Zarganar
Encyclopedia
Maung Thura "Zarganar" (also called Zaganar is a popular Burmese comedian
, film actor, and a film director
as well as a fierce critic and often political prisoner
of the Burmese military government
. Known for his wicked puns against the government, Zarganar, whose name translates to "tweezers", is widely considered to be the most popular comedian and satirist in Myanmar
.
In September 2006, Zarganar was banned indefinitely from performing publicly or participating in any kind of entertainment related work. He was arrested on 4 June 2008 for speaking to foreign media about the situation of millions of people left homeless after a cyclone devastated the Irrawaddy delta
. In November 2008, he was sentenced to 59 years in prison, convicted of "public order offenses", under four sections of the criminal code—17/2, 32 (b), 295 (a) and 505 (b), much more than the anticipated maximum of two years. On 16 February 2009, following the appeals by the family, Yangon Divisional Court reduced the prison sentence by "up to 24 years", bringing the sentence down to 35 years. In December 2008, Zarganar has been sent to Myitkyina
Prison in Kachin State
in the country's far north, from which he was freed on 11 October 2011 in a mass amnesty of political prisoners.
Zarganar was awarded the Lillian Hellman
and Dashiel Hammett Award, given by the Fund for Free Expression, a committee organized by New York based Human Rights Watch. In October 2008, Zarganar was awarded One Humanity Award by PEN Canada
of which he is an honorary member.
to a political and intellectual family of well-known writers Hla Kyi (who went by the pen name of Yuwaddy Kyi Oo) and Aung Thein (pen name: Nan Nyunt Swe
). Thura was the youngest of three sons, brother of Wunna and Teza. The young Thura accompanied his parents on speaking tours where he used to entertain people by giving talks and doing imitations, and earned himself the nickname "Mimic".
Thura graduated from Yangon's elite State High School No. 1 Dagon in 1977 and received a degree in dental surgery from Rangoon Institute of Dental Medicine in 1985. While in dentistry school, he worked as a volunteer literacy teacher in Chin State
and wrote about his experiences in a book, published by the Sape Beikman, the country's official literary publishing house.
(a type of traditional Burmese theater) shows.
After completing his dentistry studies, he took to the stage full time. In 1986, he formed the Mya Ponnama Anyeint troupe whose shows frequently appeared on television. He quickly became known for his expert ability to concoct double entendres. And his willingness to use them in farcical routines highlighting the failures of the government delighted millions of awe-struck audiences.
That all changed in 1988. Zarganar was arrested for participating in the nationwide uprising
in 1988. He would be in and out of prison for next five out of six years. After his release from prison in 1994, Zarganar was prohibited from performing on stage but allowed to participate in video productions, working as producer, director, scriptwriter and actor. But his work was closely scrutinized by the censors and military intelligence, in a cat-and-mouse game in which Zarganar and his audiences took delight in sidestepping the authorities.
In 1997, Zarganar soon ran afoul with the authorities for his movie Lun, and was promptly banned for another three years from the show business. He was allowed to do films in 2000 (but still no comedy shows or stage theater).
Since May 2006, Zarganar has again been banned from the show business indefinitely, for giving an interview to the BBC
.
Zarganar helped to revitalize the art by changing the format upside down. By using humor to push the envelope against government censors, his anyeint shows generated immense interest among Burmese of all backgrounds, and in the process attracted new generations of fans to anyeint shows. Zarganar did not invent the art of using puns and double entendres, which had long been part of traditional Burmese humor but in many ways he perfected it in the Burmese language. (The tonal
monosyllabic Burmese language
with many homophones seemed particularly suited for double talk.) People were drawn to his vaudevillian routines filled with seemingly innocent silly banter among comedians not only because they were bitingly funny but also because they cleverly highlighted the failures of the government.
In the mid-1980s, Zarganar and his comedians were the main draw to their anyeint show. People went to see the comedians first, and the pretty female performers second. Today, Anyeint shows are still nominally led by female performers but the comedians-cum-social commentators are what most people go to see. The most popular shows are led by the comedians such as Thee-Lay-Thee who are willing to poke fun at the government.
, Zarganar was arrested for being an "instigator" and sent to the notorious Insein prison
for a year. After his release he was arrested again during the 1990 elections for giving political speeches and sentenced to another four years in prison. (His father, also a political activist, at one point gave a speech at the home of Aung San Suu Kyi
, leading to a ban by the state censors. His mother Kyi Oo was also elected as an independent candidate.) In 1991, the Fund for Free Expression, part of the Human Rights Watch
organization, awarded him a Lillian Hellman and Dashiell Hammett Grant.
