The idea was born when MC Chatrichalerm Yukol, aka “Than Mui”, wanted to do something in memory to the King.
A small project idea at first quickly blossomed into the mass project.
“I’m overwhelmed at seeing a lot of people join the singing,” Than Mui said.
The performance was captured by 50 cameras, 25 microphones, two drones and two cranes. Other footage will be added to it, such as footage of the King, and it will be shown in movie theatres and on TV next week.
“It’s the last project we can do for the King,” he said.
The movie, Than Mui said, would be shown until the new King’s reign begins. Than Mui’s daughter, MR Srikhumrung Yukol, was also overwhelmed by the response to the project.
“There were around 1,300 crew with six film-shooting units capturing the historic moment,’ she said.
Maestro Somtow Sucharitkul said it was a miracle to organise the event in such a short period. “This performance shows that our country can have a single voice. It unites us to be here and sing together,” he said.
He hoped that yesterday was a symbol marking the beginning of a new conflict-free chapter of Thai history.
“The idea of this singing performance will be like we are concluding the country’s history in two minutes,” the composer said.
“The important thing is not the size of the crowd but the hearts of the people who gather here.”
He added: “I wish our country will have a moment like this for good.”

He urged people heading to the area to pay homage to HM King Bhumibol Adulyadej to use water transport, saying it was the most convenient way to get there.
Suwapan, in his capacity as secretary of a command centre set up to monitor the situation, said 200 additional medical staff would also be on duty to help any people who need assistance.
He urged drivers of charter vans and buses bringing people from the provinces to park at eight designated locations on the outskirts of Bangkok, then let people board city buses to the Sanam Luang and Grand Palace area. He said the command centre would hold another meeting on Wednesday to plan measures to accommodate the huge numbers expected to pay their respects to the late King’s royal urn from next Friday (October 28).
Meanwhile, city police chief Pol Lt-General Sanit Mahathaworn said he had instructed more officers to guard Sanam Luang and smooth traffic in nearby areas while soldiers and “Tessakit” city law enforcers backed them up.
He said security cameras had been installed at 16 additional spots in the area to help keep order and monitor for any suspicious people or items.
Police have set up seven main checkpoints so people feel confident while visiting the Grand Palace to mourn the late King. Sanit urged people to avoid bringing vehicles, saying it would be better for the roads to be used for walking.
Traffic Police commander Pol Maj-General Jirasan Kaewsaeng-ek said 27 roads around Sanam Luang and Grand Palace were closed until Monday to accommodate the mourners who want to pay respect to the late King during the holiday period. Tomorrow is a public holiday in lieu of today, Chulalongkorn Day, which marks the passing of King Rama V.
The number of people who gathered at Sanam Luang for the mass singing of the Royal Anthem yesterday was huge and caused traffic congestion in some areas, so police would close 27 roads until Monday, Jirasan said.
He also urged motorists to use other routes such as Phitsanulok and Krung Thon bridges, while recommending that people get ferries to Tha Phrachan and Tha Chang piers.
For more information and updates, call 1197 around the clock or visit http://www.trafficpolice.go.th.

Sanam Luang and surrounding roads were turned into a sea of black yesterday as a massive crowd of mourners from all over the country joined the heartfelt singing of the Royal Anthem in a historic assembly in memory of the beloved King Bhumibol Adulyadej.
Despite the heat, the crowd stood calmly and sang as one, many with tearful eyes, while raising portraits of His Majesty and banknote bearing his image.
“When I am alone, I always miss him [the King]. I don’t know what to do. So, I came here to join others in singing the Royal Anthem. I’m glad to be part of this epic moment,” Sunee Boonrod, 70, Bangkok told The Nation.
The mass recital of the Royal Anthem was accompanied by a 200-piece orchestra and a 150-strong chorus under the baton of renowned music director Somtow Sucharitkul. The stage was set at the centre of Sanam Luang, a park adjacent the Grand Palace, where royal and religious rites have been taking place following the King’s death on October 13 at the age of 89.
This most heartfelt tribute yesterday was filmed by prominent director MC Chatrichalerm Yukol and his 1,300-strong production crew, with 50 cameras, including two drones and cameras positioned on two cranes, as well as 25 microphones set up in six locations to capture the event.
The film, which will include added footage of His Majesty’s royal activities, will be shown on TV and cinemas across the country from next week.
The crowd at yesterday’s event was estimated to be around 150,000, according to deputy police spokesman Maj-General Songpol Wattanachai. The number could have hit 250,000 if whole surface of Sanam Luang and the surrounding roads were filled, he said.
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expressed admiration for the thousands who took part in the event, especially those who had travelled long distances and began arriving very early in the morning.
Government Spokesman Lt-General Sansern Kaewkamnerd quoted the PM as saying that because everyone shared the same heart, and despite the burning sun, the people had created one of the greatest and most impressive spectacles showing Thais’ respect and loyalty to the late King.
Crowds have been massing outside the Grand Palace, with many journeying from far-away provinces to pay respects to HM the King.
Some have pitched tents on a large grassy field outside the Royal compound, while others have slept on simple bamboo mats.
Overall, yesterday’s event went smoothly, said new Bangkok Governor Pol General Aswin Kwanmuang.
“There are 2,000 security officers and seven security checkpoints. Also, 140 tents are provided around the park with capacity to accommodate over 20,000 people. For medical treatment, hospital staff and doctors are on standby at 11 points for emergency cases,” Aswin said.
However, according to a source from the BMA, hundreds of missing person cases were reported yesterday.
“The number of the missing cases today [yesterday] is around five times higher than previous days,” the source said.
However, the source said most of the missing people were found.
But as of 5pm, dozens of the reported missing people remained lost, according to the source.
Meanwhile, hundreds people of all ages passed out around noon yesterday at the height of the anthem event, according to a source of the joint safety command centre.
However, Aswin said there was no serious health cases, with most cases people passing out.

