THAI DIRECTOR

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).

Wichit Khunawut's partial filmography :

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, sex stars and comic relief characters.
Dokdin Kanyaman's partial filmography :

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.
Cherd Songsri's partial filmography :

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.
Ruj Ronnapop's partial filmography :

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 (ชู้). He directed 27 movies.
Piak Poster's partial filmography :

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 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 Yukol's partial filmography :

Permpol Choei-arun (1944) - เพิ่มพล เชยอรุณ
Permpol Choei-arun is famous for his drama films. He made serious films about society and poor people.

Permpol Choei-arun's partial filmography :

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.

Pisarn Akraseranee's partial filmography :

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).

Chana Kraprayoon's partial filmography :

Manop Udomdej () - 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.
Manop Udomdej's partial filmography :

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.
Surasee Phatham's partial filmography :

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.

Toranong Srichua's partial filmography :

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.
Bandit Ritthakol's partial filmography :

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.
Euthana Mukdasanit's partial filmography :

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.
Thanit Jitnukul's partial filmography :

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.
Sompote Sangduenchai's partial filmography :

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 ).
Prachya Pinkaew's partial filmography :

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.
Pen-Ek Ratanaruang's partial filmography :

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.
Nonzee Nimitbut's partial filmography :

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.
Wisit Sasanatieng's partial filmography :

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).
Yuthlert Sippapak's partial filmography :

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.
Apichatpong Weerasethakul's partial filmography :

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.
Ekachai Uekrongtham's partial filmography :

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