Ong - Bak : Muay Thai Warrior (2003), directed by Prachya Pinkaew, is a Thai martial arts action film that introduced the world to the incredible physical talent of Tony Jaa. The story follows Ting (Tony Jaa), a young man from a peaceful rural village in Thailand whose sacred Buddha head, Ong-Bak, is stolen by criminals seeking to sell it in Bangkok.
Determined to recover the artifact that holds great spiritual value for his village, Ting travels to the city, where he navigates a criminal underworld filled with illegal fighting rings, drug dealers, and corruption. Despite being humble and peaceful, Ting unleashes devastating Muay Thai skills when forced to fight, stunning opponents with acrobatic moves, bone-crunching elbows, and raw power.
With the help of street hustler Humlae/Dirty Balls (Petchtai Wongkamlao) and his friend Muay Lek (Pumwaree Yodkamol), Ting tracks down the criminals and restores honor to his village. The film is renowned for its gritty realism, as all stunts were performed without CGI or wires.
Ong-Bak became a global hit, praised for its jaw-dropping action and introduced a new era of martial arts cinema.
