to escape the pressures from his wife and boss. Then there is the story of a female kindergarten principal who is trying to apply the Islamic way of life to defuse the temptations of the material world; or the tale of an expatriate’s former chauffeur who gets into trouble after receiving a farewell gift from the boss.

Love Potpourri

2008

Keira poster
NR

It tells a story about a girl with dissociative identity disorder and how it affects her life and those around her.

Keira

2018

Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash poster
6.7

Ajo Kawir is a fighter who fears nothing, not even death. His raging urge to fight is driven by a secret: his impotence. When he crosses paths with a tough female fighter named Iteung, Ajo gets beaten black and blue, but he also falls head over heels in love. Will Ajo’s path lead him to a happy life with Iteung, and, eventually, his own peace of mind?

Vengeance Is Mine, All Others Pay Cash

2021

Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel poster
5.3

After moving her family to a remote village, a busy single mother loses her son, who seems to have been abducted by a vengeful spirit.

Marni: The Story of Wewe Gombel

2024

Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts poster
6.0

Sammi has the ability to remove parts of his body and give them to those he loves and wants to help. After his death, Sammi’s mother goes in search of the pieces of her son.

Sammi, Who Can Detach His Body Parts

2025

THE RAGE, Blood From The Sea poster
NR

A woman named Rara experiences a strange incident on the South coast. A murder far from humanity sets in motion a vicious chain of revenge.

THE RAGE, Blood From The Sea

2025

Kafir: A Deal with the Devil poster
6.1

After the bizarre death of their father, two siblings must uncover the root cause of their mother's sudden paranormal terror to save her.

Kafir: A Deal with the Devil

2018

Mangkujiwo 2 poster
5.3

After Cokrokusumo's death, Uma tries to deal with the trauma while looking for answers to the mystery of the Kuntilanak's involvement in her life. Meanwhile, Brotoseno, Nyi Kenanga and Karmila are taking heinous methods to bring Mangkujiwo to the pinnacle of glory, where blood will again be spilled.

Mangkujiwo 2

2023

Tersanjung: The Movie poster
8.2

After growing up in a tumultuous household, Yura finds herself in a love triangle with two close friends as she faces a personal and financial crisis.

Tersanjung: The Movie

2021

Remember The Flavor poster
NR

Dimas is busy taking care of his dad's ice cream shop. Melodi is on her way to Jakarta to be a musician. Both of them are best friends since high school and secretly like each other. The film chronicles their story three years later.

Remember The Flavor

2017

Janji Darah poster
6.1

Two people who once made a promise to each other, faced a very difficult problem after death separated them, because their promise was to always protect each other wherever they are.

Janji Darah

2024

Behind the camera

hUSh poster
5.0

Tells the story of an aspiring singer from Bali who travels to Jakarta to find success. There she encounters the trappings of success; insincere boyfriends, materialistic impulses, fast friendships, empty sexual encounters. When a breakup causes her extreme heartache, she decides to travel back home to take refuge. Her journey becomes the foundation for a discussion about all things pertaining to women's issues.

hUSh

2016

hUSh poster
5.0

Tells the story of an aspiring singer from Bali who travels to Jakarta to find success. There she encounters the trappings of success; insincere boyfriends, materialistic impulses, fast friendships, empty sexual encounters. When a breakup causes her extreme heartache, she decides to travel back home to take refuge. Her journey becomes the foundation for a discussion about all things pertaining to women's issues.

hUSh

2016

hUSh poster
5.0

Tells the story of an aspiring singer from Bali who travels to Jakarta to find success. There she encounters the trappings of success; insincere boyfriends, materialistic impulses, fast friendships, empty sexual encounters. When a breakup causes her extreme heartache, she decides to travel back home to take refuge. Her journey becomes the foundation for a discussion about all things pertaining to women's issues.

hUSh

2016

Look At Me Touch Me Kiss Me poster
NR

The world becomes unpredictable when the pandemic happens. But in the face of despair, people put aside reasons and stop worrying. For these couples from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Korea, even love blossoms. They embrace each other and cling to one another desperately and fearlessly. Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Seoul. Three couples in three cities in three countries: The paths of a telemarketer for a loan company and a cart rink owner are destined to cross. A pub owner and a woman with their own background stories. A virgin forklift operator who has never kissed before and a kiss-for-sale manager.

Look At Me Touch Me Kiss Me

2023

Look At Me Touch Me Kiss Me poster
NR

The world becomes unpredictable when the pandemic happens. But in the face of despair, people put aside reasons and stop worrying. For these couples from Malaysia, Indonesia, and Korea, even love blossoms. They embrace each other and cling to one another desperately and fearlessly. Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta, and Seoul. Three couples in three cities in three countries: The paths of a telemarketer for a loan company and a cart rink owner are destined to cross. A pub owner and a woman with their own background stories. A virgin forklift operator who has never kissed before and a kiss-for-sale manager.

