Ai Gom

Kom lives with his mother, Kham. When he was a child, his drunken father accidentally caused a house fire and died in the flames. Kham managed to save Kom by jumping out of a window with him, but the incident left Kom with a hunched back disability. As his mother grows increasingly ill, Kom must go out to find work to support them.
One day, Kom encounters the Sri Mueang theater troupe performing in town and meets Yen, the troupe owner’s daughter. Unlike others, she shows him kindness and even gives him a doll. Determined to earn a living, Kom asks for a job with Naem, a member of the troupe. Seeing Kom’s physical condition, Naem feels sympathy and gives him a small role scattering leaves as part of the stage effects.
In his spare time, Kom secretly plays the piano, performing a lullaby his mother used to sing to him. One day, Wit, the stage director, overhears him and turns the melody into a song for a new play. Meanwhile, a rival troupe, Banterng Thai, plots to sabotage Sri Mueang’s success by kidnapping Yen, their leading actress.
While transporting stage equipment, Kom happens to witness the abduction and bravely rescues Yen. Grateful, she invites him to dinner at her home. That night, Kom dresses carefully and arrives, but upon hearing Yen and Wit happily singing together, he feels unworthy and quietly leaves.
Returning home, he finds his mother gravely ill. He stays by her side all night, but her condition worsens. The next day, Kom goes to the theater troupe to request leave, but before he can speak, Naem orders him to continue working. Distraught and worried about his mother, Kom becomes lost in thought and accidentally falls from the stage scaffolding.
Before he dies, Kom makes one final request to Yen—to sing for his departing soul with her beautiful voice.
Release date: November 8, 1938
Screened at: Sala Chalerm Krung Theatre
Re-run: July 4, 1952 at Sala Chalermburi Theatre
Format: Black-and-white 35 mm film with synchronized sound