ThaiLakorn – The Drama Bone

Getting married thrice in a drama is crazy, right? But getting married to the same person in a drama thrice is even crazier!

This was the pulling point for me in drama. This thai series followed right after Kluen Cheewit. I really admired both Mark Prin and Yaya Urassaya and wanted to watch more of their dramas. This drama flashed in my YouTube recommendations. The drama has 11 episodes so I thought I would be able able to finish it very quickly.

The series name ‘Ton Ruk Rim Rua’ stands for ‘Love started at the fence’ and also ‘True love by the door’. It stars Mark Prin and Kimmy Kimerbly together for a 3rd time. Initially since I was not completely over Kluen Cheewit, so I kept thinking that Yaya and mark fit better together. But after watching this show and other shows with Mark and Kim as leads I realised that there is some easiness about their chemistry, it seems natural especially in this drama and it’s understandable since this is where their love for each other started blooming.

Ton Ruk Rim Rua Kob and Bua — Image Credit: asianfuse.net

The story is about two childhood best friends, Kasidth (Kob) and Nalin (Bua) who are neighbours and share the same fence. They are married off in their late teens as it was Kob’s grandmother’s last wish. Later on, they are divorced. Kob realises he has always loved Bua and comes back from US for her. Bua, on the other hand already has a dream man in her eyes. For Bua, Kob is just this guy best friend with whom she has spent most of her life, getting teased and finds him nothing but irritating. The story is about friendship and love, how we can mistake one for the other, and how sometimes what we look for is not far far away but close by.

Coming to the characters, I love Kob’s character. Mark himself has admitted it that he is very much like Kob in real life and it actually shows in his effortless acting on screen. What I love about this drama is that the main lead himself is providing comic relief. He is a mix of funny and romantic. He doesn’t take life so seriously until it comes to Bua. He supports Bua in all her endeavours. He is ready to do anything just for the sake of her happiness, even let her go.

Bua is a workaholic, who only has eyes for her career and her dream man. An interesting thing I observed while watching the drama was, there were many comments about Bua being selfish, blind to Kob’s love, stupid and what not. I am no PR of the drama yet I wish to clarify that you need to understand where the character is coming from. When you are best friends with a person all your life, it is difficult to take the care, love and affection they shower anything more than friendship. What’s worse is your fear of reading into something that isn’t there or fearing your friendship will be jeopardized due to your love.

Kob and Tangkwa — Image Credit: kenh14.vn

Similarly, the character of Twangkwa may seem selfish and evil (and she was at some places) but her obsession with Kob got the better of her. She did not want to harm Bua, she just wanted her to be away from Kob. In the end, you realise how vulnerable she is and her strength in finally letting him go. She is a girl who just wanted to be loved by a guy.

Tin is a character that we hardly see in real life. He is Bua’s boss and her dream man who eventually falls in love with her. He’s all goody good, very mindful and understanding. His progressive thoughts only add to the charm of drama.

One thing I really like is that Kob’s parents do not gloat of their son. They are accepting if not supportive of Bua’s decision even though it hurts their own son. They let the children make their own decisions.

The ost of drama is amazing and is definitely one of the main highlights of the drama. ‘Kon Diew Tao Nan’ has become an all time favourite. The lyrics, the music resonants so much with everything going on in the drama. Even the background music is very beautiful redefining all emotions sailing throughout an episode.

All in all, it is a light-hearted drama, there are few progressive points in the drama combined with some usual regressives. Although, the plot has it own twists that were beyond me, for instance, getting married to keep your job. It does make a compelling watch primarily because of its underlined theme of friendship and love and the chemistry between Mark and Kim. It is bound to make you blush, cry, cringe and laugh and relate it to the friendship and love you have in your life.

Why watch it?

The chemistry between Mark and Kim
If you like light hearted best friend turn to lovers drama
Amazing Ost

Continue reading “Ton Ruk Rim Rua (sometimes, what you look for is right in front of your eyes)” →

This was my first thai drama. I actually came across it accidentally (or maybe there are no accidents) on YouTube. I saw some mini clips of the episodes in thai language that went beyond me. However, I was able to grasp what was on going on. Somehow I just kept clicking next after next until I became hooked enough to watch. I searched all the comments carefully to know the name of the drama. Then, I searched for the story and then started watching the episodes one by one.

