May Thit ( my, မေသစ်; born Khin Thit 1925 – 2001) was a Burmese actress and singer. She won Best Actress Award for

1960 It is also known as the "Year of Africa" because of major events—particularly the independence of seventeen African nations—that focused global attention on the continent and intensified feelings of Pan-Africanism. Events January * Ja ...

, Best Supporting Actress Award for

1964 Events January * January 1 – The Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland is dissolved. * January 5 - In the first meeting between leaders of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches since the fifteenth century, Pope Paul VI and Patriarch ...

and

1976 Events January * January 3 – The International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights enters into force. * January 5 – The Pol Pot regime proclaims a new constitution for Democratic Kampuchea. * January 11 – The 1976 Phila ...

Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards The Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards are presented annually to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Burmese Film Industry of Myanmar. The awards ceremony has been held annually since 1952. Each winner is pr ...

. She was famous around between 1950s and 1990s.

Early life

May Thit was born on 1925 to parents, Municipal Officer, U Ko Ko Gyi and

Daw Daw or DAW may refer to: People and language * Daw (given name) * Daw (surname) * Daw, an honorific used in Burmese name#Honorifics, Burmese names * Dâw people, an indigenous people of Brazil * Dâw language, a language of Brazil * Davaoeño lang ...

Than Shwe in

Bago Bago may refer to: Places Myanmar * Bago, Myanmar, a city and the capital of the Bago Region * Bago District, a district of the Bago Region * Bago Region an administrative region * Bago River, a river * Bago Yoma or Pegu Range, a mountain rang ...

British Burma British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...

. She studied education until middle school. May Thit dropped out of school after graduating from middle school because she was more interested in film art than education. She applied for a job as a hobby film actress at

A1 Film Company A1 Film Company is a Burmese-owned cinema company. The company was awarded to the Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards. It produced the 1940 film ''Chit Yay Sin'' and 1935 ''Japan Yin Thwe''. Key actors * Tin Maung (1913–2000), a two-time Bu ...

had chosen May Thit as the new film actress. She became a film actress under the name 'May Thit' given by

from her original name Khin Thit. May Thit was only 16 years old at the time.

Career

Ma Thet had not been allowed to star in a movie for the first time, but she had only acted as a supporting actress. She made her debut in the

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

''Thunder'' directed by Ba Shin alongside Nyunt Maung, May Nu, May Myint Myint Swe, Thar Gaung, Saing Tin and entered the film industry as a first step. She was cast for the second time in the

sound film A sound film is a motion picture with synchronized sound, or sound technologically coupled to image, as opposed to a silent film. The first known public exhibition of projected sound films took place in Paris in 1900, but decades passed before ...

''Chit Yay Sin'' directed by

Tin Maung ''A1'' Tin Maung ( my, တင်မောင် ; 7 August 1908 – 4 October 2000) was a two-time Myanmar Academy Award, Burmese Academy Award-winning film actor, director and producer. Biography Tin Maung was born in Pyay, a small town in Low ...

alongside

May Shin May Shin ( my, မေရှင်; ; 10 March 1917 – 3 September 2008) was a Burmese actress and singer, who was popular from the 1930s to the 1950s. Biography May Shin was born Than Shin (, ) in 1917 to businessman Khin Lay () and his wife P ...

, Yin Yin Shwe, Thar Gaung, Ba Shin, Gyan Sein, Aung Gyi, Shwae Gyi. She co-starred in the silent film ''Kay Lar Tha'' directed by Chin Sein alongside Aye Kyu, May Nu, Aung Gyi, Saing Tin and Bo Thaung for the third time. This film was premiered in Bayin Cinema on 10 January 1941. Then, she co-starred in the film ''Mar Na Shin'' directed by Ba Shin alongside Chit Shwe,

, Gyan Sein, Ba Shin and Maung Than Sein. She co-starred in the film ''Chit Thway Hone'' directed by Chin Sein alongside Maung Maung Khin, May Myint, Shwe Nyar Maung, Yin Yin Shwe, Saing Tin and Aung Gyi. When World War II broke out, the film industry ceased to exist. After the war,May Thit returned to school without returning to the film industry. While attending seventh grade at Daw Ami Private School in Insein, she was contacted by

and returned to

. Despite returning to

, she starred as the leading actress in the silent film ''Min Bar Lal'' directed by U Tin Yu from Electric Film Company alongside

, Aye Kyu and Thar Gaung. Aye Kyu He co-starred with Tha Gaung. She also starred in the silent film ''Ba Ba Gyi'' directed by Tin Yu alongside Khin Maung, Aye Ko and Nyo Nyo. She starred as leading actress in the silent film ''Nyaung Yan Nyi Naung'' alongside Khin Maung, Aye Ko, Bo Thaung and Gyan Sein. She co-starred in the sound film ''Gon Yee Matu'' directed by

Thukha Thukha ( my, သုခ, ; 14 January 1910 – 7 December 2005) was a six-time Burmese Academy Award winning film director, writer, song writer, script writer, film actor and film producer. His film production company, Thukha Films Company, ...

