Nyi Pu was a Burmese actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

 and film director

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:...

. He was the first film actor in Burmese cinema. His youngest brother was Tin Maung

Tin Maung

A1 Tin Maung was a two-time Burmese Academy Award-winning film actor, director and producer.-Biography:Tin Maung was born in Pyay, a small town in Lower Burma during the British colonial rule. The youngest brother of Nyi Pu, a famous Burmese actor of early Burmese cinema, Tin Maung began his film...

, an accomplished film director

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:...

.

Biography

Nyi Pu was born Ba Htay on 12 September 1900 in Prome (Pyay), the second son of Ba Nyunt and Nyein Shin during the British colonial era

British rule in Burma

British rule in Burma lasted from 1824 to 1948, from the Anglo-Burmese Wars through the creation of Burma as a province of British India to the establishment of an independently administered colony, and finally independence...

. In 1920, Ba Htay participated in the First University Strike against the British rulers. In the same year, he along with photographer Maung Maung assisted Ohn Maung who was looking to make films in Burma. In 1920, using the screen name Nyi Pu (lit. Short Brother) starred in the first-ever film Myitta Nit Athuyar in Burma. He made many more silent films in the 1920s and 1930s. After World War II

World 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 made a few more films in the 1950s and 1960s. He was chairman 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...

 from 1969 to 1972.

Nyi Pu died on 1 September 1996 at Yangon

Yangon

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...

, and was survived by his wife San Yin and their five children.

Filmography

• Myitta Nit Athuyar (actor) 1920
• Kyay-Taw-Thu Ma Nu (actor) 1921
• Taw Myaing Zon Ga Lwan Aung Phan, (actor and director) 1923
• Ta Khaing Lone Shwe, (actor) 1924
• Mhaing Wai Wai, (actor) 1925
• Thamaing Nyut Paung, (actor) 1933
• Su Htoo Pan, (actor and director) 1929
• Shwe Hninzi, (actor and director) 1931
• Japan Yin Thwe
  Japan Yin Thwe
  Japan Yin Thwe is a 1935 Burmese film directed by Nyi Pu. Its Japanese name is Nippon Musume. A1 film company produced this film with PCL Film Company in Japan, Tokyo. It opened on 25 November 1935 at the Bayin Cinema and the Olympia Cinema. In 1992 it was screened at the South East Asia Film...
  
  (actor and director) 1935
• Kyar Thit Mae, 1923
• Pa Loat Tot Tot, (actor and director) 1925
• Sekkya Shin, (actor and director) 1925
• Shwe Min Wun, (actor and director) 1926
• Mya Ta Bat, (actor and director) 1927
• Mya Aye Yin, 1927
• Myaing Nan San, 1926
• Chit Thwe Nyi Nyi, 1931
• Chit Yay Sin, (actor and director) 1935
• Pan Thitsa, 1954
• Than Khamauk, 1935
• San Yay Yin, 1936
• Chit Lu Youn, 1938 (Audio Film)
• Ko Yin Thwe, 1955
• Chit Thanthaya, 1957
• 528, 1958
• Nan That Ka Pan Ta Khat, 1963
• Ma Maung Taw A Lin, 1965
• Tha Man Kyar, 1970