Alinkar Kyawswa () is the highest national honor of recognition of an individual for their artistic skills by the government of Myanmar. From 1949 to 2022, there were about 57 recipients of this award in

Myanmar Myanmar, officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar; and also referred to as Burma (the official English name until 1989), is a country in northwest Southeast Asia. It is the largest country by area in Mainland Southeast Asia and has ...

. There are only over 20 recipients from post-independence parliamentary governments to post-2011 Union governments. In 2022, under the

caretaker government A caretaker government, also known as a caretaker regime, is a temporary ''ad hoc'' government that performs some governmental duties and functions in a country until a regular government is elected or formed. Depending on specific practice, it co ...

formed by the

Tatmadaw The Tatmadaw, also known as the Sit-Tat, is the armed forces of Myanmar (formerly Burma). It is administered by the Ministry of Defence and composed of the Myanmar Army, the Myanmar Navy and the Myanmar Air Force. Auxiliary services include ...

, 25 people were awarded in March and 8 people were awarded in April. This is the first time in history that many people have been awarded at the same time.

Shwe Man Tin Maung Shwe Man Tin Maung (, 21 December 1918 – 29 November 1969) was an influential Burmese dancer and founder of the Shwe Man Thabin family dance troupe, the last of its kind in Burma. He was considered one of the three most skilled zat pwe perfor ...

's son

Nyunt Win Nyunt Win (; 8 March 1941 – 1 July 2021) was a Burmese film actor. He won seven Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards throughout his distinguished career, the most of any recipient in Burmese history. Early life and education Nyunt Win was ...

was awarded in March 2022, making them the first father and son who received Alinkar Kyawsaw. Nandawshae Saya Tin's son Shwe Nan Tin was awarded in April 2022, making them the second father and son who received Alinkar Kyawsaw.

Recipients by year

1950

Thakin Kodaw Hmaing Thakin Kodaw Hmaing (, ; 23 March 1876 – 23 July 1964) is considered one of the greatest Burmese poets, writers and political leaders in the 20th century history of Burma. He is regarded as the Father of Burmese nationalist and peace mov ...

— Burmese poet, writer, and 20th century political leader.

1953

*U Han Pa — hsaing musician *U Baka Lay — one of the most famous musicians in the Mandalay music industry. *Sayar Nyein — a modern harpist *

Saw Mya Aye Kyi Saw Mya Aye Kyi (, 1892 – 1962) was a Burmese musician who specialized in performing the collection of Burmese classical songs known as the ''Mahāgīta''. She was a royal mistress of Sir Sao Chel, Saopha of Hsipaw State. She has been dubbed a ...

— musician *

Ngwe Gaing Ngwe Gaing ( ; 1901–1967), known honorifically as Sayagyi U Ngwe Gaing, was a Burmese artist who worked in both oil and watercolor. After the death of his teacher Ba Nyan, he was recognized as the greatest living painter in Myanmar. He had ...

— painter that had a strong influence on the next generation of artists, and his works are now treasured. He was posthumously recognized as one of the greatest painters in Myanmar. *

— traditional dancer

1955

*Ba Maung — hsaing musician * Shwe Pyi Aye — musician *Ba Than — Burmese musician *

Ba Gyan Ba Gyan ( ; 1902–1953) was a pioneering Burma, Burmese cartoonist who created the first cartoon movie released in Burma in 1935. Ba Gyan's cartoons covered a wide variety of topics and events, and ridiculed human frailties such as discourtes ...

(b. 1902) — pioneering Burmese cartoonist; born in

Nyaungdon Nyaungdon ( ) is a town in the Ayeyarwady Region of south-west Myanmar on the Pan Hlaing River near the difluence with the Ayeyarwaddy River. It is the seat of the Nyaungdon Township in the Maubin District. It is divided into 10 wards. History ...

. He created the first cartoon movie released in Burma in 1935. He created the cartoon films ''Kyetaungwa'' in 1934 and ''Athuya'' in 1935 jointly with cartoonist Hein Son.

1956

* Myoma Nyein (1909–1955) — renowned Burmese musician and composer and a founder of the band Myoma. He was born on 25 January 1909 in

Mandalay Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar, after Yangon. It is located on the east bank of the Irrawaddy River, 631 km (392 mi) north of Yangon. In 2014, the city had a population of 1,225,553. Mandalay was founded in 1857 by Ki ...

British Burma British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. * British national identity, the characteristics of British people and cultur ...

. His father is U Nyi, a goldsmith, and his mother is Daw Chit Oo, a lacquerware merchant.

1958

* San Kho — scenario writer * A1 Tin Maung — two-time Burmese Academy Award-winning film actor, director, and producer. He was born in

Pyay Pyay, and formerly anglicised as Prome, is the principal town of Pyay Township in the Bago Region in Myanmar. Pyay is located on the bank of the Irrawaddy River, north-west of Yangon. It is an important trade center for the Ayeyarwady Delta, Centr ...

, a small town in Lower Burma during the British colonial rule. He began his film career at age 10 in 1923 while appearing in Taw Myaing Zon Ga Lwan Aung Phan. *Saw Maung(b. 1900) — prominent figure painter; born and lived in

. *Sein Wai Hlyan — Burmese songwriter and singer. He was born the four of six siblings in

Shwebo District Shwebo District is a district in south-central Sagaing Region of Myanmar. Its administrative center is the city of Shwebo. Townships The district consists of the following townships: * Khin-U Township * Shwebo Township ** Kyaukmyaung Subtownshi ...

