Director’s Statement

My name is Kiki Kuhakan (Kwang Jiraporn Kuhakan)—a journalist, filmmaker, and daughter of two worlds. I was born and raised along the Thailand–Myanmar border, where my identity was shaped by both countries, and by the spaces in between. As the child of illegal immigrants, I grew up surrounded by stories of displacement, resistance, and survival—stories that continue to drive my work today.

For over a decade, I’ve reported for outlets like Reuters and BBC, covering human rights, immigration, and political upheaval across Southeast Asia. I’ve witnessed Myanmar’s most pivotal moments—from its first democratic election to the tragic collapse of hope under the 2021 military coup. 

Songs They Buried is more than a film. It is a piece of my own history, told through the voice of another exile: Zarni, a Burmese rock legend whose music carries the weight of a nation’s grief and the power of its resistance. His story echoes my own longing—for justice, for home, for a country that still lives in memory.

This documentary is not just about one man. It’s about a culture forced into silence. A community scattered across borders. And a fight that refuses to end. In telling Zarni’s story, I’m also telling mine—and that of millions who still dream of returning home.