Ong-Bak(Movie, 2003)

Ong-Bak (Thai: องค์บาก, pronounced [ʔōŋ bàːk]), also known as Ong-Bak: The Thai Warrior, is a 2003 Thai martial arts film directed by Prachya Pinkaew and featured action choreography by Panna Rittikrai. It stars Tony Jaa in the lead role, alongside Petchtai Wongkamlao and Pumwaree Yodkamol. The plot follows Ting (Jaa), a Buddhist monk trainee and Muay Thai specialist from the village of Ban Nong Pradu who volunteers to travel to Bangkok to recover the stolen head of a Buddha statue. Ong-Bak proved to be Jaa's breakout film, with the actor hailed internationally as the next major martial arts star. For the film, Jaa won a Star Entertainment Award for Best Actor. Jaa went on to star in Tom-Yum-Goong (called The Protector in the US and Warrior King in UK) and directed and starred in two prequels of Ong-Bak titled Ong-Bak 2 and Ong-Bak 3. ()