, Tabuyin, Yinswe Village. His father was U Sein and his mother was Daw Tout. *

Thukha Thukha (, ; 14 January 1910 – 7 December 2005) was a six-time Burmese Academy Award winning film director, writer, song writer, script writer, film actor and film producer. His film production company, Thukha Films Company, won Best Pi ...

(1910–2005) — six-time Burmese Academy Award-winning film director, writer, songwriter, script writer, film actor, and film producer. He was born in the Ayeyarwady delta in

and began to write poetry as a middle school student.Myanmar Times & Business Reviews
/ref> *U Nu (b. 1902) — writer, author, and director; born in Thegone Township,

Pyay District Pyay District () is a district of the Bago Region in central Burma (Myanmar). The capital lies at Pyay. Townships The district contains the following townships: * Padaung Township *Pyay Township Pyay Township or Prome Township is a township ...

, Myanmar. His father was Moe Aye and his mother was Daw Sein. *Chin Sein (b. 1910) — Burmese writer and film director and actor; born in Nyaung U,

Mandalay Region Mandalay Region (, ; formerly Mandalay Division) is an administrative divisions of Myanmar, administrative division of Myanmar. It is located in the center of the country, bordering Sagaing Region and Magway Region to the west, Shan State to the ...

*Nyar Na — a Burmese writer, author, and film director.

2016

*Soe Moe – film director *Zinyaw Maung Maung - film director *Hinthada Myint Ngwe - composer

2020

* Sein Stine — hsaing musician

2022

March

* Bogalay Tint Aung - composer, director and writer *Kyaw Zin Nyunt (Takatho Myat Thu) - writer, Editor-in-Chief *

Kyi Soe Tun Kyi Soe Tun (, ; born 9 December 1945) is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award winning film director, producer and screenwriter of Burmese cinema. He served as the chairman of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization. Biography Kyi Soe Tun is the ...

- film director * Lay Myaing - writer *Dr Khin Maung Nyunt - writer *Dr Thaw Kaung - writer *Dr Khin Aye ( Maung Khin Min (Danubyu)) - writer *Tin Hlaing (Laltwinthar Saw Chit) - writer *Myint Kyi (Takatho Myat Soe) - writer *Khin Maung Soe (Maung Paw Tun) - writer *Ko Lay (Innwa GonYi) - writer *Tinkha (Takatho) - writer *Kyauk Saung Thar Noe (Maung Thar Noe) - writer *Than Tun (Thein Than Tun) - writer *Myint Lwin (Phoe Kyawt) - writer *Tun Yi (Archaeologist) - writer *Tin Maung Myint - writer *Tun Aung Chaing - writer *Maung Maung Latt (Naung) - writer *Sein Hlaing (Thura Zaw) - writer *Cho Cho Tin ( Ma Sandar) - writer *

- actor and son of

Maung Ko Ko Gita Lulin Maung Ko Ko (; 12 November 1928 – 10 October 2007) was a Burmese musician and composer. He is best known for his outstanding musical performances and won the Best Music Academy Awards for 1991, 1994 and 2002. Early life Maung Ko ...

- musician and composer *

Win Oo Win Oo (; , 13 March 1935 – 14 December 1988) was a two-time Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards winning Burmese actor, singer, director, writer and publisher. He became publicly known for his acting, singing and directing. Win was consid ...

- actor, singer, director, writer and publisher *

Kawleikgyin Ne Win ''Collegian'' Ne Win (, ; 1 October 1928 – 2 June 1983) was a two-time Burmese Academy Award winning Burmese film actor and director. Early life Ne Win was born in Hinthada (Henzada), Ayeyarwady Division, the son of Daw Tin, a teacher, a ...

- film actor and director

April

*Nandawshae Sayar Tin - composer *Shwe Taing Nyunt - composer *Shwe Nan Tin - traditional dancer and son of Nandawshae Sayar Tin *

Twante Thein Tan Twante Thein Tan was a Burmese singer, songwriter, actor, and film director. He starred in the popular Burmese movie ''Me, and You, and Padauk Blossoms'' (ကိုယ်ရယ် မင်းရယ် ပန်းပိတောက်ရယ်). ...

- songwriter, actor, and film director * Sandayar Chit Swe - singer-songwriter and pianist *

Sandayar Hla Htut Sandayar Hla Htut (; 1936–2000) was a Burmese musician, composer, pianist, singer and writer. He won Best Music Award in 1994 Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards. He also won Myanmar National Literature Award in 1995. Early life and edu ...

- musician, composer, pianist, singer and writer *

Thu Maung Thu Maung ( ; 13 March 1951 – 16 May 2010; born Bala) was a Myanmar Academy Award-winning film actor, singer as well as a distinguished writer and director. Throughout his film career, Thu Maung acted in over 40 films. He was born in Rangoon, ...

- film actor, singer, writer and film director * Sein Bo Tint - hsaing musician

References

{{reflist Arts in Myanmar

Contemporary art Contemporary art is a term used to describe the art of today, generally referring to art produced from the 1970s onwards. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a ...