• 
• 

Published on January 17, 2008

Princess Galyani Vadhana was a blend of all the best ingredients," says Ovation Studio director Buranee Rachjaibun, who made a biographical video documentary about the royal sister that evidently pleased the late Princess last year.

Now being aired on television during the mourning period for the Princess, "Ched Rob Pee Kun Naksatr" was made, as the title indicates, for her seventh-cycle birthday last year and originally telecast in June.

Buranee credits Thanpuying Butri Viravaidya, the deputy private secretary to His Majesty the King, for the idea of matching a Mahidol family biography chronologically with national and global events.

Research and production took a few months.

Buranee is well known as film and stage director with sharp technical expertise. She was a co-founder of Theatre 28 and, more importantly, has worked for the Royal Family for more than a decade.

She produced the award-winning documentary "Nai Duang Jai Nirand" in honour of the King and made a film about "Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Valayalaksana's Science Congress".

She also created a permanent exhibit about the Princess Mother for Chiang Rai's Hall of Opium museum, and more recently produced the "Arts of the Kingdom" show, which pays tribute to Her Majesty the Queen's creative initiatives.

More than any other project, however, the documentary about Princess Galyani, Buranee says, was a team exercise in expressing admiration and love.

"I've heard that the Princess watched all seven episodes and was pleased with it, which of course I really appreciate. She was so special - some of my crew members who rarely followed the Royal news grew to love her while working on this project.

"Princess Galyani was such a strong and intelligent woman. At the same time, she was gentle and warm-hearted. I believe only Thais can truly understand how the Mahidols loved and nourished one another."

Buranee helped organise official receptions for the Princess when she attended La Fete, the annual French cultural festival held in Bangkok.

"She was always very friendly. I vividly remember one occasion when she attended the classical ballet 'Biarritz' at the Thailand Cultural Centre.

"Space was very limited in the backstage area where her car was parked, and normally only the show's director greets the Princess. But the whole cast was eager to see her and asked me if the Princess might talk to them. I wasn't sure about it at all, but the Princess was very kind and shook hands with every performer, and even spoke to them in French beautifully. It was so impressive!"

Buranee points out that it was Princess Galyani who did so much to give Thais their first glimpse of many foreign theatrical productions and, when it came time to attend the new show in town, she was the ultimate role model in behaviour and punctuality.

"The Princess was always aware of the value of time. Every minute was special to her," Buranee says.

Princess Galyani was a documentary filmmaker herself, and her working methods fascinated Buranee.

"I learned an important lesson from seeing her determination when she was travelling abroad and working on her travel documentaries - she was directly involved in the scripts, the images, the voice-overs, everything.

"When you make short documentaries - three, seven, 10 minutes - one of the most important things for the director is be able to grab the essence of the subject matter and to deliver it interestingly.

"Princess Galyani was so amazing," Buranee says, tears forming in her eyes. "She was so thoughtful towards everyone."

The DVD "Ched Rob Pee Kun Naksatr" is available from the Anandamahidol Foundation. Call (02) 6235833.

Kupluthai Pungkanon

The Nation