A Day with Noi, chasing luk thung and dodging apologies

KRISSADA “NOI” SUKOSOL Clapp is crazy kinetic when he’s singing onstage, endlessly dancing and jumping around, so it’s amazing how calm he looks in films when he turns his talents to acting.
Until now almost typecast in serious dramatic roles, Noi surprised everyone when he accepted a leading role in the forthcoming romantic comedy “Luk Thung Signature” directed by Prachya Pinkaew. Of course he’s done comedy before – “Luang Pee Teng 3” a few years back, which had him playing a small town’s monk alongside popular comedians – but this time there’s music in the mix, so the project must have felt like a perfect fit.
Maybe not quite: Noi tells A Day Bulletin he had to learn all about luk thung culture, which is alien to the Thai-American from a well-to-do family in the hotel trade. He was educated at international schools and in the United States and feels no connection to the funky folk music.

He’s always found it charming, though, every tune telling its own interesting story, not so different from the plays of William Shakespeare, he says. And we do know the songs are very tricky to sing properly. Fortunately Noi, who’s just finished filming, didn’t have to attempt it.
He plays Boy, chief executive at a private firm, who overhears the office cleaning lady singing as she’s scrubbing the men’s toilet, where he’s ensconced in one of the stalls. The beautiful voice belongs to Rungrat Mengphanit, who goes by the nickname “Khai Mook The Voice” thanks to her winning turn on that TV show. Boy is immediately smitten, but the cleaner vanishes just as he emerges from his cubicle, and the search begins for that amazing talent and the sweet girl it belongs to.
You wouldn’t think Noi ever gets much in the way of criticism. He was adored as the lead singer of the band Pru before jumping into acting, and then his lead role in “13 Game Sayong” won him best-actor trophies at the National Film Association Awards, the Starpics Awards and the Bangkok Critics Assembly.
Nevertheless, the 45-year-old has been stung by criticism, saying he’s easily stressed out, and has been working in the hotel family business lately. Not that he’s complaining – he feels very privileged, growing up in a wealthy family, having the chance to study overseas and then doing what he loves, like music and acting. He travels and collects antiques.
Noi could buy a luxury car if he wanted to, but he’s happy with his 12-year-old compact. He’s not big on the new technology and only recently got his first smartphone, a gift from his wife. It’s necessary these days, he admits, especially in Thai society.
“Socialising with friends and family on the social networks and Line suits Thais because we don’t like being straightforward with one another. So communicating via smartphones keeps us smiling at each other. If we do something wrong and don’t have courage to apologise in person, we can type an apology to them!”