It's all in the numbers

One of the most popular awards events of the Thai season, the 10th edition of the Kom Chad Luek Awards ceremony was held on Wednesday at Aksara Theatre. Hundreds of celebrities, singers and actors turned out to applaud the winners in various entertainment categories ranging from luk thung (country folk) through music, film and TV drama.

The ceremony kicked off at 2pm with the arrival of luk thung artists and songsmiths, among them Monsit Khamsoy, Rung Suriya, Thosapol Himapan, and Koong Suthirat.

Inside the theatre, emcees Apaporn Nakhon Sawan and Yingyong Yodbuangam officially announced the 10 awards in the luk thung category, which this year excluded a “Best Luk Thung Song”, as no single track was considered to have made a mark.

Chutima Larnyamo was the outstanding winner, picking up the prizes for Best Luk Thung Female Artist, Best Everlasting Song for Female Artist for “Wua Luem Teen” and Best Composer for Thongchai Lekamphol’s “Jodmai Namta”. A tearful Chutima paid tribute to her late producer Rapee “R Jee” Tribupha, who died of heart failure last month.

Other winners were Phai Phongsatorn (Best Male Artist), Tum Tongrak for (Best New Male Artist, Yok Ronaporn (Best New Female Artist), Monkaen Kaenkhoon (Best Songwriter, “Khid Hod Chiang Khan), Rung Suriya and Thosapol (Best Everlasting Song for Male Artist, “Long Pa”) and Orn Oradee’s “Noom Jan Ngieb Jang” (Best Arrangement).

Supanat “Aof” Chalermchaicharoenkij once again won the public’s vote for Popular Luk Thung Artist.

During the intermission that heralded the second half of the awards ceremony, fans lined the footpath outside the theatre to welcome actors, actresses, movie directors and pop idols, among them Nontanun “Kacha” Anchuleepradit, Sattapong “Tao” Piengpo, Thanasit “Ton” Jaturaput and Yutthana “Toomtam” Puangklang.

At 8pm,the |second couple of MCs, Wirithipa “Woonsen” Pakdiprasong and Ketsepsawat “Na Nake” Palakawong Na Ayudhya took the stage, introducing a short show by four contestants from “The Voice” before announcing the winners in the music category.

Apichai “Lek” Tragoolpadetgrai, or Greasy Caf? as he’s better known, went home with the prizes for Best Male Artist and Best Song (“Mek Tai Nam”) from his album “The Journey without Maps”.

“I’m so excited and surprised at this award, especially as this song hasn’t been promoted as a single,” said Apichai.

Best Instrumental went to “Pan Fai” from Danu Huntrakul’s album “Lam Nam Haeng Khun Khao”, Best New Artist was awarded to Chladni Chandi, Best Female Artist to Supatra Indrabhakti Korad, Best Duo/Group Artist to T-Bone, and Best Album to Pongsit Khampi for “25 Years: Mee Wang”.

“We are an unknown band from an indie label,” said one of Chladni Chandi’s members. “Thanks to Pok Stylish Nonsense for introducing us to Panda Records as well to as the judging committee of Kom Chad Luek Awards.”

Big Ass closed out the music section with a set that featured their first single “Daneramit” and “Lom Plien Thit”.

Patcharasri “Kalamare” Benjamas and Pisanu “Boy” Nimsakul hosted the awards of the film category and to everyone’s delight, two indie films grabbed the top honours: the experimental romance “36” winning Best Picture and Best Screenplay and comedy-drama “P-047” picking up Best Director and Best Supporting Actor.

“This award is a driving force for me to produce the next movie,” said a delighted Kongdej Jaturanrasmee.

Piyathida Worramusik won Best Supporting for “Together”, Best Actress went to Penpak Sirikul for “It Gets Better” and Best Actor to Krisada Sukosol Clapp for the gangster flick “Antapal.”

“I never thought that I would stand here and get this award. I present it to all the katoey around the country,” said Penpak.

Minthita Wattakul introduced the TV category by singing “Ngao Thi Mee Huajai”, a soundtrack of “Raeng Ngao”, before handing the stage over to presenters Sunisa “Aom” Sukbunsang and Samapol “Kai” Piyapongsiri.

Channel 3’s drama “Buang” swept four awards featuring Best TV Scriptwriter for Nantawan Rungwongpanit, Best Supporting Actress for Chamaiporn Jaturaput, Best Actress for Sirapan Wattanajinda and Best Drama.

Best Supporting Actor went to Chaiyapol Julien Poupart for “Buang Rak”, Best Actor to Ravit Terdwong for “Raeng Ngao” and Best Director for Tarathorn Siripanworaporn for “Rark Boon.”

Ravit raised his award over his head, saying his friends had thanked him for clearing the roads of traffic every Monday and Tuesday. Kiertisak “Hoy” Udomnak then took the stage to announce the Popular Votes. They went to Saran Siriluksana (Popular Actor), Urassaya Sperbund (Popular Actress), Napat Injaiuea (Popular Pop Singer), “Thoranee Nee Nee Khrai Khrong” (Popular TV Drama)and “I Miss U Rak Chan Ya Khid Thueng Chan” (Popular Film).