Expensive love

New and Praew remake a classic

By Tatat Bunnag
Photographs by Varuth Hirunyatheb
and courtesy of Sahamongkol Film International

Chaiyapol Julien Poupart (New) is a star on the rise. Already well-known for his breakout role in Jan Dara the Beginning, New has also played opposite the beautiful Davika Hoorne in last year’s The Old Scar, as well as appearing in the hit television drama Kehas Dao.

This week we’ll see the talented 25-year-old in a highly anticipated adaptation of the classic ‘70s romantic comedy, Monrak Luk Thung, in Sahamongkol’s latest film Mon Love Sib Meun.

Directed by Toh Pantamitr, Mon Love Sib Meun is a great mix of a rom-com story and Thai folk songs. Set in rural Thailand, the film follows the funny and chaotic love story between a peasant farmer Klao (New), and Thong Kwao, a beautiful girl from a wealthy family, played by 22-year-old Chermavee Suwanpanuchoke (Praew).

Student Weekly recently went along to the film’s press conference at House Rama RCA, and talked with the two leading stars about the making of the film.

Student Weekly: How did Mon Love Sib Meun begin for you two?

Praew: New and I worked together in Pang Nakarin’s music video for “Poom Pae Krungthep (Bangkok Allergy),” around two years ago. In the video, we did a flash mob dance in a village, which caught the attention of director Toh Pantamitr.

New: Many of the dance scenes in the video are similar to what Toh had in mind for his movie. He decided that he wanted to pair us together in his film.

Student Weekly: New, you have mostly been in period films in the past few years. Why do you think you are chosen for this type of role?

New: I guess I have an old-fashioned kind of face. [Laughs.] But I enjoy doing period films. It’s better than playing those boring clichéd characters in teen films. Mon Love Sib Meun is light-hearted and less dramatic than my previous work.

Student Weekly: Praew, how did it feel to go back to making films after a long break?

Praew: The last movie I did was The Holy Man in 2005. I was still in high school at the time, and now I’m a university graduate. I had to get used to filming a movie again, but it went very well.

Student Weekly: How would you describe the story of Mon Love Sib Meun?

New: The plot is loosely based on the 1970 film Monrak Luk Thung. It’s about a poor man, Klao, who’s in love with rich Thong Kwao. Klao wants to marry Thong Kwao but her father always gets in the way. The father demands a 100,000 baht dowry. Klao recruits his friends to help with his money-making schemes.

Student Weekly: How is the new film similar to Monrak Luk Thung?

New: All the main characters are the same. But Klao’s schemes to get money are totally different.

Praew: The director didn’t want this movie to be a period film. The film has a good mix of old and modern ideas. The story might be from the old days, but all the costumes and hairstyles are contemporary.

Student Weekly: What was the filming process like?

New: It was really fun as the film features a lot of comedians, especially Jazz Chauncheun and Son Chitmanee. Every day we would come on set and tell jokes.

Praew: It was also really nice to be surrounded by nature. We filmed at many beautiful locations in Suphan Buri and Nakhon Nayok provinces.

Student Weekly: New, what was it like to sing so much in the film?

New: I was pretty nervous at first, because I can’t really sing. But the director told me that my character has to sing, so I had no choice but to give it a try. I went in the studio to record the song “Sib Meun (Ten Thousand)” five or six times until I nailed it. It was actually a great experience for me.

Student Weekly: Why shouldn’t fans miss Mon Love Sib Meun?

New: It’s a feel-good film for any kind of audience. There are plenty of hilarious moments. It’s also the first time that I sing and dance in a film, so I’m hoping my fans will like it.

Praew: Apart from all the good music there are a lot of a sweet and romantic moments in it too. Rom-com fans shouldn’t miss it!

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