Kluen Cheewit Poster — Picture Credit: mydramalist

Left to Right (characters): Daraka, Jade, Sathit, Jeerawat, Piak and Chayan

Thai drama are usually almost 1.5-2 hours long. With a drama generally ranging from 15-20 episodes. So it took me 5 days to finish watching. I made it in time to watch the finale with the rest of the world.

Kluen Cheewit: Jeerawat and Sathit — Picture Credit: facebook

Tradegy strikes within the first episode of the story and that forms the basis for the rest of the drama. The female protagonist (Jeerawat) is a successful actress who gets involved in a clear hit and run case. The victim of this hit and run case is our male protagonist’s (Sathit) girlfriend. She passes away and then revenge comes into picture and then Jeerawat.

The story plays around as to who to blame for, who is really at fault and how everyone is somehow a victim of something. It also sends out a message that life can give you second chances to love and to live. The waves of life will hit you in ways you don’t want and aren’t ready for, it is upto you how you sail.

Cast fits their roles perfectly, it’s the characters I have a bit of problem with. The thing with thai dramas is a lot of them are slap-kiss kind. A lot many times force and violence is romanticised and rewarded which is something I don’t really like. So it doesn’t top my favourite list but undeniable made an interesting watch primarily because it was my first step into Thai culture and the amazing chemistry between Jee and Sathit. Even with simple guy meets girl stories, you can’t argue the fact that they are not at all addicting. I feel the strong chemistry between the lead and the beautiful ost are the most favourable factors for thai dramas. This drama makes for a strong story if you place it in list of other thai dramas.

Kluen Cheewit Sathit and Jeerawat — Picture Credit: Pinterest

The thing I like about this one is that characters are not so much of black and white as is the case with most thai dramas. They are somewhere in between not only in their behavior but also their wishes for themselves and others. The leads have done some amazing acting and tried their best to justify their parts.

The character of Jeerawat is played by Yaya Urassaya commonly known as Yaya. She has put in her very best here. Her expression are all on points, her emotions very vivid. The character’s life seems to have it all but is actually filled with a lot of sadness. From being a diva on the outside, to being a next door girl on the inside who just wants to have a genuine love. It is an actual parallel to life that one can seem to have it all but be genuinely sad. You can see clearly what the character is going through. Both her resilience and her vulnerability are portrayed well and that is what I admire about the character. She is vulnerable in front of those she loves but equally determined and head strong in front of those who wrong her.

Kluen Cheewit Jeerawat — Picture Credit: Tumblr

The character of Sathit is played by Mark Prin. Many considered it his best one till date. However, his character Kob from Ton Ruk Rim Rua is still my favourite. Yet you can’t miss him here. He makes his ‘mark’ in every shot he is in. The thing I like about Sathit is that he is not all hero and righteous. He makes error in judgements, does wrong deeds and repents them. At no time I feel a hero/lead should be justified for doing wrong deeds but all I am saying is that his character is not far from being a ordinary human who is prone to making mistakes. Initially his beliefs are entirely based on what meets the eye. It is only later on when his heart wavers for, he brings perspective both wrong and right into the picture. This was so because he is blinded by getting the due justice which takes a bad turn for revenge.

As for rest of the cast too, have done a great job in terms of acting. Louis and Toey’s character of Chayan and Piak also manage to garner your attention as good as the lead because of their seemingly natural acting.

The direction is good as well, the storyline keeps you on your feet. The opening and ending ost are beautiful and make so much sense to the story. The background music fits in right places as well.

In the end, the drama depicts how people survive the ‘waves of life’. And try to live on even with scars and wounds of their own.

The drama explores the dynamics of friendship, love, revenge, guilt and redemption. It makes an interesting watch be it because of the chemistry, story, ost or being a remake of popular drama/ novel of the same name. If you are someone who likes slap kiss dramas, you won’t regret watching this one.

Kluen Cheewit End — Picture Credit: asianfuse

Why watch it?

The amazing chemistry between Mark and Yaya
Good Acting by leads
Good storyline (in terms of thai dramas)
Amazing Ost
If you like cliché revenge- love stories
Remake of popular thai drama, based on novel of same name

Continue reading “Thai Drama Review: Kluen Cheewit (surviving the waves of life)” →