THAI DIRECTORS

Ratana Pestonji (1908-1970) - รัตน์ เปสตันยี

Ratana Pestonji didn't direct many movies and his 7 movies were not big successes at the box office. But all his movies reflect a good quality mixing suspense humor so they have become classics. He made a black-and-white film (Country Hotel) while everybody else had gone colour. He used sound on film, while the audience in those days wanted to hear live dubbing. The dubbers were the stars and each province had its own famous film dubbers. He was the first director to understand that 16mm Thai movies couldn't be shown outside Thailand as dubbing was needed. So he makes high quality movie in 35mm. He made the first Thai film to get an award abroad, i. e. 1954's "Santi-Veena", which was awarded at the Asia-Pacific Film Festival in Tokyo. When back to Thailand the film couldn't enter due to tax issue. So it was sent to England and got lost! He never has famous Thai stars such as Mitr Chaibancha or Petchara Chaowarat playing in his movies as they took long time to be filmed included long sequences to be remembered and played many times until the right scene and voices were recorded. Mitr was very busy with huge queue of movies in the pipe. So Ratana used less famous actors who did performed very well also. Those were second role actors or actresses when playing with Mitr or Petchara but then got the opportunity to be the main stars in Ratana's movies. His last movie was "น้ำตาลไม่หวาน" (1964). He is known as the pioneer of Thai cinema. He received an award from Alfred Hitchcok in 1937 for his first movie "Tang". He died while giving a speech to movie executives and complaining of the lack of the support from government to Thai film industry. "I've spent every baht I ever earned on my productions and now I have to make adverts just to survive. The foreign film distributors have been preying on Thai cinemas," he said in 1970. Ratana innovated and his innovations became standard, such as the use of colour, 35mm film and sound recording. Our Ratana Pestonji's partial filmography contains 2 movies :

Sor Asanajinda (1921-1993) - ส.อาสนจินดา

Sor Asanajinda is a famous Thai film director (he has directed more than 70 movies!) and also a famous Thai actor (he has played in more than 80 movies!). He was also a writer and journalist. Following the uprising of October 14 1973, commercial filmmakers like Sor Asanajinda put anti-dictatorship messages in his action movies. He was named a National Artist of Thailand in year 1990. The idea of having an organisation to provide welfare for senior actors was conceived by Sor Asanachinda. Our Sor Asanajinda's partial filmography contains 4 movies :

Wichit Khunawut (1922-1997) - วิจิตร คุณาวุฒิ

There have been attempts by movie directors to produce more films with a social message, but these have not been very successful money-making ventures. One such director is film maker Wichit Khunawut. Among his works are a movie which dealt with the northern hilltribes, a movie about the hard life in Thailand's northeast, a movie about prostitution around an American military airbase during the Vietnam War, a movie about the custom of men taking "second wives" or "MIA NOI" (เมียน้อย). Our Wichit Khunawut's partial filmography contains 6 movies :

Phan Kam (1922) - พันคำ

Phan Kam has directed more than 60 movies from 1958 to 1992. He has also known as "พร้อมสิน สีบุญเรือง".. Our Phan Kam's partial filmography contains 13 movies :

Dokdin Kanyaman (1924) - ดอกดิน กัญญามาลย์

Dokdin Kanyaman has directed 33 movies. He was the first Thai director whose films made over 1 million baht. He coined the popular phrase "It's a million!" (ล้านแล้วจ้า), whenever box-office takings hit the 1 million baht mark. At that time cinema tickets cost 7 baht. Six movies of his movies Titles include "Kung Nang" (กุ้งนาง) (1976), "Mam Jaa" (แหม่มจ๋า) (1975), "Sign Sum-oy" (สิงห์สำออย) (1977) and "Khon Kin Mia" (คนกินเมีย) (1974). Dokdin's film casts consist of a hero, a heroine, assistant heroes, assistant heroines, ruffians, sexy stars and comic relief characters. Our Dokdin Kanyaman's partial filmography contains 4 movies :

Cherd Songsri (1931-2006) - เชิด ทรงศรี

Cherd Songsri's first movie was Nora, a 16mm film in 1966. His ambitious film Phlae Kao (1977) became a smash hit and raked in more money than any other films produced before that time. In 1998, the movie was voted as one of the world's 360 classic movies. Cherd directed and produced a total of 18 films. Our Cherd Songsri's partial filmography contains 9 movies :

Ruj Ronnapop (1931-2009) - รุจน์ รณภพ

Ruj Ronnapop was an actor and a famous director also. He directed more than 30 movies and acted in more than 50 movies. He was the father of two famous actresses, Mai Charoeunpura and Intira Jaroenpura. He is well known for his romance movies in the 1980s. Our Ruj Ronnapop's partial filmography contains 12 movies :

