Parrot Film Company
Encyclopedia
The Parrot Film Company was one of the earliest film companies in Burmese film history. Based in Rangoon, the company was owned by Mr Major Parrot, a British man. But the company was not started as a film company. It started as a taxi company.
and Austin
cars from Great Britain
in the early 1920s. The company's boss, Mr Parrot met with a young Burmese clerk working in a gambling company when he went to horse racing course to gamble. The young man was U Sunny. He was a sociable, friendly and hard-working clerk who was also very fluent in English. The two became friends later.Mr Parrot told U Sunny to quit his job and offered him a job as a clerk in his taxi company. Later, U Sunny was promoted to managing director by Mr Parrot. Under his management,the company became more prosperous. The taxis increased from about ten to thirty-five and U Sunny was also able to establish a taxi gate near the Strand Hotel
.
during the Depression. One day, U Sunny saw crowds and crowds of people coming out from a cinema. He was inspired by this to transform his taxi company into a film company. He discussed with U Ba Thar, his mechanic to be his director. He agreed and the company was transformed.
The second film "Our Peacock Flag" was also a hit and it was based on politics. It encouraged Burmese revolutionists and so it was censored.
The third film was "The Golden Peacock Coin" which also encouraged Burmese nationals to use Burmese peacock coins from the Thibaw Min
's reign again despite the present use of the British coins.
The seventh film "Our King and Our Queen and Our Buddha" was also censored. It starred Maung Maung Aye and Khin Khin May as Thibaw Min
and Queen Supayalat
and again encouraged Burmese people to fight against the British.It also showed that Buddhism was starting to fade under the British rule.The Film Censorship Board of Burma passed the film first but later stopped the film from showing due to its controversial story.
The company produced and directed about 58 films.The 22nd film,"Teacher" starring Ba Chit and Tin May Kalay was also a major hit. U Sunny gave away free books by Mawbi Hsaya Thein and P Moe Nin
to people who came and watched his film.
, he handed his company to his son, Ko Pe Kyaing. Parrot U Sunny died in 1956.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot_SA
The Parrot Taxi Company
The Parrot Taxi Company imported MorrisMorris Motor Company
The Morris Motor Company was a British car manufacturing company. After the incorporation of the company into larger corporations, the Morris name remained in use as a marque until 1984 when British Leyland's Austin Rover Group decided to concentrate on the more popular Austin marque...
and Austin
Austin Motor Company
The Austin Motor Company was a British manufacturer of automobiles. The company was founded in 1905 and merged in 1952 into the British Motor Corporation Ltd. The marque Austin was used until 1987...
cars from Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
in the early 1920s. The company's boss, Mr Parrot met with a young Burmese clerk working in a gambling company when he went to horse racing course to gamble. The young man was U Sunny. He was a sociable, friendly and hard-working clerk who was also very fluent in English. The two became friends later.Mr Parrot told U Sunny to quit his job and offered him a job as a clerk in his taxi company. Later, U Sunny was promoted to managing director by Mr Parrot. Under his management,the company became more prosperous. The taxis increased from about ten to thirty-five and U Sunny was also able to establish a taxi gate near the Strand Hotel
Strand Hotel
The Strand is a Victorian-style hotel located in Yangon, Myanmar , built in 1896 by Aviet and Tigran Sarkie, two of the Sarkies Brothers. The hotel, which opened in 1901, which faces the Hlaing — or Yangon — River to its south, is one of the most famous hotels in Yangon and Southeast Asia, and is...
.
The Great Depression and the Transformation
The company was under financial problems at the start of the 1930s. It faced several problems including the Great Depression. During the Great Depression,many Burmese farmers and merchants suffered from it. And at the same time, they became angry of British rice companies' low rice prices. Later,riots and revolutions of the Rangoon University students together with farmers and workers appeared. Mr Parrot retired and went back to England. He sold the company to U Sunny for half the price. U Sunny worked hard to maintain the company. U Sunny could maintain the company and prevent it from bankruptcyBankruptcy
Bankruptcy is a legal status of an insolvent person or an organisation, that is, one that cannot repay the debts owed to creditors. In most jurisdictions bankruptcy is imposed by a court order, often initiated by the debtor....
during the Depression. One day, U Sunny saw crowds and crowds of people coming out from a cinema. He was inspired by this to transform his taxi company into a film company. He discussed with U Ba Thar, his mechanic to be his director. He agreed and the company was transformed.
Movies of the Parrot Film Company
The first film "Thirty-Six Animals" became a major hit. It was based on how Burmese suffered from gambling thirty-six animals. Thirty-six animals was one of the earliest gambling system in Burma of the 20th Century.It was played using thirty-six animals which included a tiger,a horse,a mouse and an elephant.The second film "Our Peacock Flag" was also a hit and it was based on politics. It encouraged Burmese revolutionists and so it was censored.
The third film was "The Golden Peacock Coin" which also encouraged Burmese nationals to use Burmese peacock coins from the Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886....
's reign again despite the present use of the British coins.
The seventh film "Our King and Our Queen and Our Buddha" was also censored. It starred Maung Maung Aye and Khin Khin May as Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min
Thibaw Min was the last king of the Konbaung dynasty of Burma . His reign ended when Burma was defeated by the forces of the British Empire in the Third Anglo-Burmese War, on 29 November 1885, prior to its official annexation on 1 January 1886....
and Queen Supayalat
Supayalat
Supayalat was the last queen of Burma who reigned in Mandalay , born to King Mindon Min and Queen of Alenandaw . The British corruption of her name was 'Soup Plate'...
and again encouraged Burmese people to fight against the British.It also showed that Buddhism was starting to fade under the British rule.The Film Censorship Board of Burma passed the film first but later stopped the film from showing due to its controversial story.
The company produced and directed about 58 films.The 22nd film,"Teacher" starring Ba Chit and Tin May Kalay was also a major hit. U Sunny gave away free books by Mawbi Hsaya Thein and P Moe Nin
P Moe Nin
P Moe Nin was one of Burma’s most prolific and treasured writers. His writing style differed from that prevalent in Burma at the time, writing concisely and clearly. Because of this, he is often regarded as the father of Burmese short story writing and the modern Burmese novel...
to people who came and watched his film.
Later years of the Company
U Sunny became a rich man. He owned and operated the company for nearly twenty years.After the Second World WarWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he handed his company to his son, Ko Pe Kyaing. Parrot U Sunny died in 1956.
See also
- Cinema of Burma
- Parrot company of France
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parrot_SA