Rattana Pestonji
| Rattana Pestonji | |
|---|---|
Pioneering Thai film director.
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| Born |
Rattan Pestonji May 22, 1908 Bangkok, Thailand |
| Died | August 17, 1970 (aged 62) Bangkok, Thailand |
| Other names | R. D. Pestonji |
| Occupation | Film director, cinematographer, screenwriter |
| Years active | 1930s–1970 |
| Awards |
Asia Pacific Film Festival Best cinematography 1954, Santi-Vina |
Rattana Pestonji (Thai: รัตน์ เปสตันยี; rtgs: Rat Pesatanyi, May 22, 1908 – August 17, 1970) 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.
He was born Rattan Pestonji (also sometimes referred to as R. D. Pestonji or Ratt Pestonji) in Bangkok, to a Parsis (Zoroastrian) family from Lahore). 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.
Between studies in London, he was able to take photos and he picked up several awards in photographic competitions.
He returned to Thailand with an engineering degree, but continued to pursue his interest in photography and found a job as a film salesman. It was then he began to explore an art form that was still in its infancy – cinematography.
In 1937, Rattana shot his first film, a short called Tang, about a young Thai girl. Tang won the Amateur Cine Competition in Glasgow, Scotland and Rattana was given the Alfred Hitchcock award. He made another short called White Boat in 1939 and it was shown at the New York World Festival.
Rattana continued his work in film sales, but he was given his big break into filmmaking in 1949 when he was asked by Prince Bhanu Yugala to act as a cameraman on the film Phanthaay Norasingh (Oarsman Norasingh). Rattana showed great talent as a cinematographer.
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Wikipedia