Born in Batavia (now Jakarta) on 23 October 1939, Ami was the only child of Priyono, a politician-cum-educator who later became Minister of Education and Culture, and his wife Iwanah.

After graduating from senior high school Ami left for Moscow, where he studied cinema at the All-Union State Institute of Cinematography.

[5] At the 1974 Indonesian Film Festival Ami's artistic direction in Ambisi (Ambition) garnered him a Citra Award.

[12] Ami received another nomination the following year for Yang, but lost to Sjumandjaja of Budak Nafsu.

[3] With the number of domestic film productions decreasing in the early 1990s, Ami left the cinema and began directing and acting for television, beginning with Salah Asuhan (Wrong Upbringing; 1994; as director[14]) and Pedang Keadilan (Sword of Justice; 1996).