Invincible, armed with magical items (amulets and tattoos), chanting mantras, the young cop who is the hero in the latest action fantasy Khun Pun thunders through a siege of bad bandits of the South. After years in production, Khun Pun, named after the protagonist, is the latest film by Kongkiat Khomsiri (Art Of The Devil 2, Slice) and is based loosely on the real-life story of a legendary police detective in the 1940s known for his bulletproof crime-fighting.
Ananda Everingham plays Khun Pun and Krissada Sukosol Clapp is Alhawee Yalu, the ruthless bandit and also master of the dark arts. The film is a dramatic chase between the cop and the criminal, both in possession of strong supernatural power, while the backdrop is the poverty-stricken South days before the outbreak of World War II.
Here's an excerpt from an interview with director Kongkiat and his two lead actors, Ananda and Krissada.
What inspired you to make the film?
A few years ago, we heard the name Khun Pun when the "Jatukam Rammathep" amulet was the country's most popular item [Khun Pun was the first to bless it]. But when I got a chance to learn more about his story, I found it even more exciting. He was a young cop who fought against thieves and corrupt officials with his supernatural power. His story is an example of a Thai hero and a man of virtue.
The film is an action fantasy, how did you create the tone and look of it?
Kongkiat: My version of Khun Pun is intense. We have a striking concept design and strong message that will hopefully create the same vibe as the successful Thai action movie Dang Bireley's And Young Gangsters. I tried to give depth to the characters as much as possible by providing their own background stories and motives.
What's most difficult about making a film about a real person?
Kongkiat: Preserving the identity of a historical person like Khun Pun while adding the elements of action and drama is the main challenge. We have to reinterpret the story within the concept of the magical world but rooted in reality. We have to balance between fact and fiction. However Khun Pun's iconic moustache, his crime-fighting sagas, and his quotes are kept realistic in the picture.
Any scene the film particularly wants to show off?
Ananda: I made a deal with the director that the film must have a few memorable scenes, or at least one that is different from others. Here we have a four-minute action sequence, a gunfight in a moving train with all of the stunt men and horses. As it is a long take, I had to be exact with my cues in those four minutes otherwise everyone had to start over.
Krissada, you play the villain Alhawee Yalu, a mad sorcerer and murderer.
Krissada: For me, Alhawee Yalu can be considered as both a ghost and a human. He is a brutal yet honest thief, and he cannot be killed thanks to his black magic. Though Khun Pun might be able to chase him, getting rid of him is impossible. "Alhawee Yalu" means "a bottomless pit". To beat this character, Khun Pun has to dig out his weaknesses hidden deep within this pit.
So how did you prepare yourself for the role?
Krissada: Unlike Khun Pun, who actually existed in history, Alhawee Yalu is a fictional character, so I had to learn about the motives of other thieves back then. To make the idea of this invulnerable character more clear for me, the director compares Alhawee Yalu with Darth Vader holding a Light Saber and controlling other people's minds!
