Blessing Ceremony and Official Launch of the Film “PRA MAI” at CentralWorld
- PMU-B Cluster
- Dec 25, 2024
- 2 min read
On December 23, 2024, at CentralWorld, a blessing ceremony and official launch event for the film “PRA MAI” was held to bring good fortune to the production. “PRA MAI” is a modern Isan (Northeastern Thai) film that blends traditional art and culture with thrilling horror elements. The event was attended by the cast, director, members of the media, and numerous distinguished guests.
The Program Management Unit for Human Resources & Institutional Development, Research and Innovation (PMU-B), led by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Rina Patramanon, Chair of the Frontier Research Cluster Coordination Committee (PMU-B), and Ms. Jaturaporn Chokphukiaw, Chair of the Social Sciences, Humanities, and Artificial Intelligence Cluster Coordination Committee (PMU-B), participated in the event.
They expressed their appreciation for the film, praising its creative approach to portraying the identity, beliefs, and cultural heritage of the Isan region from a fresh perspective, while also embedding educational content in an engaging and innovative manner.
“PRA MAI”, one of the most anticipated Thai horror films of 2025, is produced under the expert supervision of renowned Thai film producer Prachya Pinkaew. The film is co-directed by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkham and Asst. Prof. Dr. Preecha Sakorn, who also shared their key inspirations behind the creation of this unique cinematic work.
The directors revealed that their vision for the film was driven by a deep appreciation for the cultural richness of the Isan region and a desire to explore the intersection of folklore, faith, and fear through a creative and thought-provoking lens.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Niyom Wongpongkham, renowned for directing "Kru Khong Khoy"—a film that poignantly portrays Thai-Lao relations—and Asst. Prof. Dr. Preecha Sakorn, an acclaimed director of award-winning short films both domestically and internationally, gave a joint interview stating:
"In our research, Phra Mai—the wooden Buddha image—represents a symbolic embodiment of the Buddha, created to be venerated and serve as a reminder of the Enlightened One. However, some studies reveal another lesser-known dimension: beyond its devotional purpose, such statues were sometimes crafted as a form of ritual scapegoating, or ‘sadej-kroh’ (misfortune transference).
According to ancient folklore, these Buddha statues could become instruments of death—objects into which people channeled their misfortune, believing the statue would bear it on their behalf. This act of transferring ill fate meant that the statue no longer simply held sacred value, but also carried the burden of accumulated misfortune.
Therefore, bringing such a statue into the home was thought to be akin to inviting misfortune into one’s life. Under this worldview, Phra Mai ceases to be an auspicious object (wattumongkhon) and instead becomes a dangerous object (wattuuantarai)—strictly forbidden to be kept inside the household."
It is this very inspiration that has transformed "Phra Mai" into a highly anticipated film—one that promises a deeply unsettling and thought-provoking horror experience. The movie is set to be released in theaters nationwide very soon.
