Melodies made to move us

Melodies made to move us

Filmmaker Jira 'Keng' Maligool has set the King's music to film

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
Melodies made  to move us
Jira Maligool. Photo: Melalin Mahavongtrakul

For the 11 years that film director Jira "Keng" Maligool has been part of the studio GMM Tai Hub (now known as GDH559), he has wanted to make a film about King Bhumibol Adulyadej. But it wasn't until last year that the project took flight and finally manifested itself into Pohn Jak Fah (A Gift), now showing in cinemas nationwide.

It all began with his interest in brass instruments. Last December, Jira decided to take some lessons to improve his skills. He said he isn't great, though he does enjoy playing music a lot.

"One day, I took the sheet music of King Bhumibol's Pohn Pee Mai to class and asked the teacher to teach me how to play it," recalled Jira. "I don't have much knowledge in music, but I like its melody a lot.

"I especially like the lyrics. In one part, it goes, 'I beg for the blessings from heaven for all to be joyous. Please bestow thy blessings with mercy for all to be met with fortune'. That is very special to Thai people. He wished for all of us to be happy."

Violette Wautier and Naphat Siangsomboon in Love At Sundown. Photos courtesy of GDH559

The song Pohn Pee Mai was released on Jan 1, 1952, and carried the late monarch's good wishes to his people to begin the new year with joy. Each year, we may encounter problems and obstacles in life, but, come the first minute into Jan 1, the song would be played everywhere for all to be reminded of the late King's blessing and love for his people.

"I like that idea a lot, that music can be a gift -- it's very creative and inspirational. And so I told the studio's producer, 'Let's make a romantic film about royal compositions, under the concept of using music as a gift'."

This neatly sums up the main theme Pohn Jak Fah -- a romantic comedy -- revolves around. The team decided then to release the film on Dec 1, 2016 -- in time for King Bhumibol's 89th-birthday celebration.

"We'd really love for King Bhumibol to watch it," said Jira, even though that meant his team would only get a year to work on the script, cast actors and actresses, shoot the film, edit and finish all the post-production tidbits. "It was a very short time for us. Normally, our movie would take a year just to work on the script, making each project last about two years."

In order to get Pohn Jak Fah done in time, Jira called upon three more directors to join the project. It was then decided the film would be divided into three segments to lessen the work for each director.

Nittha Jirayungyurn and Sunny Suwanmethanont in Still On My Mind. Photos courtesy of GDH559

Jira also had a specification for the directors: they have to be able to work well with music. All directors wrote the scripts themselves, and were given the freedom to choose their own songs, instruments and cast members for their respective stories.

The first segment, which incorporates Yarm Yen (Love At Sundown), a romantic tune in a foxtrot rhythm that became popular for ballroom dancing upon its release in 1946. Directors Chayanop Boonprakob (Suck Seed) and Kriangkrai Vachiratamporn (Hormones seasons 2 and 3) joined hands to bring about a story of young love, with music serving as a farewell gift to loved ones -- a romantic goodbye when the Sun goes down.

The 2006 hit Seasons Change's director Nithiwat Tharathorn then comes in with Still On My Mind -- one of the few songs the King composed that he also wrote the lyrics for.

"Ton [Nithiwat] had this idea about giving music as a gift of remembrance," explained Jira. "It can be a couple's special song -- a tale of their good old days. And even though they may not get to be with one another, each remains in the other's heart."

Lastly, Jira himself took on his favourite, the origin of the project like Pohn Pee Mai, and weaves in a story of office workers who form a music band behind their boss's back. "They're not good at it, but they discover that the moments they play music together is just something money can't buy."

Aside from directors who have to be well-versed with incorporating music into their stories, the cast must also be able to sing and play instruments. For this, the studio called upon its veteran actors, actresses and a newcomer, and got each to practise religiously their chosen instruments -- piano, guitar, saxophone, trumpet, even body percussion -- and sing for the film. No stand-in musicians needed.

"We feel that people who can play instruments are able to portray a more realistic image of the joy that comes with playing music," he said.

Working with King Bhumibol's compositions, of course, has its challenges. It's not just about getting his music right, either, though the sheet music has to gain approval from the royal palace. As the people are reverent towards the King, they also revere his music. And Jira said it's the task of the filmmaker to bring those compositions from their high pedestal and make them contemporary, relevant and accessible to the masses.

Chantavit Dhanasevi and Nuengthida Sophon in Pohn Pee Mai. GDH559

"To make a film based on King Bhumibol's compositions means we have to get into the lyrics, listen to them in detail, and eventually fall in love with them," he said. "His music is a hit for all Thai people. Everyone -- old or young -- can enjoy them and feel connected."

It should be noted that Pohn Jak Fah is by no means the first film to incorporate King Rama IX's compositions. Last year, Singha assembled four directors to put out a series of mini-films -- entitled Keeta Rajaniphon -- inspired by the royal tunes. Comparatively, Pohn Jak Fah delves more into their humorous side.

In a rare move, Pohn Jak Fah's entire music scores were played by the Thailand Philharmonic Orchestra -- a collaboration that came through the generosity of Assoc Prof Dr Sugree Charoensook, dean of Mahidol University's College of Music, who got the 92-piece band to play free of charge. The scores were recorded at the Mahidol Sithakarn Auditorium.

"[Due to budget constraints], Thai films would mostly opt for sampling sound we could get on our computer. And while that can mimic the sound quite closely, it just doesn't feel as special as music played by a sizeable band," Jira said. "And when the music gets into the film, you can really feel the difference."

The entire cast and crew pooled all their resources and energy to finish the film before for the planned release date. Regrettably, they weren't able to get the film done in time for King Bhumibol to watch. Pohn Jak Fah will be the studio's first title outside the reign of King Rama IX.

"In a way, we were devastated that King Bhumibol will never get to see it," sighed Jira. "Still, we realised that he wrote his songs to cheer up Thais, for all of us to feel the courage to continue living our lives. It was his intention to bless our country through his music."

For this reason, the studio decided to keep to its original release date at the start of December -- the last month of the year people will get to sing Pohn Pee Mai together.

"Getting through this sad period into a new year, I'd say this film is also an event for all Thais to share one another's feelings much more than what's on the film. We're also remembering King Bhumibol in our hearts."

Pohn Jak Fah (A Gift) now in cinemas nationwide. Tickets for normal seats cost 99 baht at all cinemas. Part of the profits will be donated to King Rama IX's Chaipattana Foundation. The film will also be broadcast without commercials on New Year's Eve on One HD.

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