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 :
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 :
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 :
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 :
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 :
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 :
Surasee Phatham () - 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 :
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 :
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.
