Zarganar

Maung Thura "Zarganar" (also called Zaganar, ; also Zargana, ); born 27 January 1961) is a popular Burmese comedian, film actor, and director as well as a fierce critic and often political prisoner of the Burmese military government. Known for his wicked puns against the ruling military junta, 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 the extremely destructive Cyclone Nargis 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 was 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 Dashiell Hammett Award, given by the Fund for Free Expression, a committee organized by the 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.

Early life Zarganar was born Thura (, , also ) in Yangon 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 is of Mon-Bamar descent. 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. 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 in-between the song-and-dance routines of the female performers. Before Zarganar came along, the popularity of anyeint shows had long been in decline (especially in urban areas).

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.

Zarganar's 2012 visit to the United States to meet with Hillary Clinton.

In February 2012, Zarganar travelled to Washington, D.C., to meet US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and discuss the ongoing issue of political prisoners, women’s rights, and the situation of Myanmar’s ethnic minorities with the country’s senior officials.

On 6 April 2021, in the aftermath of the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, he was arrested at his home in Yangon. Since the coup on 1 February, he had not carried out any significant political activities, and the reason for his arrest is unknown. On 18 October 2021, he was conditionally released.

List of conflicts 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 BBC regarding government regulations on the Thingyan water festival, and for making a television commercial suggesting Taiwanese independence. February 2007: A state-run newspaper (the New Light of 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 protests. During the preceding two days he had, with fellow Burmese celebrity Kyaw Thu, 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 imprisonment 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. ) October 2011: Zarganar is released as part of a series of amnesties of political prisoners, along with labor activist Su Su Nway and 88 Generation Student Group activist Zaw Htet Ko Ko. 6 April - 18 October 2021: Zarganar is arrested citing anti-coup activity following crackdowns after 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, and released about six months later in amnesty order In 2009, he was awarded the inaugural PEN/Pinter Prize as an International writer of courage. 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 secretly traveled to Burma to make the film.

In 2009, Zarganar was awarded the inaugural PEN Pinter Prize, established in memory of Harold Pinter. Zarganar shared the award with British poet Tony Harrison.

On 27 March 2012, Zarganar received the Prince Claus Fund Award, handed over by Dutch ambassador Joan Boers during a historic Aneyint event in the People's Square in Yangon.

Filmography

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 HIV and AIDS in the country.

YearFilmNotes 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, Htet Htet Moe Oo 2002 La-Min-Go Sein-Khaw-Gya Thu-Mya With Lu Min, Eaindra Kyaw Zin 2002 Yindwin Zaga With Dwe, May Than Nu, Eaindra Kyaw Zin 2002 Chit-Pa-Naw Maung-Go 2002 Padauk Pinlè With Yar Zar Nay Win, Htun Eaindra Bo, Zaw One 2003 Karyan A-Lwè With Dwe, Soe Myat Thuzar, Nandar Hlaing 2003 Pyauk Pyauk Myauk Myauk 2003 Pawpaw Papa Pyon With Kyaw Ye Aung, Nandar Hlaing, Eaindra Kyaw Zin, May Thinzar Oo 2004 Style With Lwin Moe, Yar Zar Nay Win, Eaindra Kyaw Zin, Soe Myat Nandar, Pyay Ti Oo 2004 Ba A-Yay-Kyi Zohn-Lè With Kyaw Thu, Lu Min, Su Pan Htwar 2004 Balu (Ogre) 2004 Kyepwint Lay-Mya With Yan Aung, May Than Nu, Pann Phyu 2004 Ngo-Ah-Htet Yi-Ah-Than With Lwin Moe, Minn Hein, Sharr Nyo, Eaindra Kyaw Zin, May Thinzar Oo 2005 Mingalaba With Nay Toe, Sai Sai Kham Leng, Myo Sandy Kyaw 2005 Yadana With Kyaw Thu, Htun Aeindra Bo 2005 Model A-Chit-Mya With Lwin Moe, Yan Aung, Tint Tint Tun, Eindra Kyaw Zin, May Thinzar Oo 2010 This Prison Where I Live British Documentary 2017 Auto Ba-Yin With Kyaw Kyaw Bo, Ei Chaw Po

Videos Direct-to-video productions on VCD intended strictly for the home market and never screened in theaters include:

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