Bhanubandhu Yugala of Thailand

Prince Bhanubandhu Yugala (; , born 27 November 1910 in Songkhla Province, Thailand, died 5 February 1995 in Bangkok) was a Thai film director, producer and screenwriter, playwright, composer and author.

He was a grandson of King Chulalongkorn, the maternal grandfather of Princess Soamsawali Kitiyakara and an uncle of director Chatrichalerm Yukol. His nickname was Sadet Ong Chaiyai.

Biography Early life and career Prince Bhanubandhu was the eldest of three children of Prince Yugala Dighambara and Princess Chalermkhet Mongkhol. He was a grandson of King Chulalongkorn. He was educated in Thailand at Thepsirin School, and then in France. He also lived abroad in his youth in England and the United States. In his 20s, he returned to Thailand and enlisted in the Royal Thai Army's cavalry division. While in the army, he studied filmmaking in his spare time.

In 1936, Prince Bhanubandhu's youngest brother, Prince Anusorn Mongkolkarn, founded the Lavoe Motion Pictures, and produced its first film, Naam Yok Ok (The Thorn in Your Side). Prince Bhanubandhu founded his own company, the Thai Film Company, in 1938, first producing the film, Tharn Fai Kao (The Old Flame). Four other films followed: Wan Phen, Mae Sue Sao (Girl Matchmaker), Pid Thong Lang Phru and Look Thung (The Folks). The company was disbanded during World War II, with its assets sold to the Royal Thai Air Force. Film historians believe that the films were destroyed during the war.

Post-war years After the war ended, Bhanubandhu formed a new production company, Assawin Pictures. Among his works were Phantay Norasingh (Oarsman Norasingh), which was based on a play he wrote in 1942. For the film version, he hired a then-budding cinematographer, Rattana Pestonji.

Another film by Bhanubandhu was based on the legend of King Naresuan the Great.

Bhanubandhu pushed for innovations in the Thai film industry, Honorary Grand Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (01/02/1973). Nepal : King Birendra Coronation Medal (24/02/1975). Grand Cross of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun with Paulownia Flowers

Ancestry