Chalong Pukdeewichit (1932) - ฉลอง ภักดีวิจิตร

Chalong Pukdeewichit is a famous Thai action movies director. One of his main achievement is the serie "Gold" (ทอง) with 4 opus. The movie "Gold" (1973) was the first big success of Chalong Pukdeewichit. The film was a phenomenal success locally and made a profit internationally. It became the first Thai film to be widely sold to international markets. Later on "Gold 2" (Gold Raiders - 1983), "Gold 3" (The Lost Idol - 1990) and "Gold 4" (In Gold We Trust - 1992) were even released. Chalong Pukdeewichit put in place an effective marketing strategy, i.e. a large budget, sex, violence and involvement of a famous internationally known actor to attract buyers. Since 1996, he is directing successfully Thai actions TV series. Our Chalong Pukdeewichit's partial filmography contains 7 movies :

Piak Poster (1932) - เปี๊ยก โปสเตอร์

Piak Poster is famous for having done the first successful Thai teen movie in 1976 (Wai-on-la-won). He has also directed many romance movies. Most of his romance movies finish tragically. He also known as Somboonsuk Niyomsiri (สมบูรณ์สุข นิยมศิริ). His movies differ from conventional 1960s style so he was hailed as a new wave director (ชู). He directed 27 movies. Piak Poster began as a painter of movie posters, so earning the pseudonym that stuck even after he became a famous director.. Our Piak Poster's partial filmography contains 10 movies :

Charin Nantanakorn (1933) - ชรินทร์ นันทนาคร

Charin Nantanakorn was a country music singer, actor and movie director. He is married to Petchara Chaowarat in 1975. Our Charin Nantanakorn's partial filmography contains 1 movies :

MC Dhibbayachat (1935-2010) - ม.จ.ทิพยฉัตร ฉัตรชัย

MC Dhibbayachat directed many romantic films in the 1980s. In the 1980s, he wrote and directed romantic dramas and created a signature style that relied on the presence of pop stars, location shooting in Europe and sweetly sentimental soundtracks. Our MC Dhibbayachat's partial filmography contains 1 movies :

Kumtorn Tubkunlai (1941-2001) - กำธร ทัพคัลไลย

Kumtorn Tubkunlai has directed 12 successful comedies. His wife and actress Piyamas Monayakol was playing in all Kumtorn Tubkunlai's comedy movies. Our Kumtorn Tubkunlai's partial filmography contains 11 movies :

ChatriChalerm Yukol (1942) - ชาตรีเฉลิม ยุคล

Prince Chatri Chalerm or ChatriChalerm Yukol is best known for portraying social problems and misery of the poor and the downtrodden people on the lower rungs of society. He is also very alert and sensitive to society and tries to faithfully represent it in his films. He has directed the first Thai science-fiction film. Some of his lost movies are นางแบบมหาภัย (1976), . Some of his movies dealt with work in a remote area and fights against the prevalent corruption, hit man's life, activist teacher in the Klong Toei slum area. His work always pays attention to the masses and his films are stories about unspoken issues. He was selected as National Artist of Performance Arts in 2001. In 2006, he was honoured with the lifetime achievement award at the Thailand National Film Awards. Chatrichalerm is known for supporting talented directors outside the mainstream.. Our ChatriChalerm Yukol's partial filmography contains 23 movies :

Permpol Choei-arun (1944) - เพิ่มพล เชยอรุณ

Permpol Choei-arun is famous for his drama films. He made serious films about society and poor people. Our Permpol Choei-arun's partial filmography contains 9 movies :

Pisarn Akraseranee (1945) - พิศาล อัครเศรณี

Pisarn Akraseranee is an actor and also a film director. In year 2001, his project to do a Thai historical film about Thai heroine Thao Suranaree raises serious anger from Laos. Our Pisarn Akraseranee's partial filmography contains 2 movies :

Chana Kraprayoon (1945) - ชนะ คราประยูร

Chana Kraprayoon has directed 20 movies from 1973 to 1991. He has directed in 1990s and 2000s many Thai TV series or "LAKHON" (ละคร). Our Chana Kraprayoon's partial filmography contains 5 movies :

Chai Meekunsut (19xx) - ชาย มีคุณสุต

Chai Meekunsut has directed around 30 movies. Most of his movies were action movies. Our Chai Meekunsut's partial filmography contains 4 movies :

