Sinagtala" may not pass off as the title of a commercial film, one that could easily draw in droves of people into a movie house. For one, whoever mentions that word again in conversations these days, when the young are more focused on creating, inventing their own lingua franca, so far detached from the rules of language as we know it?

Yet, movie production company Sinagtala has boldly adopted the ancient word as headliner of its first film offering. The film’s creative staff led by its director, Mike Sandejas, has smartly baptized a bunch of young musicians collectively as the Sinagtala band.  For lack of a better interpretation, do I take it that the English translation of sinagtala could be moonbeam, although moon is hardly in reference here?

"Sinagtala" is not exactly a movie musical in the strict sense, although Sandejas says 30 per cent of the movie is made up of musical numbers. It tells the intertwined stories of five band members, played by Rhian Ramos, Glaiza de Castro, Arci Muñoz, Rayver Cruz and Matt Lozano, each one dealing with his own demons and picking up life lessons in the process.

The individual stories are tied together by intermittent band performances, creating a pastiche that is often tear-jerking or funny, nonetheless dramatic enough to move the viewer to reflect on his own journey.

To top it all, the character who dies, Glaiza de Castro, serves as the film’s conscience and unifier. Some may call her part as preachy, yet, what she’s sharing are actually words of wisdom straight out of Harold J. Sala. If only the script allowed the actor to break the routine and inject more humor into the lesson plan.

As a whole, the film is technically well done by Sandejas---crisp editing, clear and versatile   cinematography. Sandejas has not made a film for about 10 years. His inactivity during all these years have probably made him a hungry artist, just like the characters in the film desperately trying to reunite as a band after having disbanded.

As for the performing parts, credit goes to the cast, who are not exactly known as singers per se, but who manage to pull off commendable performances. In fairness, all of them have a side to them that sings or composes or plays with bands or have a family history in music.      

Mike Sandejas made his mark as a filmmaker through his films, "Tulad Ng Dati" (2006) and "Dinig Sana Kita" (2009), both of which won awards at Cinemalaya.

"Sinagtala," produced by Sinagtala Productions, opens in cinemas on April 2.