In his next soap opera, Setha Sirachaya gets to play an undertaker, a challenging role for someone who's afraid of ghosts. In the meantime, we get to see him also dealing with the dead as the merciful Lord of the Underworld in Channel 3's comedy, Saphai Phayayom, aired Monday to Friday, at 6:30pm.
The cheerful crooner, Setha Sirachaya began taking singing lessons in his 60s, which is an example of his continuous learning.
"As an actor, I have taken many, many roles, from a beggar to a prime minister. Seventy percent of the movies and TV soaps that I have played in are comedies and normally I'm a kindhearted character, even as the compassionate Lord of the Underworld," said the easy-going and good-humoured Setha, who's also known as Ar Toy.
As a matter of fact, he was the first to call himself Ar Toy. In Thai ar means the younger brother or sister of one's father. Setha, 68, has kept this status and he's everyone's beloved Ar Toy, whose work in performing arts will culminate in being appointed National Artist, with the award presentation taking place today _ Thailand's National Artist Day.
Acting and hosting TV shows are his main domain nowadays, but he has been awarded this coveted title in the category of being a vocalist in Thai contemporary music.
Once a year, he gets to show his prowess as a legendary singer in a big concert. On March 13, his annual show will be staged at Queen Sirikit National Convention Center and this year he pays tribute to people who have supported his singing career in a concert titled "Jak Wan Nun Tueng Wan Ni Phroa Mi Khun" (From that day till today it has happened because of you).
How did it all happen then?
It started back in the 1960s with the teenage Setha following his uncle and a music band touring upcountry. From observing the musicians and asking them to teach him, he learned to play the guitar and later became a musician working upcountry before returning to Bangkok to form his own band in 1966.
"I dearly wanted to continue my schooling but my family's economic situation required me to make a living," said Setha, who after gaining a bachelor's and a master's in political science is now pursuing a doctorate.
Continuous learning is important to him and that includes taking singing courses.
''When I was young, there weren't any music and singing schools like what we have today. So I just naturally sang without having any background in music,'' he said. ''Three to four years ago, I began taking singing lessons from Khru Rodj [Rungrodj Dullapun], who has taught the country's top singing stars. I wanted to learn the basics and apply them to improve my singing. I also got some techniques on how to save my vocal cords and this is important with ageing in order to be able to sing effortlessly.''
Even though the cheerful crooner still has the smooth and charming voice of his younger years, when he was the lead singer of The Impossibles, also a Thai music legend, whose other key members included Vinai Phunturak, Pichai Thongniem and the late Pracheen Songpao and Rewat Buddhinan.
''In those days, Thai bands mostly performed Western songs and different singers specialised in different artists, for example The Beatles, Elvis Presley, and Cliff Richard. I was the Cliff Richard of my band, and his smooth voice inspired my singing,'' said the newly-appointed national artist.
His best memory of the good old days was when The Impossibles performed at The Fire Cracker Club, First Hotel in Pratunam. He joyfully remembers the big crowd coming to see their act and it was unbelievable that the band would become so popular.
''Before the 1970s, Filipino bands dominated the hotel entertainment scene whereas Thai bands mostly performed in bars,'' he recalled. ''After winning the King's trophy for Best String Combo Band, we were based at The Fire Cracker Club, which was a prestigious place for a Thai band to play. The Impossibles kind of opened a new era for Thai musicians as afterwards more and more hotels featured local bands.''
Setha (seated left) with other members of The Impossibles on an album cover.
A long queue of music fans was also seen in front of The Impossibles Cafe in Phloenchit. The owner named the cafe after the sensational Thai band, and that was another example of how phenomenal they were back in the '70s.
Their popularity even amazed a music agency based in Hawaii, and that opened a new chapter in Setha's music career.
''At first, we couldn't believe that someone wanted us to go and perform abroad but we had to take this opportunity, which gave us international experience to develop our performance,'' he said. ''But before going to Hawaii, we recorded the album Pen Pai Mai Dai [It's Impossible] for our Thai fans so that they wouldn't forget us.''
In 1972, the one-year contract had The Impossibles performing at Hawaiian Hut, Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu. The band came back to Bangkok the next year but it wasn't for long since they got invitations to do a concert tour in Europe that further gave them international exposure.
''We had the chance to play as a back-up band for The Platters, famous for Only You and Smoke Gets in Your Eyes, and we even got acquainted with Frank Zappa, who shared with us the making of his futuristic music,'' said Setha, referring to meeting some Western music icons.
The heyday of his music career ended after The Impossibles broke up in 1976 and even though Setha wanted to keep on being a solo singer he absolutely couldn't because movie acting roles took up all his time.
It was a relatively smooth transition from being a singer to being an actor. The Impossibles made a guest appearance in Piak Poster's movie Tone (1970), which was followed by Setha acting in Fai Gam Phrae (1975) that earned him a Tukata Thong _ the equivalent of an Oscar _ for best supporting actor.
The first-time actor felt very honoured to receive this award from the hand of HM the King. Thereafter, Setha found himself being an in-demand movie actor.
''It wasn't because I had good looks,'' he joked. ''In Thai movies, there's the best friend of the lead male character, and I was mostly cast for this must-have role. It was great to be acting with Sombat Metanee, Sorapong Chatree and Krung Srivilai, who were the country's top actors at that time,'' he said. ''I learned a lot from watching them acting, in the same way that I learn from today's young actors that I've had the chance to work with.''
He did get to play the leading man in Chuen Ruk (1979), co-starring with Aranya Namwong, whom he married and they have one daughter, Puttatida.
Nowadays, Setha is more into TV acting and production. However he starred in the movie, Big Boy (2010), as a forever-young grandfather of a country boy (played by Tony Rakkan), who just wants to dance. In this flick, Setha had to show off some B-boy moves.
''I enjoyed learning the physically demanding dance moves, but honestly I have forgotten all the steps,'' he said. ''But the movie demonstrated that you are never too old to learn something new, and this is what keeps me going in showbiz.''
When Setha was approached by Academy Fantasia's executive producer, Attaphon Na Bangxang, to be the show's host he admitted that he felt that the job should fall to a younger person.
''I straightforwardly asked Khun Boy [Attaphon]: Wasn't I too old for a reality/talent show with a bunch of young contestants ? He replied that I was the right man, and unbelievably we have done eight seasons of Academy Fantasia. Yes, I look forward to AF10 because by that time I would have hit my 70s,'' said Setha, an award-winning TV host from the popular game show, Ma Tarm Nud, back in the 1980s and early 1990s.
The showbiz all-rounder looks forward to regaling his fans in his annual concert to be held in mid-March. The ''Jak Wan Nun Tueng Wan Ni Phroa Mi Khun'' concert will be accompanied by an album with the same name on sale only at the concert venue. The set of four CDs feature classics penned by songwriters and national artists Payong Mukda, Sanga Aramphee, Chalee Intarawijit and Surapon Tonavanik. In addition, members of The Impossibles will make guest appearances in the upcoming show.
''I really want to thank people who have supported me throughout the years _ especially all of my fans,'' the national artist said. ''Their support has made the impossible possible.''
On March 13, the Jak Wan Nun Tueng Wan Ni ... Phroa Mi Khun concert will be staged at Plenary Hall, Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre, from 8pm. Tickets priced from 1,000-2,500 baht are available at Thai Ticket Major booths. Call 02-262-3456 or visit www.thaiticketmajor.com
Setha’s acting career has allowed him to play various roles.