Kom Akadej (1948-2012) - คมน์ อรรฆเดช

Thai director Kom Akadej shot around 12 movies from 1975 to 1987. He was also an actor in around 10 movies from 1971 to 1975. He was a famous action movie director. Khom was working with Hong Kong stars like David Chiang (in 1982's Phet Tad Yok) and making action films like The Mountain Lion - เสือภูเขา (1979) and พยัคฆ์ยี่เก (1983). Kom Akadej reached his peak in late 1970s and early 1980s. The Mountain Lion - เสือภูเขา (1979) movie remains famous for its kung fu scenes. This film was one of the first to mix elaborate stunt work and well choreographed fight scenes. He then switched to Thai TV serie direction. Kom Akadej was president of The committee of The Federation of National Film Association of Thailand in 1999-2002. Kom Akadej movies are difficult to find officially. Movies rights in Thailand belongs to Coliseum film (บริษัท โคลีเซี่ยมฟีล์ม), company of Kom Akadej. Up to now no VCD / DVD was released in Thailand with correct legal rights according to Thai law. Coliseum film company would sell the rights for all Kom Akadej’s movies and not only for a single movie. Some companies were only interested in one or a few titles but not the whole catalog so preventing any Kom Akadej movies releases up to this day. Our Kom Akadej's partial filmography contains 2 movies :

Manop Udomdej (19xx) - มานพ อุดมเดช

Manop Udomdej first movie On the Fringe of Society was a social-realism film that discusses the urban migration of rural workers. During his career, Manop Udomdej has done a few films related to women position in Thai society (Macabre case of Prom Pi Ram and the Accusation) and a few actions movies. Manop Udomdej is a good example of the filmaker whose work comes from a concern with social justice and whose connection with rural and deprived sectors has molded his approach to filmmaking. Our Manop Udomdej's partial filmography contains 7 movies :

Surasee Phatham (1948) - สุรสีห์ ผาธรรม

Surasee Phatham grew up in a rural area in close association with peasants, so he understood well their problems. Most of his films presented stories of rural teachers, life in Isan villages and politics. One of his best Thai social movie is 'The Rural Teacher' (ครูบ้านนอก) (1978) . Director Surasee Phatham has done other movies focusing on rural teachers such as ครูวิบาก (Teacher hardship), ครูดอย (Mountain teacher), หมอบ้านนอก (Rural Doctor). They were never as successful as 'The Rural Teacher'. One of Surasee Phatham's best movie is 'The MP outside the Parliament' (ผู้แทนนอกสภา), where a kind hearted MP is shot by a hitman. Our Surasee Phatham's partial filmography contains 6 movies :

Toranong Srichua (1951) - ทรนง ศรีเชื้อ

Toranong Srichua is sometimes known as a local war and erotic film director. Having disappeared from the movie industry for 10 years, he announced in 2007 the construction of the Entertainment Complex Toranong Studio, largest film studio in Asia. Our Toranong Srichua's partial filmography contains 8 movies :

Bandit Ritthakol (1951-2009) - บัณฑิต ฤทธิ์ถกล

Bandit Ritthakol is famous the Boonchu movies series (7 films). Famous other films from Bandit Ritthakol include The Moonhunter (14 ตุลา) about the 1973 democracy movement and The Seed (ด้วยเกล้า) about the Royal Agricultural Projects benefits. Our Bandit Ritthakol's partial filmography contains 14 movies :

Euthana Mukdasanit (1952) - ยุทธนา มุกดาสนิท

Euthana Mukdasanit created a stage-theatre during the time he studied at Thammsat university where he became interested in social problems. In 1975 he joined the Isan group to produce the underground film "Tong Pan". His next films were based on Thai novels and also local current affairs. Euthana's movies always pick up on social issues, both directly and indirectly. As the industry has opened more opportunity for Thai movies in 1990s, he returned to filmmaking after being sidelined by the dominance of teen movies. In 2001 after being laid off by Grammy, he created a new company, the Bangkok Actors' Studio. Our Euthana Mukdasanit's partial filmography contains 9 movies :

Adirek Watleela (1955) - อดิเรก วัฏลีลา

Adirek Watleela or "Uncle" is a respected Thai producer and director. Our Adirek Watleela's partial filmography contains 0 movies :

Thanit Jitnukul (1956) - ธนิตย์ จิตนุกูล

Thanit Jitnukul has made his name by doing historical battle epics (Bang Rajan, Kunpan - Legend of the Warlord and Sema - Warrior of Ayuttaya). He has tried many genres including horror (Art of the Devil and Hell), action (102 Bangkok Robbery and Crime King) and comedy (Andaman Girl). Bang Rajan was supported by Oliver Stone in a theatrical release in the United States. Oliver Stone is known to be a champion of Bang Rajan and considers Bang Rajan as a great film up with Seven Samurai. Our Thanit Jitnukul's partial filmography contains 8 movies :

