Mom Noi moves on from skin flicks with "Plae Kao"

It’s yet another remake under the direction of veteran ML Bandevanov “Mom Noi” Devakula, who’s now completed his “Jan Dara” series. Mom Noi has said this one will be nothing like “Jan Dara” – meaning it won’t have explicit nudity and sex. “The movie will very much follow the classic novel,” he said. “I really want to portray that real love with the backdrop of Thai culture and the environment of that period.”

In his attempt to portray the beauty of Thailand as it was eight decades ago, Mom Noi said the film will depict the sincere love between Kwan, played by Chaiyapol “New” Pupart, and Riam, played by Davika “Mai” Horne, and highlight the way of life in bygone days. 

He’s been questioned about casting half-Thai actors in the lead roles, but insists that both New and Mai are great fits for their parts. Unlike modern stories, he said, these roles require “special skills”, like riding a water buffalo, something that several members of the cast have been practising. 

In fact the actors have spent the last four months learning things like how to grow rice and various aspects of classical Siamese culture. “Making this film has made me appreciate the kindness of many farmers,” Mom Noi said. “A lot of people helped us in providing the rice field and teaching us the skills. I’m so grateful.”

The charm of the movie will be all the beauty of Thai culture and the pure love of the couple, he said. “This is a movie that the whole family can enjoy together.” And he will prove it when the film premieres in the latter half of this year.

 

Ollie’s in a hurry

Congratulations to another groom-to-be. Actor Oliver Bever is getting married next Monday to 28-year-old Suthasinee “Yeewa” Thongsarika. They’ve been an item for five years. 

Oliver, 43, insists their age gap |doesn’t matter and jokes that their seeming rush to arrange the wedding is definitely not because Yeewa is pregnant. “When I called my friends to tell them the news, the first thing they asked is whether she was expecting!” he laughs. 

Oliver says it took quite a few years to win the “battle” for his true love’s hand. At first his intended mother-in-law didn’t care for him too much. He had to overcome her misgivings and, once that was done, had two months to plan the marriage. 

“I miscalculated and thought two months would be plenty of time. It |wasn’t, so my strategy switched to calling everyone to invite them,” he says. To make it easier on the guests, they’re getting engaged and married on the same day. “I’ve designed it so that everyone can take it easy. The engagement ceremony will run from 1.30 to 4pm. Then, two hours later, the wedding reception starts. See you guys there!”