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 returned to Thailand with an engineering degree, but continued to pursue his interest in photography and found a job as a film salesman.

Tang won the Amateur Cine Competition in Glasgow, Scotland and Rattana was given the top award by Alfred Hitckcock, who was president of the jury.

The film had a bit of everything – rustic comedy, music (including a full ballad by a Filipina singer), rough-and-tumble action and dark, thrilling drama.

[4] His first color film was 1958's Sawan Mued (Dark Heaven), which featured songs and some dramatic battlefield scenes.

[4] The film concerns a wealthy Thai aristocrat who owns a hair treatment business and wants to repay a debt to his dear Indian friend.

[6] Whilst Rattana was artistically respected, his films – featuring unhappy endings – were mostly commercial failures.

Finally, at 9 pm, after an address by Economics Minister Bunchana Atthakorn [th] and speeches by numerous other filmmakers and officials, Rattana's time to speak came.

Here is an accounting of his speech: When I first started out in the movie business ... Sadet Ong Chai Yai [Prince Bhanu Yugala] had just hired me as a cameraman for a film he wanted to shoot called Phanthaay Norasingh [th].

[1] Rattana's death was the first of two tough blows for the burgeoning Thai industry in 1970, for later in the year, it would lose its biggest star, Mitr Chaibancha, in a fatal accident during the filming of a stunt.

The 10th Pusan International Film Festival screened Sugar Is Not Sweet, Black Silk, Country Hotel and Dark Heaven.

The R. D. Pestonji Award, the top prize of the Thai Short Film and Video Festival, is named in his honor.