Soon after Cyclone Nargis
devastated vast swaths of the Irrawaddy delta
in early May 2008, Zarganar organized a group of an estimated 400 Burmese involved in the entertainment industry to provide volunteer disaster relief aid in the cyclone-damaged areas. He divided the volunteers into groups of helpers, who took aid to 42 villages, some of which had until then received no help at all after the cyclone.
named him a prisoner of conscience
and called for his immediate release. In May 2011, Zarganar was awarded Honorary Life Membership in Equity, the UK performers' union, in recognition of his struggle for artistic freedom in Burma.
Zarganar has been featured in This Prison Where I Live, a documentary film by British filmmaker Rex Bloomstein and German comedian Michael Mittermeier
, who had traveled secretly to Burma to make the film.
and AIDS
in the country.
VCD
s intended strictly for the home market, akin to straight to DVD and are never screened in theaters.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
, film actor, and a 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:...
as well as a fierce critic and often political prisoner
Political prisoner
According to the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English, a political prisoner is ‘someone who is in prison because they have opposed or criticized the government of their own country’....
of the Burmese military government
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
. Known for his wicked puns against the government, Zarganar, whose name translates to "tweezers", is widely considered to be the most popular comedian and satirist in Myanmar
Myanmar
Burma , officially the Republic of the Union of Myanmar , is a country in Southeast Asia. Burma is bordered by China on the northeast, Laos on the east, Thailand on the southeast, Bangladesh on the west, India on the northwest, the Bay of Bengal to the southwest, and the Andaman Sea on the south....
.
In September 2006, Zarganar was banned indefinitely from performing publicly or participating in any kind of entertainment related work. He was arrested on 4 June 2008 for speaking to foreign media about the situation of millions of people left homeless after a cyclone devastated the Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
. In November 2008, he was sentenced to 59 years in prison, convicted of "public order offenses", under four sections of the criminal code—17/2, 32 (b), 295 (a) and 505 (b), much more than the anticipated maximum of two years. On 16 February 2009, following the appeals by the family, Yangon Divisional Court reduced the prison sentence by "up to 24 years", bringing the sentence down to 35 years. In December 2008, Zarganar has been sent to Myitkyina
Myitkyina
Myitkyina is the capital city of Kachin State in Myanmar , located from Yangon, and from Mandalay. In Burmese it means "near the big river", and in fact "Myitkyina" lies on the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River, just below from Myit-son of its two headstreams...
Prison in Kachin State
Kachin State
Kachin State , is the northernmost state of Burma. It is bordered by China to the north and east; Shan State to the south; and Sagaing Division and India to the west. It lies between north latitude 23° 27' and 28° 25' longitude 96° 0' and 98° 44'. The area of Kachin State is . The capital of the...
in the country's far north, from which he was freed on 11 October 2011 in a mass amnesty of political prisoners.
Zarganar was awarded the Lillian Hellman
Lillian Hellman
Lillian Florence "Lily" Hellman was an American playwright, linked throughout her life with many left-wing causes...
and Dashiel Hammett Award, given by the Fund for Free Expression, a committee organized by New York based Human Rights Watch. In October 2008, Zarganar was awarded One Humanity Award by PEN Canada
PEN Canada
PEN Canada is one of the 144 centres of International PEN. Founded in 1926, it has a membership of over 1,000 writers and supporters who campaign on behalf of writers around the world who are persecuted, imprisoned and exiled for exercising their right to freedom of expression.Since its founding,...
of which he is an honorary member.
Early life
Zarganar was born Thura in YangonYangon
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...
to a political and intellectual family of well-known writers Hla Kyi (who went by the pen name of Yuwaddy Kyi Oo) and Aung Thein (pen name: Nan Nyunt Swe
Nan Nyunt Swe
Nan Nyunt Swe was a distinguished Burmese writer, writing over 1,200 poems and 800 articles throughout his sixty year long career, focusing primarily on music and classic literature. In 1955, he married fellow writer Hla Kyi, who had the pen name Yuwadi Kyi Oo. He died on 14 July 2010 of natural...
). Thura was the youngest of three sons, brother of Wunna and Teza. The young Thura accompanied his parents on speaking tours where he used to entertain people by giving talks and doing imitations, and earned himself the nickname "Mimic".
