Zeya ( ; 12 June 1916 – 7 October 1996) was a Burmese Academy Award winning

film actor An actor (masculine/gender-neutral), or actress (feminine), is a person who portrays a character in a production. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. ...

and

director Director may refer to: Literature * ''Director'' (magazine), a British magazine * ''The Director'' (novel), a 1971 novel by Henry Denker * ''The Director'' (play), a 2000 play by Nancy Hasty Music * Director (band), an Irish rock band * ''D ...

. He was also a

body builder Bodybuilding is the practice of progressive resistance exercise to build, control, and develop one's muscles via hypertrophy. An individual who engages in this activity is referred to as a bodybuilder. It is primarily undertaken for aesthetic ...

Biography

Zeya was born Hla Maung in Nyaunggon village in

Upper Burma Upper Myanmar ( or , also called Upper Burma) is one of two geographic regions in Myanmar, the other being Lower Myanmar. Located in the country's centre and north stretches, Upper Myanmar encompasses six inland states and regions, including ...

during the

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colonial rule. The 8th of 10 siblings, Zeya left school only third grade to help out with his parents' plantation. He married Than Tin, the daughter of a Mandalay jewellery merchant. They would have nine children. Zeya became a professional body builder. At age 27, Zeya won the Zeyar Maung (Mr. Zeyar) title in 1943 given by Sagaing Body Building Association. In 1946, he won Shwe Man Maung (Mr. Golden Mandalay). Zeya made film debut in 1946. In 1956, he won the Burmese Academy Award in ''Bawa Thanthaya'' (Life's Samsara). He founded Zeyar Shwe Pyi Film Company and directed several films.

Filmography

* Ma Chit Le Poun Chit Le Poun * The Saung Hayman * Oh Meinma * Bawa Thanthayar * Pha Ta Lone Gaung Kyar * Chit Khwint Ma Paing

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zeya 1996 deaths 1916 births 20th-century Burmese male actors People from Sagaing Region Burmese film directors Burmese male film actors