Sahai comments (referenced below, p. 81) that the panel title inscriptions in both the old VOM image hall and in the new replicant set, appear to confuse —and to sometimes invert— the storylines of the identical bastard twins Sankhip/Sangip (Sugriva), and Palichanh/Bahlican (Vailin). Caption title block(s), old Lao calligraphy, re-rendered by Sachidanand Sahai, from Ramayana in Laos: a study in the Gvay Dhorahbi, BR Publishing Corp, Delhi (India)”
“One of these seven Ai Chua (novices) added an aeroplane at the top of the final panel [picture N° 33]; probably, he thought that would give much more solemnity to Phra Lam’s troops on their way home.” Extract Thit Panh 1969 interview (English version), from Vo Tu Tinh, “Version lao du Ramayana: Phralak-Phralam”, in Bulletin des Amis du Royaume lao, deuxieme semestre 1971, Vientiane. Note that the “aeroplane” is cartooned in the replicant panel but has been so far left uncolorized!
digital photograph
Mr. Chaeunphone, lead artist; Lao PDR Faculty of Fine Arts, Vientiane
2001-2006 (building construction)
May-July 2010 (cartooning and colorization)
panel 33, new image hall interior, Vat Oub Mong, Vientiane
Complete digitally replicated temple interior murals of Phralak-Phralam, the Lao Ramayana