Named Asia's Leading Woman in Media 2012, Arunosha Bhanupan is the ace producer behind the year's biggest TV hit, Raeng Ngao, as well as 2011's highly-rated Dok Som Si Thong.
Both controversial melodramas portrayed marital infidelity — a common storyline in Thai lakorn (soap operas) — but with powerful female protagonists that further raked in viewers.
Producer Arunosha Bhanupan.
"We received various responses to Dok Som Si Thong and Raeng Ngao. They can be regarded as case studies reflecting family and social issues. Viewers see the fate of the characters in the drama and don't want the same thing to happen to them and their families," said Arunosha.
For 25 years, her company, Broadcast Thai Television, has delivered a variety of programmes for Channel 3.
In recent years, it has become a powerhouse in making sensational soaps, particularly Raeng Ngao, the third TV adaptation of Nantana Veerachon's novel.
The prime time soap spurred a phenomenon, as faithful viewers rush home on Mondays and Tuesdays, amusingly designated Wan Raeng Ngao Haeng Chart, a playful reference to the national day for watching the enthralling drama.
"During the production process, we don't anticipate whether viewers will like our lakorn or not. We do bear in mind that viewers have great expectations, and through continuous improvement we aim for quality rather than ratings," she said.
Broadcast Thai Television varies its productions, with this year's airing of the big-budget Bang Rajan demonstrating its ability to deliver an impressive historical drama.
The epic is followed by the romantic fantasy Kolkimono, starring Thongchai McIntyre, Araya Hargate and Phupoom Phongpanu.
Prior to screening, both productions were heavily promoted. Bang Rajan's spectacular launch was even held at Siam Pavalai Royal Grand Theatre, with the cast taking the red carpet in Thai traditional costumes.
"Bang Rajan was much more than an engaging drama. It had children asking their parents, 'Where is Bang Rachan?', and stimulated their interest in Thai history. Viewers even went to Sing Buri to show reverence at the Bang Rachan Heroes Monument," Arunosha said,
An interpretation of Mai Muang Derm's novel, Bang Rajan revolves around the bravery and patriotism of villagers who defended themselves and the country from a Burmese invasion during the Ayutthaya period.
Its tragic ending had one young viewer mourning the death of a heroic horse that shielded his master from bullets, with a video clip of the child's grief shared in cyberspace. The little Bang Rajan fan, however, perked up when Arunosha arranged for her to meet and ride the talented equestrian "actor".
"Viewers can be moved by the story but lakorn serves as entertainment, not something to get serious about. After a hard day's work, coming home to watch television should be a pleasure," she said.
She had the muscle to bring singing superstar Pi Bird (Thongchai McIntyre) back to the small screen, as Kolkimono's male lead.
"I dearly wanted to work with Pi Bird, and no one is as suitable as him in playing a deity of music, whose soothing melodies help relieve people from their suffering," she said.
The romantic fantasy Kolkimono is based on the novel, about a Japanese crane god, Hoshi, who is stuck on Earth for centuries before he meets Rindara, a Thai student and physical therapist.
An incarnation of a goddess, Rindara finds feathers from a golden crane that can be used to spin thread and embroider Hoshi's kimono, sending him back to heaven.
Engraved with motifs of nine golden cranes, the majestic kimono was specially made for Thongchai. Most of the Thai cast portray Japanese characters, some dressed to the nines in beautiful kimonos.
"We consulted Japanese experts on costumes, culture and tradition to present them as accurately as possible," said the producer. "Ninety percent of the filming took place on location in Japan. The most difficult part was the CG animation, for example in scenes featuring snow and Japanese ghosts, to make them looks as real as possible."
Broadcast Thai Television previously produced two other fabric-inspired ghost stories — Sarb Poosa and Qi Pao — also penned by Kolkimono's novelist, Dr Pongsakorn, who is a physician by profession. Another of his works, Kamlai Mas, has been adapted into a mysterious period drama for the production house's 2016 line-up.
"With new novels, we don't run out of good material. Each year we deliver a mix of different genres to demonstrate Broadcast's versatility," Arunosha said.
As a signature, the soap operas end with a thought-provoking quote from each episode.
"The purpose of lakorn is not to teach people, who have to interpret the content by themselves," she said. "Our job is to incorporate substance for viewers to reflect upon while keeping them entertained."
