Ong Bak 3 2011

As the consequences of past events unfold, Tien (character name not provided) finds himself confined and helpless against the ruthless soldiers of Lord Rajasena. A brief yet futile struggle ensues as they attempt to subdue him with wooden rods, ultimately succeeding in breaking his spirit and crippling his physical form. Meanwhile, a mysterious affliction besets the village of Kana Khone, drawing Master Bua into a perilous Buddhist pilgrimage to uncover its root cause. The journey yields a shocking revelation: the source of the curse is none other than Bhuti Sangkha, the dark mystic who had previously vanquished Tien.

Lord Rajasena’s tormented psyche is haunted by visions of his royal predecessor, whose untimely demise serves as a reminder of his own treachery. As he slumbers, remnants of the Pha Beek Khrut bandits attempt to liberate Tien from captivity, only to be brutally slaughtered by Bhuti Sangkha’s malevolent presence. The dark mystic’s motives are twofold: first, he declines Lord Rajasena’s offer to hire him; secondly, he proposes to lift the curse afflicting the lord, hinting that Tien is somehow connected to this supernatural affliction.

As a messenger from the Ayutthaya Kingdom arrives with a pardon for Tien, Lord Rajasena’s ire intensifies. Believing a traitor has betrayed him, he dispatches assassins to eliminate Tien; however, their attempt is thwarted by the heroic sacrifice of the royal messengers. Master Bua’s return brings tidings that Tien’s plight is a direct result of negative karma, prompting the entire village to rally behind a mission to heal him through collective merits.

The process, which culminates in the creation of the sacred Ong Bak Buddha, ultimately succeeds in reviving Tien. Yet, upon awakening, he discovers his physical form still bears the scars of his ordeal. Crushed by his new reality, Tien contemplates self-destruction; however, Master Bua intervenes, offering words of wisdom and guidance that rekindle hope within him.

Tien’s path towards recovery is marked by arduous meditation and self-taught physical therapy at a temple. As he slowly regains strength, he is visited by Pim, with whom he shares a ritual dance before embracing. Master Bua counsels Tien on the importance of Dharma and encourages him to transform his enemies into dance partners, inspiring him to develop a unique fighting style that harmoniously combines martial arts and dance.

As Rajasena ventures to Bhuti’s forsaken stronghold with the intention of lifting the curse that has befallen him, he is met with a shocking revelation: Bhuti himself was responsible for the affliction, orchestrated to supplant Rajasena and claim the throne. A fierce battle ensues as Rajasena confronts Bhuti’s legion of soldiers, ultimately meeting his demise at Bhuti’s hands. However, before expiring, Rajasena exacts a curse upon Bhuti, mirroring the one he had previously suffered. The usurper dispatches his minions to eliminate Tien, but the latter proves more than a match for them, only to discover that the village lies in ruins and its surviving inhabitants have been spirited away to Bhuti’s palace, where they are being held captive. It is here that Tien learns of the grotesque practice of slaughtering elephants to quaff their blood, an atrocity orchestrated by the malevolent Bhuti.

As Tien approaches Master Bua for guidance, he is informed that he has been chosen as a champion against ignorance, and with this newfound purpose, he sets his sights on Bhuti’s palace, resolved to bring an end to the tyrant’s reign of terror. When Bhuti confronts Tien, he boasts about feeding off the young warrior’s negative emotions and utilizes his powers to summon a celestial eclipse. The appearance of Pim, revealed as Tien’s loyal companion, serves only to enrage Bhuti further, prompting him to strike her down. This devastating loss sends Tien into a maelstrom of fury, compelling him to fight through Bhuti’s guards with unbridled ferocity. Despite his valorous efforts, Bhuti ultimately proves too powerful, plunging a spear through Tien’s chest and leaving him on the brink of death.

As Tien’s life force begins to ebb away, he is suddenly flooded with memories of Bua’s teachings, and the entire battle, including Pim’s tragic demise, is revealed as an elaborate illusion. Transformed by this newfound understanding, Tien shatters Bhuti’s powers and dispels the eclipse, plunging the usurper into a fury that ultimately proves his undoing. As the two combatants engage in a fierce struggle atop the royal ledge, Tien seizes control of Bhuti, dangling him by his chin before sending him plummeting over the railing to meet his demise at the mercy of an enraged elephant whose tusk impales and kills Bhuti. With good ultimately triumphant over evil, the elephant’s corpse comes to resemble that of the revered one-tusked Ganesha, as it raises its head in a defiant trumpet, a potent symbol of victory.

The film concludes with Tien, Pim, and the remaining villagers paying homage before the sacred Ong Bak, signaling a new beginning for all.