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Nyi Pu

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Nyi Pu was a pioneer of movies in Burma. He was the very first actor in Burmese cinema. People remember him for starting a whole new way of telling stories. He was born as Ba Htay on 12 September 1900. He grew up in a place called Prome, which is also known as Pyay. His parents were named Ba Nyunt and Nyein Shin. He lived through a time when the British ruled the land. In 1920, he even joined a university strike against those rulers.

Acting in the early days was a very different job. Nyi Pu worked on silent films during the 1920s and 1930s. These films did not have recorded voices or music on the film itself. He helped a man named Ohn Maung make these early movies. He also worked with a photographer named Maung Maung. To start his acting career, he chose a new screen name. Nyi Pu means "Short Brother" in his language. This name became famous across the country.

His journey into film began with a very special movie. In 1920, he starred in Myitta Nit Athuyar. This was the first-ever film made in Burma. He did not stop at just acting in movies. Many of his films also had him as the director. A director is the person who leads the film crew. He worked on films like Shwe Hninzi in 1929. He also directed films like Japan Yin Thwe in 1935.

Nyi Pu had a very long and busy career. He made movies in the 1920s, 1930s, 1950s, and 1960s. He even worked on audio films later in his life. One such film was called Ko Yin Thwe in 1955. He was also a leader for other movie workers. From 1969 to 1972, he was the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization. This group helps people who work in the film industry. His youngest brother, Tin Maung, also became a famous director.

His life shows how much one person can change an art form. He helped turn movies into a real part of Burmese culture. Nyi Pu lived to be a very old man. He passed away on 1 September 1996 in the city of Yangon. He left behind his wife, San Yin, and their five children. His many films, like Mya Aye Yin from 1927, remain part of his history. He truly helped build the foundation for all Burmese actors today.

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