The Culture Ministry has shown the red flag to a viral music video that promotes Thai tourism through Khon characters.
Scenes showing the Ramakien epic character Thotsakan (Ravana) on horseback, a jet ski, a go-kart, and a tuk-tuk in the music video will be banned. Also facing the axe are scenes showing the imaginary king of giants cooking Thai sweetmeat.
“The Culture Ministry says such scenes are inappropriate. It says Thotsakan should be riding an elephant,” Bandit Thongdee, president of the Thai Film Director Association, said in his capacity as the director of the music video.
Bandit said the Culture Ministry seemed to want about 40 per cent of the music video content removed.
“I will try to oblige. But such editing would also mean that some tourist places that were promoted may not have a presence,” he said.
He lamented the ministry’s action, saying it was not his intention to hurt the grandeur of Khon culture – traditional Thai mask dance – but he just wanted to add a contemporary touch.
Bandit said he would submit the re-edited music video to the Culture Surveillance Bureau for scrutiny next Tuesday.
“If they are still unhappy, we will scrap this music video,” Bandit said. “I won’t be able re-edit again and again because we have limited footage,” he added. Bandit said V Bangkok had hired him to produce this music video to promote domestic tourism.
The Culture Ministry’s move has caused an uproar in social media, with many netizens seeing nothing wrong in using Khon to promote tourism.
Yesterday, social media like Facebook was swamped with a drawing showing the back of a sad-looking Thotsakan with a message reading, “I can’t do this. I can’t do that. I can’t even cook sweetmeat … Oh, I am not a minor anymore.”
The music video was first unveiled on September 12.
Culture Ministry permanent secretary Apinan Poshyananda tried to play down the uproar, suggesting that the re-edited version could be even better.
Photo Gallery
Thailand bans tourism video for showing masked demons
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Apinan said he was among those who had enjoyed the original version of the video but experts later pointed out to him that some scenes were inappropriate.
“Thotsakan is the king of giants. He is a grand, formidable character. So, he is not supposed to engage in things like sweetmeat cooking,” he said, backing the experts’ opinion. “We have resolved that all parties concerned should meet half-way.”
Apinan said experts had also explained that Khon was a form of high art and people should have respect for it and not treat it frivolously. He was speaking after a meeting with the Bunditpatanasilpa Institute and other relevant agencies.
Apinan said his ministry would consider releasing a manual to guide people on how to apply Thai arts and culture to their work.
“In future, advertising agencies or any other agencies may consult our experts so that we can promote Thai culture together in a proper way,” he said.
Apinan dismissed criticism that the Culture Ministry’s conservative stance on Khon could make it impossible for the common man to relate to cultural art.
“We will work with the new generation and creative minds. We hope to keep Khon alive. We hope it won’t die,” he said.
Assistant president of Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, Teeraphat Thongnim, said he was concerned that the use of Khon costumes for things beyond Khon traditions would finally kill this art. “If we allow this to happen, people will conclude that Khon characters can do anything and Khon traditions will fade away,” he said.
