Synopsis

The story of Bawang Merah Bawang Putih unfolds in the present day, but takes a moral message from the original, famous Indonesian folktale.

Bawang Merah Bawang Putih is about two pretty girls, who are neighbors and study at the same school. Alya is a diligent student who plays the character of Bawang Putih in the opera of Bawang Merah Bawang Putih, while Siska plays Bawang Merah. They are known as Bawang Merah and Bawang Putih in their school because the opera was a big success. Both teenagers have their own circle of friends. Siska lives with her mother, Rika, who is divorced from her father. Her father is in jail because of corruption, so they live in affliction. Alya lives happily with her parents. Her father Indra, is a successful businessman, while Yasmin, her mother, is a friendly housewife. 

Siska's character as Bawang Merah in the opera continues in her life. Bawang Merah and her mother are jealous of Bawang Putih's life. Rika and Siska are very good at acting so Alya and her mother don't realize that Siska and her mother resent them. 

When Ferdi, a new student, falls in love with Bawang Putih, Siska starts to hate Bawang Putih more each day. Ferdi actually comes from a rich family, but he ran away from home and lives simply in Jakarta, because he cannot stand his father who is very strict. Bawang Merah tries to separate Ferdi and Bawang Putih constantly. While, Rika also tries to destroy Yasmin's family. Rika acts so good that Yasmin treats her not as a neighbor, but as a sister. Yasmin always helps her, especially when it comes to money.  

Finally, Rika has a chance to poison Yasmin, and she dies. Before her death, she gets the chance to tell her daughter to be careful of Rika, but Bawang Putih gets the message wrong. She thinks that her mother asks her to take Rika into her life after her mother died. Rika keeps trying to win Indra until finally they get married and she moves in to his house with her daughter. After this, Bawang Putih lives in agony and suffering. But her agony doesn't make her change. She takes her suffering with patience so God blesses her. 

She makes friends with a fairy that no one can see. There is no eternal crime. Goodness finally overcomes evil. Finally Bawang Putih lives happily, while Bawang Merah and her mother pay for their past actions. (Airing year: 2004)