Panna Rittikrai (1961) - พันนา ฤทธิไกร

Panna Rittikrai, stunt choreography, has been well-known to play and direct low budget movies. Such B-grade action and horror movies were popular from the mid-1980s to 1997. Panna Rittikrai is born in Khon Kaen and was influenced by outdoor action movies of Mitr Chaibancha. He later became influenced by Hong Kong superstars, Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan. He became a self-taught martial arts expert. He worked with Kom Akadej in Bangkok for three years as a physical trainer for actors and also appeared in daring stunts. He later on formed in Khon Kaen his own stunt team. He forged a new style of low-budget action films which emphasised pure stunt work. Panna's Born To Fight (เกิดมาลุย - 1983) was the first of some 50 films he would produce, direct and act in over more than ten years. Panna Rittikrai noticed the future superstar Tony Jaa. Our Panna Rittikrai's partial filmography contains 4 movies :

Sompote Sangduenchai (1962) - สมโพธิแสงเดือนฉาย

Producer-director Sompote Sangduenchai (also called Sompote Sands) has made movies covering the "Thai-style kaiju" and costumed Ultraman movies made in years 1970s and 1980s. In 2007, the Thai IP Court rules that Sompote Sangduenchai couldn't claim the rights for Ultraman products except for nine Ultraman movies that Sompote co-produced many years ago. Our Sompote Sangduenchai's partial filmography contains 8 movies :

Prachya Pinkaew (1962) - ปรัชญา ปิ่นแก้ว

Prachya Pinkaew is a famous film director and film producer. His romance movies in 1990s were well-known in Thailand but he receives international fame thanks to his movies with Tony Jaa (Ong Bak and Tom Yum Goong) and Yanin (Chocolate). Our Prachya Pinkaew's partial filmography contains 6 movies :

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang (1962) - เป็นเอก รัตนเรือง

Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, one of the 1997 legend's pioneers, always opened new records of Thai cinema overseas. After his directorial debut Fun Bar Karaoke, he made Sixtynine, Monrak Transistor, Last Life in the Universe and Invisible Wave. Today Pen-Ek is more to be known as an international director. Our Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's partial filmography contains 7 movies :

Nonzee Nimitbut (1962) - นนทรีย์ นิมิบุตร

Nonzee Nimitbut is one of the 1997 legend's pioneers or "New Wave" of Thai filmmakers that also includes Pen-Ek Ratanaruang, Wisit Sasanatieng and Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Our Nonzee Nimitbut's partial filmography contains 6 movies :

Wisit Sasanatieng (1963) - วิศิษฏ์ ศาสนเที่ยง

Wisit Sasanatieng brought a new stylistic juncture between art and entertainement. He is part of the new Thai wave directors that emerged after 1997 crisis. Our Wisit Sasanatieng's partial filmography contains 4 movies :

Oxide Pang (1965) -

Another new director from the Thai advertising industry is Hong Kong born Oxide Pang. He entered the field with "Who Is Running? - ท้าฟ้าลิขิต" (1997). Our Oxide Pang's partial filmography contains 5 movies :

Yuthlert Sippapak (1966) - ยุทธเลิศ สิปปภาค

Yuthlert Sippapak is well known for his genre-blending films such as Killer Tattoo (comedy and action) and Buppha Rahtree saga (comedy and horror). Our Yuthlert Sippapak's partial filmography contains 10 movies :

Apichatpong Weerasethakul (1970) - อภิชาติพงศ์ วีระเศรษฐกุล

Apichatpong Weerasethakul, at both local and international levels, is the icon of the indie spirit who has pursued his unique cinematic vision. His films Blissfully Yours (2001) and Tropical Malady (2004) both won awards at Cannes Film Festival. Apichatpong's 2008 film Syndromes and a Century raised issues regarding free creativity in Thailand as the censorship board ordered four scenes to be cut. In 2010, Apichatpong Weerasethakul wins Cannes Film Festival's Palme d'Or for Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives. Our Apichatpong Weerasethakul's partial filmography contains 5 movies :

Ekachai Uekrongtham (197x) - เอกชัย เอื้อครองธรรม

Ekachai Uekrongtham is a Thai director based in Singapore. His first movie "Beautiful Boxer" in 2003 was a huge success as his movie digs deep into the heart of someone who is a transvestite character. Our Ekachai Uekrongtham's partial filmography contains 3 movies :

ThaiWorldView film database contains 35 directors.

---

Home > Culture > Thai Cinema