Mariani started her career by joining the Bintang Soerabaja troupe as a singer in 1942, and then joined the Warna Sari troupe as a singer and actress. Later, she joined the Pantja Warna troupe and was active at the Panggung Bhakti Artis along with
Netty Herawaty. After the
Indonesian National Revolution, Mariani made her film debut by starring in
Inspektur Rachman (1950) and in the Indonesian-Philippines production
Rodrigo de Villa (1952).
1953–1957: Rising star '' (1953) in
Debu Revolusi (1954) Mariani appeared in six movies that were released in 1953. She made her feature film debut in
Lenggang Djakarta and then starred in
Machluk Raksasa, which was adapted from the Javanese folklore story
Timun Mas. Her next movie,
Belenggu Masjarakat, won the Best Cinematography award at the
Indonesian Film Festival in 1955. She then starred in
Pandji Semirang and
Neng Yatimah, credited as Mimiaty, and made an uncredited role in
Kassan. Mariani starred in
Sri Asih (1954), the first Indonesian superhero film which was adapted from the comic with the same name by
R. A. Kosasih. This film was directed by Tan Sing Hwat and Turino Djunaedy, who later became her second husband. She then starred in
Debu Revolusi (1954) and portrayed a woman who becomes part of a love triangle with a
soldier and a bandit. She also starred in
Rahasia Sukudomas (1954), the first Indonesian film where all the actors were women, and later starred in
Putri Gunung (1954) and
Djubah Hitam (1954). Several film studios then started to employ Mariani, which made her the highest-grossing movie star in 1954. She was then cast in
Oh, Ibuku (1955) and
Ibu dan Putri (1955), two of three movies from
Gadis Tiga Djaman series made by
Ali Joego. In 1956, Mariani appeared in two films:
Sri Kustina and
Melati Sendja. Her last leading role was in
Usmar Ismail's directed comedy
Delapan Pendjuru Angin (1957), one of three commercial films produced by
Perfini.
1958–1968: Career decline and later years After an Indonesia film industry crisis and her divorce from Turino Djunaedy in 1958, Mariani took a hiatus from film. On 3 January 1958, she appeared in Juliam Bros's directed broadway
Because of Dance at the
Jakarta Art Building along with Wahid Chan, where she portrayed a middle school girl who falls in love with a dancer. Mariani was relegated to supporting roles after she returned to the industry, as she was no longer considered suitable for leading parts. Mariani later returned to cinema by starring in
Nina (1960), playing the protagonist's mother. She then starred in
Lima Puluh Megaton (1961), co-starring
A. Hamid Arief. She later starred in
Si Kembar (1961) as a
pasindhèn, along with Titim Fatimah. The film was a box office success and listed Mariani as one of the best Indonesian
pasindhèn, after Fatimah and Sarimanah. Her two last film credits were a supporting role in
Cheque AA (1966) and
B-29 (1968), which was released a year before she was diagnosed with
lymphoma. ==Personal life==