By the mid-19th century, King Mongkut (Rama IV) began modernizing the Siamese military. The introduction of rifled muzzle-loaders and breech-loading brass cannons from Britain made the Sang Bongkrab Plerng obsolete. The last recorded use in major warfare was during the Haw Wars (1865–1890) against Chinese bandit armies in Isan.

However, the weapon did not vanish entirely. It found a second life in folk theater and temple festivals. The Nang Talung (shadow puppet) shows often feature hero characters wielding miniature Sang Bongkrab Plerng to defeat demons.

The tactical doctrine for Sang Bongkrab Plerng was distinct from Western artillery. Because bamboo cannot sustain continuous firing (it would carbonize and crack), these weapons were used in massed volleys.

Imagine a Siamese war elephant corps advancing. Behind them, a line of 50 Sang Bongkrab Plerng units would fire simultaneously. The psychological effect was devastating: a wall of projectiles and blinding smoke. The Burmese chronicles describe Siamese "spitting bamboo" that would "shriek like a thousand ghosts."

The story is rooted in a tragic past life. In their previous incarnations, the characters committed grave sins involving betrayal and murder. Specifically, the female lead (Rotchana) and the male lead (Phran) were involved in a cycle of violence. The central premise is that Rotchana is born with a grotesque skin disease as karmic retribution for her past cruelty. To break the curse, she must find true love and have it returned, despite her appearance.