Thura graduated from Yangon's elite State High School No. 1 Dagon in 1977 and received a degree in dental surgery from Rangoon Institute of Dental Medicine in 1985. While in dentistry school, he worked as a volunteer literacy teacher in Chin State
Chin State
Chin State is a state located in western Burma . The Chin State is bordered by Rakhine State in the south, Bangladesh in south-west, Sagaing Division and Magway Division in the east, Indian state of Manipur in the north and Indian state of Mizoram in the west. The Chin ethnic group make up the...
and wrote about his experiences in a book, published by the Sape Beikman, the country's official literary publishing house.
Career
Thura first found success while still in college, performing amateur stage comedy shows at Yangon's universities under his stage name Zarganar (tweezers). He banded together with students from various colleges and institutes and formed a dance-troupe called Mya Kyun Tha. Later, he formed a drama group called Moe Nat Thuza which performed at student gatherings. Zarganar soon became a household name when his troupe began appearing on Burmese television in broadcasts of anyeintAnyeint
Anyeint is a traditional Burmese entertainment form that combines dance with instrumental music, song, and comedy routines, in theatrical performances. It is a form of pwe, the Burmese word for traditional entertainment...
(a type of traditional Burmese theater) shows.
After completing his dentistry studies, he took to the stage full time. In 1986, he formed the Mya Ponnama Anyeint troupe whose shows frequently appeared on television. He quickly became known for his expert ability to concoct double entendres. And his willingness to use them in farcical routines highlighting the failures of the government delighted millions of awe-struck audiences.
That all changed in 1988. Zarganar was arrested for participating in the nationwide uprising
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
in 1988. He would be in and out of prison for next five out of six years. After his release from prison in 1994, Zarganar was prohibited from performing on stage but allowed to participate in video productions, working as producer, director, scriptwriter and actor. But his work was closely scrutinized by the censors and military intelligence, in a cat-and-mouse game in which Zarganar and his audiences took delight in sidestepping the authorities.
In 1997, Zarganar soon ran afoul with the authorities for his movie Lun, and was promptly banned for another three years from the show business. He was allowed to do films in 2000 (but still no comedy shows or stage theater).
Since May 2006, Zarganar has again been banned from the show business indefinitely, for giving an interview to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
.
Artistic contributions
Zarganar's contributions to the revival of popularity of ''anyeint (also spelled anyein) among the younger generations of Burmese cannot be overstated. Anyeint shows are a form of traditional theater combining dance, music and comedy that has come to play a central role in Burmese society—performed at a wide range of secular and religious events, from weddings to pagoda festivals. The shows are traditionally led by one or more female performers who dance and sing playful songs, and a troupe of comedians (usually 4 or 5) provide comic relief between the sing-dance routines of the female performers. Before Zarganar came along, the popularity of anyeint shows had been in long decline (especially in urban areas).Zarganar helped to revitalize the art by changing the format upside down. By using humor to push the envelope against government censors, his anyeint shows generated immense interest among Burmese of all backgrounds, and in the process attracted new generations of fans to anyeint shows. Zarganar did not invent the art of using puns and double entendres, which had long been part of traditional Burmese humor but in many ways he perfected it in the Burmese language. (The tonal
Tone (linguistics)
Tone is the use of pitch in language to distinguish lexical or grammatical meaning—that is, to distinguish or inflect words. All verbal languages use pitch to express emotional and other paralinguistic information, and to convey emphasis, contrast, and other such features in what is called...
monosyllabic Burmese language
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
with many homophones seemed particularly suited for double talk.) People were drawn to his vaudevillian routines filled with seemingly innocent silly banter among comedians not only because they were bitingly funny but also because they cleverly highlighted the failures of the government.
In the mid-1980s, Zarganar and his comedians were the main draw to their anyeint show. People went to see the comedians first, and the pretty female performers second. Today, Anyeint shows are still nominally led by female performers but the comedians-cum-social commentators are what most people go to see. The most popular shows are led by the comedians such as Thee-Lay-Thee who are willing to poke fun at the government.
Political activities and social work
During the 1988 uprising8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
, Zarganar was arrested for being an "instigator" and sent to the notorious Insein prison
Insein Prison
Insein Prison is located in Yangon Division, near Yangon , the old capital of Myanmar. It is run by the military junta of Myanmar, the State Peace and Development Council, and used largely to repress political dissidents....
for a year. After his release he was arrested again during the 1990 elections for giving political speeches and sentenced to another four years in prison. (His father, also a political activist, at one point gave a speech at the home of Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, leading to a ban by the state censors. His mother Kyi Oo was also elected as an independent candidate.) In 1991, the Fund for Free Expression, part of the Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch
Human Rights Watch is an international non-governmental organization that conducts research and advocacy on human rights. Its headquarters are in New York City and it has offices in Berlin, Beirut, Brussels, Chicago, Geneva, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, Moscow, Paris, San Francisco, Tokyo,...
organization, awarded him a Lillian Hellman and Dashiell Hammett Grant.