Look At Me Touch Me Kiss Me

2023

Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet! poster
NR

Adjeng lives alone in an apartment paid for by her boyfriend, a rich businessman. A writer of children's stories, she wishes to write short stories for adults; in this, she is mentored by Asmoro with whom she is also having sex. Meanwhile, Adjeng's mothe handles various aspects of her life, constantly calling her and making surprise visits. This has led Adjeng's friends, Venny and Andien, to tease her about her overbearing mother.

Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!

2007

Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet! poster
NR

Adjeng lives alone in an apartment paid for by her boyfriend, a rich businessman. A writer of children's stories, she wishes to write short stories for adults; in this, she is mentored by Asmoro with whom she is also having sex. Meanwhile, Adjeng's mothe handles various aspects of her life, constantly calling her and making surprise visits. This has led Adjeng's friends, Venny and Andien, to tease her about her overbearing mother.

Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!

2007

Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet! poster
NR

Adjeng lives alone in an apartment paid for by her boyfriend, a rich businessman. A writer of children's stories, she wishes to write short stories for adults; in this, she is mentored by Asmoro with whom she is also having sex. Meanwhile, Adjeng's mothe handles various aspects of her life, constantly calling her and making surprise visits. This has led Adjeng's friends, Venny and Andien, to tease her about her overbearing mother.

Mereka Bilang, Saya Monyet!

2007

SAIA poster
NR

SAIA is a picture of a woman who holds trauma due to unpleasant mental and physical experiences. Every day Saia, a 35-year-old woman, peeks at a man's sexual assault against a woman who happens across her room through a window and records it with a video camera. Every development of the situation witnessed affects the psychological and physical side. Until one day he saw a murder happen, and after that there was no more activity. After a while of waiting, he approached the room. Turns out empty. There was no woman, and the corpse of the man killed.

SAIA

2009

SAIA poster
NR

SAIA is a picture of a woman who holds trauma due to unpleasant mental and physical experiences. Every day Saia, a 35-year-old woman, peeks at a man's sexual assault against a woman who happens across her room through a window and records it with a video camera. Every development of the situation witnessed affects the psychological and physical side. Until one day he saw a murder happen, and after that there was no more activity. After a while of waiting, he approached the room. Turns out empty. There was no woman, and the corpse of the man killed.

SAIA

2009

SAIA poster
NR

SAIA is a picture of a woman who holds trauma due to unpleasant mental and physical experiences. Every day Saia, a 35-year-old woman, peeks at a man's sexual assault against a woman who happens across her room through a window and records it with a video camera. Every development of the situation witnessed affects the psychological and physical side. Until one day he saw a murder happen, and after that there was no more activity. After a while of waiting, he approached the room. Turns out empty. There was no woman, and the corpse of the man killed.

SAIA

2009

Nay poster
7.0

Nay, who's pregnant for about 11 weeks now, has to face life's adversities and the true nature of the people around her: her boyfriend Ben, her manager Ajeng, Ben's mother, and Pram - who she thinks is dependable. Shot entirely in a car.

Nay

2015

Nay poster
7.0

Nay, who's pregnant for about 11 weeks now, has to face life's adversities and the true nature of the people around her: her boyfriend Ben, her manager Ajeng, Ben's mother, and Pram - who she thinks is dependable. Shot entirely in a car.

Nay

2015

Nay poster
7.0

Nay, who's pregnant for about 11 weeks now, has to face life's adversities and the true nature of the people around her: her boyfriend Ben, her manager Ajeng, Ben's mother, and Pram - who she thinks is dependable. Shot entirely in a car.

Nay

2015

If This Is My Story poster
NR

A 3-actor chamber piece chronicling a relationship in disruption, told from 3 different perspectives. Kay and Dee are husband and wife, and cracks are beginning to show in their marriage. They both feel misunderstood and unappreciated. Soon, a major disruption happens that drives them to discuss divorce.

If This Is My Story

2018

If This Is My Story poster
NR

A 3-actor chamber piece chronicling a relationship in disruption, told from 3 different perspectives. Kay and Dee are husband and wife, and cracks are beginning to show in their marriage. They both feel misunderstood and unappreciated. Soon, a major disruption happens that drives them to discuss divorce.

If This Is My Story

2018

If This Is My Story poster
NR

A 3-actor chamber piece chronicling a relationship in disruption, told from 3 different perspectives. Kay and Dee are husband and wife, and cracks are beginning to show in their marriage. They both feel misunderstood and unappreciated. Soon, a major disruption happens that drives them to discuss divorce.

If This Is My Story

2018

Tris poster
NR

Tristan feels useless to his family. His decision to see a psychologist made him realize something he had never imagined before.

Tris

2021