Poompuang (1999)

A Song for Every Struggle

My parents were huge fans of Pumpuang Duangjan's music, which exposed me to her work at a young age. As the "Queen of Luk Thung," Pumpuang was a trailblazing Thai singer and songwriter who played a pivotal role in popularizing the genre, making it more accessible to younger generations through the incorporation of modern elements. Her heartfelt performances often addressed themes of love, heartbreak, and social issues, resonating deeply with both the working class and broader audiences.

When I learned about the 1998/99 lakorn (Thai television drama) depicting her life, I was excited to see how they would portray her journey. Pumpuang passed away in 1992 from lupus, and this series came out shortly after. While the show highly dramatizes her life, providing insight into the personal and artistic journey that made her a beloved national icon, I found their portrayal somewhat one-dimensional. In hindsight, this series will only frustrate viewers who crave a more accurate representation of her life.

A warning to those considering watching this series -- it feels like a form of "suffering porn." Pumpuang was born into a family of farmers living in abject poverty, and her childhood was marked by hardship. She was the 5th child of 12 children. She had to quit school at age 8 to care for her younger siblings and work on sugar cane fields. This lack of formal education left her illiterate, making her vulnerable to exploitation by those around her which shapes her into adulthood. Her family's struggles and financial instability further exacerbated her plight.

The series begins by exploring Pumpuang's childhood, showcasing how she started as a child performer, competing in regional singing competitions and learning every Luk Thung song by heart along with the choreography. Her dedication to music was unwavering, finding solace in it as a means of survival and eventually stardom. I appreciated that the series included her original songs and some footage.

At 15, Pumpuang was discovered by a touring band at one of the local festivals after winning a singing contest. Her journey progressed from there, leading her to Bangkok where she experimented with reinventing herself multiple times.

Her life changed after meeting a famous songwriter and producer, Lop Buriratt, whose songs and influences helped shape her sound by incorporating modern electronic beats into her traditionalist style, catapulting her to stardom.

The acting was decent, but the series suffered due to the lack of detailed accuracy. Ratchaneekorn Phanmanee had big shoes to fill; after all, Pumpuang was a charismatic and accomplished actress in her own right. Voravudh Niyomsap, who portrayed her first husband Teerapol Saensuk, did a commendable job. However, his portrayal of an absolute human trash was so convincing that you'd want to dropkick him in the teeth – accurate since her first husband was indeed a philanderer who abused and cheated on her multiple times, including having an affair with one of her sisters. I'm not sure the actor who is listed as her second husband is correct so I am not going to reference his name since I cannot validate the accuracy.

Pumpuang was surrounded by swindlers at every turn, including her family, friends, staff, managers, and even her second husband, Kraisorn Saenganan. His role in the series seemed underexplored, and it didn't delve into his serious gambling issue that contributed to her destitution.

The series' portrayal of Pumpuang's life lacks some nuance. Towards the end of the series, if i recall correct, her second husband fought to secure her medical treatment despite his own shortcomings, while her family believed in superstition and "traditional" methods. These factors, combined with financial struggles, ultimately contributed to her untimely death from lupus at the age of 30.

Despite her tragic life and tabloid notoriety, Pumpuang's contributions to Thai music are profound and undeniable. She won numerous awards and accolades throughout her career, modernized the Luk Thung genre, and had an incredibly eidetic memory, memorizing over 600 songs across 60 albums in her impressive discography. She is one of Thailand's most beloved national treasures. Despite her success, she did not find happiness. This is perhaps why they say life sometimes imitates art.

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