Director Odd Discusses Behind-the-Scenes Making of 'Clinic Fix Heart'

The series "Clinic Fix Heart (Fix You, Fix Me)" on Channel 7HD, directed by Odd Bandith Thongdee, has now aired. The director discusses his decision to take on the project and shares behind-the-scenes insights from filming.

What drew you to direct the series Clinic Fix Heart? Odd explains: "It started because so many people around me have mental health conditions, and I never knew how to handle them properly. For example, I used to tell younger colleagues to 'stay strong' or 'tough it out,' but I later learned that such phrases don't actually help. When I got the opportunity to work on a series about mental health, I felt compelled to do it. I wanted to understand, and I wanted others to understand too—how to interact with and support people dealing with conditions like bipolar disorder, depression, or panic disorder. Once this project came along, I knew I had to be part of it, regardless of scale."

Regarding the cast with Thisa Watthanathisa, Pop Thaakul, and Khem Khemkun in leading roles, how was working with them? Odd shares: "I hadn't worked with Thisa before. For the character of Dr. Ran, we needed someone who looked composed, yet carried hidden pain behind a still expression. Thisa delivered beautifully and has the presence of a credible psychiatrist. What impressed me most is that she does her homework before coming to set—she's dedicated and hardworking. She truly understands Dr. Ran's character, going beyond just memorizing her lines by doing extra research.

I've worked with Pop multiple times, and we have great rapport. I'm not worried when working with him because I know his style. He plays Dr. Top in this series, and he's excellent—he asks immediately if he doesn't understand something. He enjoys interpreting his character in his own way.

Khem plays Teacher Pong, and we've collaborated on music videos, commercials, and short films. Teacher Pong's personality is innocent and uncomplicated, driven purely by a desire to help society. Khem pulls this off wonderfully because it matches his natural demeanor. Casting him felt right."

What about Professor Dr. Suriyadev Tripathi, a pediatrician and adolescent psychiatry expert, who plays the mentor doctor in the series? Odd explains: "There's no one better suited than the real thing. Medical terminology and concepts—no matter how skilled an actor is or how well they memorize lines—won't carry the same authenticity unless a genuine expert delivers them. The nuance of pronunciation, the meaning behind the words, and the genuine care a mentor doctor has for his students—only Dr. Suriyadev embodies all of this perfectly. I can't imagine anyone else being right for this role. His performance is flawless and fits every aspect of the character."

With mental health content, do you worry viewers might find it difficult to watch? Odd responds: "We made sure it wasn't heavy. The script uses everyday life drama—scenes people experience daily—with humor, cute moments with children, romantic conflicts and misunderstandings, which are typical in any series. We subtly weave in mental health knowledge without overwhelming or boring the audience. One thing we discovered and want to share is that psychiatrists themselves can suffer from depression.

When I spoke with Dr. Suriyadev, he mentioned this happens quite often because doctors absorb their patients' suffering."