Soon after Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis
Cyclone Nargis , was a strong tropical cyclone that caused the worst natural disaster in the recorded history of Burma. The cyclone made landfall in Burma on Friday, May 2, 2008, causing catastrophic destruction and at least 138,000 fatalities...
devastated vast swaths of the Irrawaddy delta
Irrawaddy Delta
The Irrawaddy Delta or Ayeyarwady Delta lies in the Ayeyarwady Region , the lowest expanse of land in Burma that fans out from the limit of tidal influence at Myan Aung to the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea, 290 km to the south at the mouth of the Ayeyarwady River...
in early May 2008, Zarganar organized a group of an estimated 400 Burmese involved in the entertainment industry to provide volunteer disaster relief aid in the cyclone-damaged areas. He divided the volunteers into groups of helpers, who took aid to 42 villages, some of which had until then received no help at all after the cyclone.
List of recent run-ins with the government
- February 2006: The government bans a movie that Zarganar directed, Run Out of Patience.
- May 2006: Zarganar is banned from performing in the country for his interview with the BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
regarding government regulations on the thingyanThingyanThingyan is the Burmese New Year Water Festival and usually falls around mid-April . It is a Buddhist festival celebrated over a period of four to five days culminating in the new year...
water festival, and for making a television commercial suggesting Taiwanese independence.
- February 2007: A state-run newspaper the New Light of MyanmarNew Light of MyanmarThe New Light of Myanmar is a government-owned newspaper published by the Ministry of Information and based in Yangon , Myanmar....
accuses Zarganar of participating in "illegal" activities and inciting "public unrest and violence" after his speech at a debate at the American Center, a venue operated by the US embassy in Yangon.
- 26 September 2007: Zarganar is arrested at his home for his participation in the ongoing anti-government protests2007 Burmese anti-government protestsThe 2007 Burmese anti-government protests were a series of anti-government protests that started in Burma on 15 August 2007...
. During the preceding two days he had, with fellow Burmese celebrity Kyaw ThuKyaw ThuKyaw Thu is a two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning film actor and film director. One of the top leading men of Burmese cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, Kyaw Thu continues to star in films and has directed several successful films...
, publicly delivered food and water to Buddhist monks preparing to protest. During the preceding weekend, he had urged the public to support the monks in radio interviews from outside the country.
- 4 June 2008: Special Branch police and other authorities take him from his home in connection with this work, along with a computer, VCDs and US$1000.
- 21 November 2008: Zarganar is sentenced by the Court to 45 years imprisonmentImprisonmentImprisonment is a legal term.The book Termes de la Ley contains the following definition:This passage was approved by Atkin and Duke LJJ in Meering v Grahame White Aviation Co....
for violations of the Electronics Act.
- 29 November 2008: Zarganar receives an additional 14 years under four sections of the criminal code—17/2, 32 (b), 295 (a) and 505 (b), bringing the total sentence to 59 years.
- 16 February 2009: Following the appeals, Yangon Divisional Court reduces the prison sentence by "up to 24 years", bringing the sentence down to 35 years.
- 11 (or 12) October 2011: Zarganar is released in a "mass amnesty" of political prisoners.
Awards and recognition
In 2008, Zarganar was awarded the Freedom to Create Prize for Imprisoned Artists. Amnesty InternationalAmnesty International
Amnesty International is an international non-governmental organisation whose stated mission is "to conduct research and generate action to prevent and end grave abuses of human rights, and to demand justice for those whose rights have been violated."Following a publication of Peter Benenson's...
named him a prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience
Prisoner of conscience is a term defined in Peter Benenson's 1961 article "The Forgotten Prisoners" often used by the human rights group Amnesty International. It can refer to anyone imprisoned because of their race, religion, or political views...
and called for his immediate release. In May 2011, Zarganar was awarded Honorary Life Membership in Equity, the UK performers' union, in recognition of his struggle for artistic freedom in Burma.
