Formula for success
Performing arts troupe Pet Jarat Sang is declared the winner of "Kon Thai Kun Thep"
There were few surprises but plenty of cheers last Saturday as contemporary Thai performing art troupe Pet Jarat Sang walked off with the top prize in the final of Modernine TV’s reality show “Kon Thai Kun Thep”. The troupe scored 93 marks in the last round easily beating their nearest rivals Ekkatan who were awarded a very respectable 89.1.
“We all can do it,” said Pongpan Petthong, Pet Jarat Sang’s leader. “We can preserve, create and develop a sense of Thai-ness, so that younger people inherit Thai arts and culture.”
Pet Jarat Sang, which is made up of Pojana Petthong, Aran Sangmuang, Acting Sub Lt Chaiyapruek Sithi, Acting Sub Lt Weeraporn Jumjai and Nopadol Pompet, received Bt1 million in cash and the King Cup trophy from Culture Minister Sonthaya Kumplome. They competed against Ekkatan from the Central region, Thep Satha from the South, Paka Lamduan from the Northeast and Rom Dan Chang from the North.
“Good presentation, good script and good emotional continuity,” enthused national artist and actor Suprawat Patmasut, who served as an honorary judge of the reality show.
“I love you all as much as Thailand,” said Note Choenyim while Prasat “Mued” Thongaram expressed admiration to the female performers for their powerful drumming and beautiful dancing. “The colours of the Thai flag communicated so well with the Thai people,” said Southern luk thung artist Ekkachai Srivichai.
Yuthana “Ted” Boonorm, managing director of GMM Grammy subsidiary Gayray, and another judge noted that Pet Jarat Sang had been marked high since the beginning of the show. “Most viewers expected you to win,” he said. “You may have been under pressure but you still served as the driving force for other competing troupes to develop their capabilities. Today, you’ve gone go beyond your expectations.”
Petch Mar, a Grammy’s producer, musician and also commentator of The Star, was equally appreciative of the troupe’s talents.
“Seven years ago, I was invited by the Japanese embassy in Thailand to watch three musicians perform a Taiko drum show and it was so good that I have never forgotten it. That is until today when your beautiful show replaced the image in my mind.”
Move movement
_ Catch a repeat of the reality show at Facebook.com/KonThaiKunThep.
