Kyaw Thu
Encyclopedia
Kyaw Thu is a two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning film actor and film director
. One of the top leading men of Burmese cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, Kyaw Thu continues to star in films and has directed several successful films. Since the early 2000s, Kyaw Thu has devoted much time to do social work
for the poor, and in the process has gradually emerged as a vocal critic of the Burmese military government
.
. He attended Yangon University but dropped out of school in the final year to pursue a career in films. He met his future wife Myint Myint Khin Pe in 1978 when they were both attending university at Hlaing Campus.
Kyaw Thu won the 1994 Myanmar Academy Award for Best Actor in Da-Byi-Thu Ma Shwe Hta . Many believe that Kyaw Thu would have won more awards had he been more pliant with the propaganda demands of Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
(MMPO), which gives out the annual awards. Until 1994, he refused to do a propaganda film. In 1993, one of his films received popular and critical acclaim but failed to win a single award. In 1994, he finally agreed to do a pro-government film, and came his win with Da-Byi-Thu, which he feels is inferior to his previous work. He won his second academy award for 2003's Amay No Bo for best director.
His latest scuffle with the authorities—he was arrested in October 2007 for supporting the anti-government protests led by the monks—surely will not win him more awards. In October 2007, his latest HIV/AIDS awareness film, A-Kywin-Mè Longyon-Ya , has been blocked by the government censorship board.
which completely devastated Burma's Irrawaddy delta
and cost over 130,000 lives. As of June 2008, the society had helped to raise K500 million (~US$400,000) for the victims of the disaster.
Kyaw Thu and his wife were arrested for publicly supporting the protesting monks in September 2007.
He was awarded by the Myanmar community in London with the prize of "the artist who stands for the fellow people" for the year 2009.
Film director
A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...
. One of the top leading men of Burmese cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, Kyaw Thu continues to star in films and has directed several successful films. Since the early 2000s, Kyaw Thu has devoted much time to do social work
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
for the poor, and in the process has gradually emerged as a vocal critic of the Burmese military government
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
.
Early life
Kyaw Thu was born Kyaw Win to Daw Mya Than and U Sein Tin in YangonYangon
Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial...
. He attended Yangon University but dropped out of school in the final year to pursue a career in films. He met his future wife Myint Myint Khin Pe in 1978 when they were both attending university at Hlaing Campus.
Career
Kyaw Thu made his film debut in 1984, and has starred in over 200 films and directed six films in a career spanning over two decades. In the 1980s and 1990s Kyaw Thu was one of the most successful leading men in Burmese cinema.Kyaw Thu won the 1994 Myanmar Academy Award for Best Actor in Da-Byi-Thu Ma Shwe Hta . Many believe that Kyaw Thu would have won more awards had he been more pliant with the propaganda demands of Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization
Myanmar Motion Picture Organization is the official non-profit organization for the Cinema of Burma. It was established on March 8, 1946.-Patron of Myanmar Motion Picture Organization:*Bokalay U Tin Aung, Musician and Opera Professional...
(MMPO), which gives out the annual awards. Until 1994, he refused to do a propaganda film. In 1993, one of his films received popular and critical acclaim but failed to win a single award. In 1994, he finally agreed to do a pro-government film, and came his win with Da-Byi-Thu, which he feels is inferior to his previous work. He won his second academy award for 2003's Amay No Bo for best director.
His latest scuffle with the authorities—he was arrested in October 2007 for supporting the anti-government protests led by the monks—surely will not win him more awards. In October 2007, his latest HIV/AIDS awareness film, A-Kywin-Mè Longyon-Ya , has been blocked by the government censorship board.
Social work and politics
Kyaw Thu has used his prominence to help the country's poor. He is founder and vice president (now President) of the Free Funeral Services Society (FFSS), which provides free funeral services to the poor. As of June 2008, the society had paid for over 50,000 funerals. Since 2003, his society has also helped pay medical costs in poor neighborhoods of Yangon, and since 2007, started a free clinic for the poor. Through his funeral services society, Kyaw Thu was active in rescue and support efforts in the aftermath of May 2008 Cyclone NargisCyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis , was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma. The cyclone made landfall in Burma on Friday, May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 138,000 fatalities...
which completely devastated Burma's Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
and cost over 130,000 lives. As of June 2008, the society had helped to raise K500 million (~US$400,000) for the victims of the disaster.
Kyaw Thu and his wife were arrested for publicly supporting the protesting monks in September 2007.
He was awarded by the Myanmar community in London with the prize of "the artist who stands for the fellow people" for the year 2009.
Personal life
Kyaw Thu is married to Myint Myint Khin Pe. They have a son, Pyi Thein Kyaw, and a daughter, Myintmo Oo.See also
- Myanmar Motion Picture MuseumMyanmar Motion Picture MuseumThe Myanmar Motion Picture Museum is a film museum dedicated to the Cinema of Burma located in Yangon.It was established in November 1998 to display the efforts of successful film directors, actors and producers in the motion picture history of the country....
- List of Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards