Bhandit Rittakol
| Bhandit Rittakol | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Bhandit Leetrakul 21 March 1951 Ayutthaya Province, Thailand |
| Died | 1 October 2009 (aged 58) |
| Occupation | film director, producer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1984–2009 |
Bhandit Rittakol (Thai: บัณฑิต ฤทธิ์ถกล, b. 21 March 1951 in Ayutthaya Province, Thailand d. 1 October 2009 in Bangkok) was an award-winning Thai film director, producer and screenwriter. His films include the controversial biographical film of Thai communist revolutionary Seksan Prasertkul, The Moonhunter; the jungle thriller Tigress of King River and The Seed (Duay Klao or Thai: ด้วยเกล้า), a semi-documentary story of Isan farmers hit by drought who are saved by cloud seeding operations sponsored by King Bhumibol Adulyadej, as well as the Boonchu teen comedy series of the 1980s and 1990s.
After graduating from Assumption University in 1971, Bhandit became a journalist for The Nation, an English language daily newspaper that had just been started by some Thai journalists. Among the stories he covered was 14 October 1973 uprising (see History of Thailand (1932-1973)).
In 1975, he became a film critic and screenwriter, which eventually led to a career as a director. He made his first film Khad Cheak, in 1984.
In 1987 he made Duay Klao (The Seed), a drama about a farmers in the north of Thailand hit by drought. The movie starred folksinger Jarun Manopetch and it won best picture and best actor honors at the Thailand National Film Awards. The Seed was remastered and re-released in 2006 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the accession of King Bhumibol Adulyadej. This is the only Thai film made to date to specifically address King Bhumibol's cloud seeding program. As well other Thai royal projects are depicted in the film. The re-released film also featured a new score of compositions by the king.
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