HERO ROLES OF SOMBATI MEDHANEE

Abstract

The objective of this research is to analyze the hero image of Sombati Medhanee. This is a qualitative research which aims at examining a total of 17 films in which Sombati Medhanee starred in the hero roles. It covers his biographical study with a view to understand his principles and lifestyle, how he positions himself in society including his past experiences which have helped him to express heroism in the films to the point that he becomes a popular star. It also examines his screen performance and cinematic components that make the hero characters and hero image starred by Sombati Medhanee stand out from other characters.

The findings of the research are as follows. The mission of the hero roles depends on the abilities to resolve the critical situations. In the films featuring group heroes whose roles are of equal importance, the character played by Sombati Medhanee stands out prominently among others. As the story progresses, he usually strives to become the leader of the group, using his courage and expertise to push the mission to the point of success. Due to the fact that there existed no computer technology at that time to make the films look real, the actors in Thai films had to rely on their own gifted capacity and experience as much as possible. Sombati Medhanee, being an actor with a high standard of performance skills, is accredited for adding a realistic look to his films. On top of that, he can play the part of hero roles in many different genres. So it turns out that he is an actor who has starred in more films than any other actors in the world. As regards the hero image of Sombati Medhanee perceived by Thai movie audience, it is agreed that he is suitable for such roles because of his handsome look and strong physical built. As far as his personal life is concerned, Sombati is regarded as an idol in various ways. For example, he is a family man; he consistently does exercise in order to keep fit. It can therefore be said that Sombati Medhanee is a true hero both on screen and in real life. For this reason, he deserves the screen title: “a timeless hero”.