Jakarta, 2023 – Indonesia’s vibrant city of Jakarta was filled with excitement as it played host to the much-anticipated event, “The Magical Mansuang in Jakarta” on November 11th, 2023. It wasn’t just any fanmeet—it was a spectacle, a sneak peek into the magic of the movie, and a chance for fans to be a part of it. Jakarta was the first stop for ManSuang promotional tour and so it was a very special and exclusive moment. Just like the title of the show, one word to describe it is “magical”. Lots of surprises and performances that the audience hadn’t seen before.

The event kicked off with a special touch from the Thai Royal Embassy’s Ambassador for Indonesia, who was proud and glad to have the right opportunity to promote Thai culture to the world, especially in Indonesia. Then, the mcs took over and invited the stars of the show: Apo (Nattawin Wattanagitiphat), Mile (Phakphum Romsaithong), Bas (Asavapatr Ponpiboon), and Tong (Thanayut Thakoonauttaya). Their presence lit up the whole place and the fans were very enthusiastic.

The cast came up to the stage with the costumes they wore in the movie, an unusual yet enchanting sight. It was mindblowing, as they performed some scenes from the movie, theater-like, amazed the fans with their stunning acting. Tong took the stage, introducing ManSuang with charisma. Followed by a dance performance and a song, Apo and Bas brought the atmosphere to life. Not long after that, both Mile and Apo approached the fans in the middle of the crowd and handed out Thai traditional snacks while saying the fans were lovely. As the performance ended, the cheers and applause seemed endless.

After the performances, the cast sat down for a chat, sharing their Jakarta experiences. Apo said the fans were narak or cute. Tong said he was happy with the opportunity and was asking the fans to recommend them some food and popular places by using the hashtag for the event #MagicalManSuanginJKT on social media. Mile said he once had an Indonesian friend so he determined to come sometime and finally it was happening. Bas said he was very impressed as it was his first movie and promoting it here.

Then they started to dive into their roles in the movie. Tong took on the role of Hong, who was the son of ManSuang’s owner. He describes ManSuang as a place of entertainment, that held a bunch of shows from other countries and filled with cultures. He also describes his character as a hard person on the outside but soft on the inside, a person who couldn’t show his emotion and weakness because of his title. Apo portrays the character Khem, a slave who at that time was the lowest class of human beings, and wanted a better life. Later on, he found ManSuang and tried his luck as a dancer. Mile playing Chatra, a musician who came to ManSuang with a mission to uphold the truth. Bas plays Wan, who was also a slave who wants a peaceful life, until he has the opportunity to enter ManSuang to change his fate.

It is well known to the public that ManSuang, which was released last August in Thailand, has received lots of love and recognition as the movie holds the record with the highest number of preorders in the last 20 years. When asked of what made the movie so special, the cast answer with a few reasons. They said that the production crew never takes the audience lightly. They always give their best, right down to the high-quality equipment used, so the audience would experience stunning cinematography. They also mentioned that the background of the story itself was unique as they portrayed the life situations and issues that occurred in 1850s, which are not widely discussed in Thailand’s movie industry. The other reason was the hard work of the cast that put so much effort into giving a better picture of the characters. Apo and Bas practiced traditional dance which is generally done from an early age, in just a few months. While Mile said he got hurt from practicing the musical instrument too hard, but it was all worth it as all were able to give their best. What’s great was they were directly involved with the production team and agreed to bring Thai culture to the world through a movie project. And last, they said the success of the movie was of course because of the fans’ support.

The show didn’t just stop there, the cast continued to mingle with the fans, playing games and decorating kites—a nod to the movie’s essence—making it a fun and laughter-filled affair that kept everyone engaged. The event was getting closer to the end and it turned out that the fans had prepared a video message project! It was a warm and touching moment as they turned back to face the fans.

“Thank you for the kindness that makes me want to visit again.” – Tong

“Definitely a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.” – Bas

“A very cute and exciting city, I’m very happy to see you in person.” – Apo

“Thank you for supporting, it’s destiny that brought all of us together.” – Mile

Wrapping up with heartfelt gratitude and appreciation, the cast left a lasting impression, making us all eagerly anticipating the movie’s release in early 2024. The Magical Mansuang in Jakarta was undoubtedly a resounding success. As the Mansuang crew prepared to take their show on the road, promoting the film in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore, we wish them the best of luck. Credits to all the event crew that made this happen, such a great experience indeed. Hope to see another spectacular event in the future.

Article credits to Dewi Safitri and Vera Novita

Photo credits to Lumina Entertianment