Stars rise for His Majesty

A battalion of actors will soon appear on movie screens in a new version of “Sansoen Phra Barami” that celebrates the royal anthem’s 100th anniversary and His Majesty the King’s 86th birthday on December 5.

Starting that day, the all-star “music video” will be played before feature-film screenings, replacing the usual short clip that’s set to the music, during which theatre patrons are expected to stand to show respect to the monarch. 

The stars will appear in turn, recreating scenes from their hit films and singing a segment of the song. 

His Royal Highness Prince Chitcharoen, son of King Rama IV and Princess Consort Pannarai who was later known as Prince Narisara Nuvadtivongs, composed Siam’s anthem in 1913. King Rama VI subsequently revised the melody.

Now flute master Thanis Sriklindee has given “Sansoen Phra Barami” a fresh arrangement under the auspices of project the Unify Thai Spirit Foundation in cooperation with the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security and Siam Paragon.

This stirring composition is played at all state occasions and announces members of the royal family at public functions. It’s heard before screenings at movie theatres and ahead of stage plays and concerts.

Sorapong Chatree, one of the stars of the movie “Plae Kao”, is in charge of the project. “The purpose of ‘100 Years of Pleng Sansoen Phra Barami’ is to instil loyalty to the royal institution people and especially youth,” he says.

Joining him in the new video are Jarunee Suksawad (star of “Ban Sai Thong”), Sinjai Plengpanich (“Nuan Chawee”), Chintara Sukapatana and Santisuk Promsiri (“Boonchu”), Anne Thongprasom and Auttaporn Teemakorn (“The Letter”), Montree Jenauksorn (“Khon Phu Khao”), Bin Bunluerit (“Bang Rajan”), Jirayu “Kao” Laongmanee (“SuckSeed”), Piya Trakulrach and Wassana Sittiwech (“Khru Ban Nok”) and Suriya “Pop” Yaowasang (“Phi Suea Lae Dokmai”).