After years of dedicated listening to Preap Sovath’s strong, bluesy voice and sentimental lyrics on their radios—and more recently on the mobile phone rings of pop-savvy teenagers—Cambodians now have a chance to view the famed singer in action on the big screen.
Since last week’s opening of the pop star’s first-ever movie, “Crocodile,” several thousand people have already rushed to the theaters, despite the ticket price of 6,000 riel ($1.50), which is 2,000 riel more than what it usually costs to see even a foreign movie.
The movie tells the story of a huge crocodile that preys on villagers, which Preap Sovath has to kill with a dagger.
Moviegoer Naren Krounch, a student at the Royal University of Law and Economic Science, saw an advertisement and couldn’t wait to see the film.
“When I saw Preap Sovath filmed in the movie, I decided to watch the movie,” Naren Krounch said. “He performed very well. I liked his performance.”
Preap Sovath, who first gained fame in the early 1990s, said he was satisfied with his debut performance.
“I was happy and worried, because this is my first time to film,” he said, adding that his concerns were eased this week, as the film’s large initial turnout foretold financial success.
“I think that within one week, we will succeed,” in turning a profit, Preap Sovath said, adding that given the warm reception to this film, there may be more performances to come.
The Chief Administrator of Rasmey Hang Meas Production company, Eng Song Liet, said Preap Sovath’s longstanding popularity made him a prime candidate for the film.
“Preap Sovath’s popularity is important. He is very attractive to people,” Eng Song Liet said.
The production company worked on the project for a full year, along with senior movie producer and Ministry of Information Secretary of State Mau Ayut. Eng Song Liet would not reveal the cost of the film.
“A lot of teenagers like Preap Sovath. Preap Sovath is like a flower in the movie,” Mau Ayut said.
But more than just famous faces, he said, moviegoers demand quality productions as well. Mau Ayut said this film brings something fresh to the theaters, which are rife with sexual content and violent ghost stories.
Flash Diamond Movie Production director and Khmer Movie Festival President Ly Bun Yim agreed that the singer’s reputation might draw a movie audience, but that attendance would decline if the film was poorly made and acted.
“There should be a combination,” he said. “If there is only one actor, the movie cannot please the viewers.”
