Zeya was a Burmese Academy Award winning film actor and 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 also a famous body builder.

Biography

Zeya was born Hla Maung (l̥a̰ màuɴ) in Nyaunggon village in Upper Burma

Upper Burma

Upper Burma refers to a geographic region of Burma , traditionally encompassing Mandalay and its periphery , or more broadly speaking, Kachin and Shan States....

 during the British

British Empire

The British Empire comprised the dominions, colonies, protectorates, mandates and other territories ruled or administered by the United Kingdom. It originated with the overseas colonies and trading posts established by England in the late 16th and early 17th centuries. At its height, it was the...

 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 Thanthaya