In 1975, Djarot returned to Indonesia and formed the music group Barong. The following year, the American Embassy offered Djarot a chance to study at the London International Film School.[2]
Djarot later became a soundtrack composer, working on films such as Kawin Lari (English: Elope, 1976), Badai Pasti Berlalu (English: The Storm Will Surely Pass, 1977), Usia 18 (English: Age of Eighteen, 1981), Ponirah Terpidana (English: The Convicted Ponirah, 1984), and Secangkir Kopi Pahit (English: A Cup of Bitter Coffee, 1986). Of these, his most popular was Badai Pasti Berlalu, which was released to critical acclaim,[1] earning Djarot an award at the Indonesian Film Festival for Best Original Score; the soundtrack album of the same name, made under Djarot's direction,[3] was eventually selected by Rolling Stone Indonesia as the best Indonesian album of all time.[4]
Together with Chrisye and Jockie Soerjoprajogo, Erros produced a trilogy of albums, Resesi (English: Recession, 1983),[5]Metropolitan (1984), and Nona (English: Miss, 1984).[6] Of these, Resesi was received best, selling 350,000 copies and being certified silver.[7]
In 2008, Djarot's film Lastri, a love story about a CommunistGerwani member, was prevented from filming in Surakarta, Central Java due to the Surakarta police not granting permission; previously Djarot had received permission from the Indonesian National Police headquarters in Jakarta. Reports cited fears that Lastri would "spread communism". The Jakarta Post called the ban "a violation of the constitutional guarantees of freedom of speech".[9]