TV drama tells stories of three Royal mothers

A special 30minute drama will go on TV next Wednesday to tell the whole country about the devoted mothers of three of Thailand's great kings. The broadcast will mark Her Majesty Queen Sirikit's 78th birthday.

"It will go on air after Her Majesty's televised birthday speech ends on August 11," Witoon Karuna said yesterday in his capacity as the adviser to the Culture Ministry.

 Her Majesty has usually addressed her people on the eve of her birthday.

 Witoon said the "Mothers of Three Great Thai Kings" drama was based on historical records. "The production is in response to Her Majesty's call for Thais to pay attention to their country's history," he said.

The drama is also intended to highlight how important mothers are, he said.

Her Majesty is the maternal figure in the country. Her birthday is declared the National Mother's Day.

Featured in the drama are Phra Nang Sueang, the mother of King Ramkhamhaeng the Great, Phra Wisutkasat, the mother of King Naresuan the Great, and Somdej Phra Thepsirintharamat, the mother of King Rama V.

According to the drama's scriptwriter and producer Worayut Pichaisoratat, Phra Nang Sueang played a vital role in the formation of the Sukhothai Kingdom and formulated many of its political policies. Phra Wisutkasat made a great sacrifice in surrendering her two children, Phra Naresuan and Phra Supankanlaya, to Burma to save the country. Although Somdej Phra Thepsirintharamat died at the age of only 28, she had inculcated in her son, King Rama V, compassion, virtues, and the determination to work for public interest.

Witoon said the drama was produced under the auspices of the Culture Ministry.

"We have VCD copies of this special drama to hand out to educational institutes and interested people," he said.