The Overture

The Overture Thai or Hom rong is a 2004 Thai musicaldrama film. A fictionalised account based on the life story of Thai palace musician Luang Pradit Phairoh Sorn Silapabanleng, it follows the life of a Thai classical musician from the late 19th century to the 1940s. The film was the winner of several awards in Thailand and was the countrys official selection for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. It was directed by Ittisoontorn Vichailak and producers included Nonzee Nimibutr and Chatrichalerm Yukol. The film was also credited with a revival in the popularity of piphat Thai classical music. In 2015, this film had been remade into a musical play from the 4th of April toMay at KBank Siam PicGanesha Theatre.

Sorns brother was a gifted classical musician, so gifted in fact that it caused a rivalry with other musicians that ended in Sorns brothers death. Because of that, Sorns father bars the boy from taking up the ranadek Thai xylophone. However, Sorn, who has shown a talent for the instrument since an early age, defies his father and sneaks off to practice playing in an abandoned temple in the jungle.Eventually, he becomes so skilled at the instrument that his father lets him play after he speaks to a monk who advises him that he should not deny him the right to play ranadek. Sorn excels in his studies to the point where he is noticed by other bands. They ask for his presence to complete. He becomes arrogant and misses practice telling his father that his faith isnt misplaced. His father teaches his place by putting him on the Kongwong. At the competition, the competitor scares his uncle the substitute on ranadek and becomes clear that the competitor has superior skill. As their playing, the judge realises that Sorn isnt playing on the ranadek and calls the teacher out on the fact that if they have a good player, might as well bring out the good material because then you can lose with dignity. The band starts over and plays the same song, but it is obvious that Sorn is skilled. He wins every competition as a boy. So One day, in a local village, Sorn and his ensemble are set up to perform in a courtyard. Across the courtyard is another ensemble, led by a fiercelooking bearded ranadek player dressed in black. As the rival player starts to perform, a storm whips up adding to the ominous mood of the setting. Sorn is disturbed by his fiery ability to play and wants to learn like him. ........

Source: Wikipedia