Rungrat Mengpanich's move into acting has proved very successful with notable performances in several TV dramas as well as the recent movie Luk Thung Signature. Som Pak Sian is yet another showcase for the Issan native’s talents.
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Love me not
Titapa Chaiyakiturajai
Being in love with somebody can be painful, especially if that person is already taken. In the Issan comedy Som Pak Sian, Sian (Tono Pakin) and Som (Em Busarakum) are high school sweethearts. That is until Som goes to work in Bangkok. When she returns home with a new boyfriend, Sian is heartbroken. But he has a secret admirer. Pak has had a crush on him for years and now sees an opportunity to win his heart.
Pak is played by the talented young star Rungrat Mengpanich (Kaimook). Most will recognise the pretty 21-year-old from The Voice Season 4, where she stood out for her beautiful renditions of classic luk thung songs. Her move into acting has proved very successful with notable performances in several TV dramas as well as the recent movie Luk Thung Signature. Som Pak Sian is yet another showcase for the Issan native’s talents.
Before the film opens in cinemas on August 31, S Weekly caught up with Kaimook to talk about her latest role.
Have you always been interested in acting?
Kaimook: Yes, but I never really thought I’d get the chance to do it. Singing has always been my priority. Now that I’ve been given the opportunity, I want to do both at the same time.
Can you explain the meaning of the film’s title, Som Pak Sian?
Kaimook: It’s a play on words. "Som pak sian" is the name of a vegetable dish in Issan that we usually eat with chilli paste. But it’s also the characters’ names.
How did you prepare to play your character Pak?
Kaimook: I had to set aside my personality in order to fully become the character I wanted to be. But on the first day of shooting, I must admit that I didn’t truly feel love for the character Sian. So I sat down with Tono. After we had a proper talk and exchange of ideas, I understood how Pak was truly in love with Sian. Talking on a deeper level really helped a lot.
What kind of a person is Tono?
Kaimook: He’s a very caring person who loves his family. He was like a brother to me. He’d always check to see if I was doing okay. At first, I didn’t find him very approachable, but we gradually became closer.
Did you enjoy working together?
Kaimook: Yes, it was a lot of fun. Tono helped me a lot on set, especially during the romantic scenes. We had to be sweet, which isn’t very natural for me. He held my hand and helped me to act realistically.
Do you sympathise with people like Pak?
Kaimook: Yes, I felt very bad for her. She’d do anything for Sian, no matter what. If he was sick, she’d take care of him. She’d even help his mom do chores. When he was with his girlfriend, Pak would secretly watch them and cry. When Sian was sad after getting dumped, Pak couldn’t understand why he wouldn’t go to her.
Have you ever had a crush on somebody?
Kaimook: No, but my friends have. I saw them secretly give presents to their crushes. So I can understand the character.
Which of the locations that you filmed in did you like most?
Kaimook: I liked Phra That Phanom with its temple and pagoda. The other scene I enjoyed was when we filmed next to the Mekong River. The view was spectacular.
Why shouldn’t we miss Som Pak Sian?
Kaimook: The entire movie is in the Issan dialect, which is rare. And there are enough serious movies out there, so this comedy is here to help you relax.
