Rattana Pestonji

Rattana Pestonji (; ) was a Thai film director, producer, screenwriter and cinematographer and is regarded as the father of contemporary Thai film. Although his filmography was brief, his films placed Thai cinema on the world stage. He also pushed for innovations, and was one of the first Thai directors to use 35-mm film. He died just as he was giving a speech to government officials to call for support of a domestic industry he saw as coming under threat from Hollywood films.

Biography

Early life He was born Rattan Pestonji (also sometimes referred to as R. D. Pestonji or Ratt Pestonji) in Bangkok, to an Indian Parsi family. At an early age, he showed an avid interest in photography. He was so adept at dismantling and reassembling his camera, that it was decided he should study engineering at the University of London.

He spent his early life studying in India and UK. Rattana showed great talent as a cinematographer.

Around this time, Rattana formed his own studio, Hanuman Films Company. He directed his first feature film, Dear Dolly in 1951.

His first color film was 1958's Sawan Mued (Dark Heaven), which featured songs and some dramatic battlefield scenes.

His final film was made in 1965, Nahmtaan Mai Waan (Sugar Is Not Sweet). A romantic farce, it is a vibrant film that takes visual cues from the pop-art style of Western films of the time.

Death while giving a speech Whilst Rattana was artistically respected, his films – featuring unhappy endings – were mostly commercial failures. Frustrated, he retired from filmmaking. However, he continued to be involved with the industry and was a tireless lobbyist. He co-founded and headed the Thai Film Producers Association.

On the night of August 17, 1970, at the Montien Hotel in Bangkok, Rattana was set to address film producers and Thai government officials in a meeting called to discuss ways of supporting the film industry. Finally, at 9 pm, after an address by Economics Minister and speeches by numerous other filmmakers and officials, Rattana's time to speak came. Here is an accounting of his speech:

Rattana faltered then collapsed to the floor. He was rushed to nearby Chulalongkorn Hospital, but he died three hours later of a massive coronary.

Rattana's films are periodically shown in retrospectives at film festivals. The 10th Pusan International Film Festival screened Sugar Is Not Sweet, Black Silk, Country Hotel and Dark Heaven. He was posthumously awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2004 Bangkok International Film Festival.

The R. D. Pestonji Award, the top prize of the Thai Short Film and Video Festival, is named in his honor.

Filmography Tang (short) (1937) – White Boat (short) (1939) Phanthaay Norasingh (Oarman Norasingh) (cinematographer) (1949) – Tukkata Jaa (Dear Dolly) (1951) – Santi-Vina (cinematographer) (1954) – Chuafah Din Salai (Forever Yours) (cinematographer) (1955) – Rongraem Narok (Country Hotel) (1957) – Sawan Mued (Dark Heaven) (1958) – Phrae Dum (Black Silk) (1961) – Namtarn Mai Warn (Sugar Is Not Sweet) (1964) –