Zarganar has been featured in This Prison Where I Live, a documentary film by British filmmaker Rex Bloomstein and German comedian Michael Mittermeier
Michael Mittermeier
Michael Mittermeier is a German comedian.- Life :Michael Mittermeier was born in Dorfen, Upper Bavaria. During his childhood he lived in Bavaria. After school he learned theatre. In 1996, Mittermeier started the comedy program Zapped...
, who had traveled secretly to Burma to make the film.
Films
Between 1985 and 1988, Zarganar starred in four films and eight video movies as the lead actor. He took on supporting actor roles in his movies since 2001. He also tried his hand at directing. In 2004, with the aid of local non-governmental organisations, Zarganar directed three short videos and a film for the purpose of raising awareness of HIVHIV
Human immunodeficiency virus is a lentivirus that causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome , a condition in humans in which progressive failure of the immune system allows life-threatening opportunistic infections and cancers to thrive...
and AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
in the country.
| Year | Film | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Mintha Daw Mintha | |
| 1985 | Lu Naut | With May Win Maung |
| 1986 | Sein-Lai-Lay Kya Tha-La Lo | |
| 1986 | A-Sa-Ga-Daw Mohn De Hso | |
| 2001 | Datkhe | Supporting actor |
| 2001 | Ponna Ba Kun | With Kyaw Thu Kyaw Thu Kyaw Thu is a two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning film actor and film director. One of the top leading men of Burmese cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, Kyaw Thu continues to star in films and has directed several successful films... , Htet Htet Moe Oo |
| 2002 | La-Min-Go Sein-Khaw-Gya Thu-Mya | |
| 2002 | Yindwin Zaga | |
| 2002 | Chit-Pa-Naw Maung-Go | |
| 2002 | Padauk Pinlè | |
| 2003 | Karyan A-Lwè | |
| 2003 | Pyauk Pyauk Myauk Myauk | |
| 2003 | Pawpaw Papa Pyon | |
| 2003 | Style | |
| 2004 | Ba A-Yay-Kyi Zohn-Lè | |
| 2004 | Balu (Ogre) | |
| 2004 | Kyepwint Lay-Mya | |
| 2004 | Ngo-Ah-Htet Yi-Ah-Than | |
| 2005 | Mingalaba | With Sai Sai Kham Hlaing Sai Sai Kham Hlaing Sai Sai Kham Hlaing is a popular Burmese singer-songwriter, model, novelist, and actor of ethnic Shan descent. He is best known for his hip hop music.-Background:... |
| 2005 | Yadana | With Kyaw Thu Kyaw Thu Kyaw Thu is a two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning film actor and film director. One of the top leading men of Burmese cinema in the 1980s and 1990s, Kyaw Thu continues to star in films and has directed several successful films... , Htun Aeindra Bo Htun Aeindra Bo Htun Aeindra Bo is a three-time Myanmar Academy Award-winning actress and singer. The Mogok native began her film career in 1991, and has achieved fame and success as an actor and singer... |
| 2005 | Model A-Chit-Mya | With Lwin Moe Lwin Moe Lwin Moe is a two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning Burmese film actor.He was born on an island in the Mergui Archipelago at the southern end of Myanmar. Father of two girls, Lwin Moe was a UNICEF "partner" for Myanmar in 2005.... , Yan Aung, Eindra Kyaw Zin |
| 2010 | The Prison Where I Live | British Documentary |
Videos
These video films are direct-to-videoDirect-to-video
Direct-to-video is a term used to describe a film that has been released to the public on home video formats without being released in film theaters or broadcast on television...
VCD
VCD
VCD is a three-letter abbreviation with multiple meanings, as described below:* VCD Athletic, semi-professional football team* Video CD* Voice command device* Value change dump * Vocal cord dysfunction* Visual Communication and Design...
s intended strictly for the home market, akin to straight to DVD and are never screened in theaters.
- Da Myo Gyi Lè Phyit Tat Ba Dè
- Modern Nay A Phay
- Daga Khaut Than Mya
- Shar-Shay Gya Thu Mya
- Ta Wa-Wa Ta Ha-Ha
- May-Kyan-Yit-Thaw Zatlan Da Bot
- Paut Paut Myaut Myaut
- Pyi Gyi Mandaing Mya Gyi (Part II)
- Sanda Pinle
- Bar Bar Bar Mha Ma Thi Bu (Part I)
- Aye-Say Ba
- Chit Chit Nè Thungegyin Hna Yauk
- Zar Kanar
- Lu Kè
- A-Thet Ta-Ya A-Na Ma Shi