GMM25 brings back 2001 hit

Older movie fans will have happy memories of Monrak Transistor (Transistor Love Story). The heart-warming 2001 musical comedy from Pen-Ek Ratanaruang was a big success and formed part of a wave of Thai films that won international acclaim.

Now, GMM25 has decided to adapt it into a series under the title Monhak Transistor. The TV reboot is directed by Chookiat Sakveerakul (Ma-Deaw) and stars Pusin Warinruk (Tao) and Focus Jirakul in the roles of aspiring singer Phaen and his wife Sadao. Monhak Transistor premiered on August 8 and can be seen every Saturday and Sunday at 5 pm on GMM25.

S Weekly caught up with Tao and Focus to talk about the new show.

What kind of feedback has the show received so far?

Focus: It’s been great, I think. The original was so well-loved that the show has been able to draw interest from older and younger viewers.

Can you tell us about your characters in the show?

Tao: I play Phaen, a young man who lives in a small village called Baan Don Namlai. He has a great passion for luk thung music and never misses the chance to show off his voice at temple fairs in his village. There, he meets and falls in love with Sadao.

Focus: I play Sadao, one of the most popular girls in the village. Many rich boys want her, but she only has eyes for Phaen. She’s a kind-hearted person who loves her family very much.

How is the TV show different from the movie?

Focus: I think it’s very similar, but the plot has been expanded. Now, the two-hour story of the original film takes place over 26 episodes.

Tao: The TV show develops the story of how Phaen and Sadao meet and eventually get married. There’s also a storyline where Phaen leaves the village to join the military.

Video from: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTP5z0kFg6-nPcZ79gTC67Q?pbjreload=10

Where was the show filmed?

Tao: In the story, the village is located in Maha Sarakham. But due to the schedule and other factors, most of the shooting locations were close to Bangkok. Mostly, we filmed in Pathum Thani and Ang Thong which both have beautiful scenery and lots of rice fields, similar to what you’d find in the Northeast.

The original film was well-known for its use of luk thung and mor lam. Is this still the case in the TV series?

Tao: Yes, luk thung is still the heart of the show, but the songs are different from the film. The show features more modern Issan songs. Some songs were written especially for the show. And each episode is named after a luk thung song.

Tao, as a mor lam singer yourself, who are some of your musical heroes?

Tao: Pee Saderd, Mike Piromporn, Monkan Kankoon and Pai Pongsatorn are among my heroes.

Focus, are you a fan of luk thung music?

Focus: Yes, I am. I listen to pop music more now, but I grew up listening to a lot of luk thung from my grandmother and aunt’s music collections. So I think I know a lot about it!