[1] His parents, Ibrahim Sidi Mangkuto and Matayam bt M. Yasin, were of Minangkabau descent.
[citation needed] Arizal was one of Indonesia's most productive film directors and script writers.
In the 1980s, his work brought success to Yessy Gusman, Rano Karno, Yenny Rachman, Roy Marten and Lydia Kandou as famous artists.
[citation needed] Arizal's best known films are Gita Cinta dari SMA (1979), Pintar-pintar Bodoh (1980) and Maju Kena Mundur Kena (1983), which achieved the highest audience in that year.
Gita Cinta dari SMA was selected as one of the 25 best Indonesian films.