Three films on the go, Jaa finally shows up in a suit

Jaa shot “A Man Will Rise” with Lundgren last year, but that is in limbo because of Jaa’s contractual tangle with Sahamongkol Film, which produced that one.

Jaa – or whoever is posting on Facebook on his behalf – is going by the initials “TJ” these days, and TJ says shooting on “Skin Trade” will begin this month here in Thailand, with more to come later in Canada. “Beautiful Boxer” helmer Ekachai Uekrongtham will direct the English-language flick, which is about trafficking in people. TJ says the cast also includes Michael Jai White, plus Celina Jade of the TV series “Arrow”, who will play the Chinese daughter of someone called Yao Fei.

But most attention so far has been on Jaa’s wardrobe. Pictures have been posted of the costume fitting, showing him looking very cool in a suit, totally different from the shabby T-shirt and Khmer scarf he usually wears onscreen while kicking and elbowing people. “I don’t think many of you have seen me in a suit before – executive muay thai?” TJ wrote.

Meanwhile, TJ’s fans can still look forward to “Fast and Furious 7”, which has a release set for April. And the late Walker’s scenes will be intact.

 

Stink of success

Luk thung singer Mike Piromporn’s pride in his Isaan culture led him to open a restaurant in Bangkok specialising in the fiery food of the Northeast, and now he has his own factory churning out pla ra, the fragrant fermented fish so integral to Isaan cooking.

Last Sunday Mike gave host Sanya Khunakorn and the crew of Channel 7’s “Thee Nee Morchit” a tour, a special treat for the show’s guest, Paowalee Pornpimol, another luk thung star.

Mike and Paowalee promptly whipped up a pla ra omelette, pla ra fried rice and that classic Italian dish pla ra spaghetti. Meanwhile Mike explained that his ambition in buying the factory is to burnish the reputation of pla ra after suspicions of contamination made the rounds. 

He revealed that he’d actually wanted to give up singing so he could runt he business full time, but his boss – and his fans – talked him out of it. So now he does both. 

The pla ra he makes is exported to many countries. Marketed under the name Ya Jai in Thailand, after his hit song “Ya Jai Khon Jon”, it’s Saab Mike overseas, which plays with the word for “yummy”.

And Mike attends foreign events to promote his pla ra. The stall he set up at one French exhibition wowed folks with its ultra-spicy somtam and, selling it at five euros (Bt225) a dish, he pocketed Bt400,000 in three days!