Another popular shelter for mourners is the Kilawet Sport Building, which has opened its doors since Friday. Centre official Sumalee Phocharoen said many local administrative bodies had so far reserved places for 200 visitors in November. The building had space for up to 800 lodgers and had prepared 500 sleeping bags.

During the three-day holiday period, from yesterday until tomorrow, the station added 10 more trains from Phitsanulok, Surin and Khon Kaen to cope with large number of mourners arriving, said station director Araya Pinthadit yesterday.

More than 20 shuttle buses conveyed people from the train station to Sanam Luang. One passenger, Nakhon Ratchasima barber Sinoom Boonprasert, 32, said he joined others in mourning the King’s passing in Bangkok and brought along the tools of his trade so that he could give free haircuts to underprivileged people.

At Wat Mahathat, free haircut services were also provided by students of the Bangkok Vocational Training School in Bang Rak District.

BMA Drainage and Sewage Department director Sompong Wiangkaew urged people to keep the waste water in containers and call district offices or the department office to collect it for proper disposal.

Anyone with water for disposal should go to the Chong Nonsi Water Quality Control Station on Rama III Road in Yannawa district or the Huai Kwang Water Quality Control Station in Soi Pracha Songkhro 36, he said. BMA and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi will send trucks to treat dye-contaminated water at Sanam Luang, he added.

The lamps will be placed around temples in the inner city area along with 50,000 ordinary clay lamps.

The mass recital of the royal anthem was accompanied by 200-piece orchestra and 150 chorus under the baton of the established music director Somtow Sucharitkul.

The stage was set at the center of Sanam Luang. The most heartfelt tribute was also filmed by prominent director MC Chatrichalerm Yukol and his 1,300 production crews with 50 cameras, two drones, two cranes and 25 microphones around six prominent locations.

The participants sang in tearful eyes while raising the portraits of His Majesty and banknote bearing his image. The film with footages on His Majesty’s royal activities will be shown in theatres and on TV channels next week.

What should you bring along and where to use public transportation.

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister General Chatchai Sarikulya yesterday said officials would also divert water into Thung Chao Chet, which is a water-retention area during the flood season, after the rice harvest was completed at the end of the month in a bid to save water for use during the dry season.
Chatchai said that as of yesterday Sukhothai’s Sri Satchanalai district had drained water at 105 cubic metres per second, while Nakhon Sawan’s Jiraprawat Camp station reported the water running through it at 2,014 cubic metres per second.
Chai Nat’s Chao Phraya Dam, Lop Buri’s Pasak Jolasid Dam and Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai sluice gate lowered water-release rates to slightly over 1,900 cubic metres per second, while Ayutthaya’s Rama VI Dam suspended releasing water altogether.
Chatchai said an inspection of low-lying areas outside flood-barrier coverage in Ayutthaya province yesterday noted that water had receded since October 13.
He said the water level in tambon Ban Pom, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, was down 0.39 of a metre, in Bang Ban district’s tambon Ban Bang Luang Dod the water was down 0.33 metre and in tambon Ban Bang Ban it had receded 0.29 metre. In Tha Rua district’s tambon Tha Rua the flooding had dropped 3.13 metres.
Chatchai said various diversion dams, such as Chao Phraya and Rama VI, would push water upstream to canals, monkey-cheek water-retention areas and irrigation-system waterways. Other facilities, such as the Pasak and Kwai Noi dams, will reduce water-release rates further.
The Department of Royal Rainmaking and Agricultural Aviation was instructed to launch rainmaking operations to fill dams in Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phetchaburi provinces and on Surat Thani’s Koh Samui and Koh Pha-ngan, he said.