alongside

and Khin Maung for the electric film and May Thit became famous as Mal Thone and Pauk Si. After that, she co-starred as the second actress in the sound film ''A Chain Tan Pyi'', which premiered in Royal and Karhtay Cinemas on 6 November 1948 directed by Ba Shin alongside

, Gyan Sein, Thar Gaung and Shwae Gyi. May Thit's pitiful and compassionate voice won the hearts of audiences and made her famous again. Then she starred as leading actress in the silent films ''Yan Pon Khwin'' and ''Thu Htay Laung'' directed by Tin Yu from Electric Film Company. May Thit starred as the leading actress in the sound film ''Chit Mone Man'', which premiered in Royal Cinema on 2 September 1949 directed by

from

alongside

, Shwe Nyar Maung, Thar Gaung, U Htaw, Yan Pa and she became famous. She also starred in film ''Bu Ma Thi Ba Ma Thi'' directed by Aung Zan from

alongside Aye Kyu, May Nwet, May Mya, May Lwin and May San. She also starred in the film ''Wizaya'', which premiered in Royal Cinema on 4 January 1952 directed by aung Zan alongside Aye Kyu, Gyan Sein and Thauk Kyar. Then May Thit played the role of Hnin Yee, a painful forest girl in the sound film ''Myae Tae Thitsar'' directed by Mya Maung for the electric film alongside

Zeya Zeya may refer to: People *Aung Zeya, full name of Alaungpaya, king of Burma in 1752–1760 * Zeya (Burmese actor) (1916–1996), Burmese actor and director *Zeya Thaw (born 1981), alternative spelling of the name of Zayar Thaw, Burmese politici ...

, Aye Kyu,

Myint Myint Khin Sithu Myint Myint Khin ( my, မြင့်မြင့်ခင်, ; nicknamed Baby; born Khin Kyi () on 13 August 1934) is a five-time Myanmar Academy Award and Myanmar Academy Award (Lifetime Achievement Award - Everlasting Outstanding Ho ...

, Aye Kyu Gyi and she attracted the audiences with this film. After leaving

, May Thit worked as a salaried actress in a British Burma Film Company on a three-year contract witg Ks 500 per month. She starred as leading actress in ''Ye Thway Ye Man'', a silent film directed by Bo Han, ''A Chit San'' sound film directed by U Aung Gyi, ''The Saung Hayman'', sound film directed by

, ''Ma Mhe Tae Pan'' directed by Chit Khin, ''Phu Sar Hna Khaing'', sound film directed by Hla Oo and '' Dr. Aung Kyaw Oo'', sound film directed by

Shwe Done Bi Aung Shwe Done Bi Aung ( my, ရွှေဒုံးဘီအောင်; born Nay Myo Kyaw Thu Aung 17 February 1906 – 11 March 1986) was a Burmese film director, writer, script-writer and composer. He is best known for directing in film '' Bo A ...

for British Burma Film Company. After that, May Thit starred in the sound film ''Pan Thar Ma Sar Eu'' directed by Chin Sein from Pan Thar Film Company alongside

. She co-starred as a pitiful homeless student in the sound film ''

Bawa Thanthayar ''Bawa Thanthayar'' ( my, ဘဝသံသရာ; ) is a 1956 Burmese black-and-white drama film, directed by Thukha starring Zeya, May Thit, Thukha and Aye Kyu. It is one of the most famous films in the history of Burmese cinema and was only rel ...

'' directed by

for Mandalay Film Company alongside

, Aye Kyu,

, Nwet Nwet Aye, Gyan Sein and proving to be a top actress. She co-starred in the film ''Mya Pan Wutyi'' directed by Myo Aung for Mandalay Film Company alongside Myint Aung, Jolly Swe, Ba Chit, Nwet Nwet Aye, Mandalay Aung Gyi and Gyan Sein. She starred in sound film ''Kyaw Tawt Hlay Thu Gyi'' directed by Tin Yu from Mya Zaw Film alongside

Po Par Gyi Po Par Gyi ( my, ဖိုးပါကြီး, ; March 1917 – January 14, 1980) was a popular traditional Burmese opera performer and two-time Myanmar Academy Award winning actor known for his comic roles. Biography Po Par Gyi was born Nyu ...

, Myint Myint Htay, Win Zaw, Kyal Ni, Sein Khin, Gyan Sein, Myint Pe, Than Nwet, Khin Pyone Zin and Ba Thit. She starred as a doctor in sound film ''Dr. Marlar'', directed by Hla Maung, for Kaytumadi Film Company alongside

, Aye Kyu, Saw Mu, Man Hla Pe, Thar Gaung and Saw Yin. She starred as leading actress in sound films ''Thitsar Nae Myittar'' directed by Shwe Baw, ''Than Thar Lay Kan Tine'' directed by Aung Gyi, ''Chit A Nu Myu'' directed by

, ''Chit Ngwet Ma Pyay'' directed by Wai Zin, ''Ma Khwae Tan Kyin Mal'' directed by Tin Yu, ''Lwan Tha Lay Maung Gyi'' directed by Tin Nyunt and ''Myittar Paing Shin'' directed by Thet Khine. In 1958, the government awarded May Thit the title of

Wunna Kyawhtin This article considers the religious, military and civil orders, decorations and medals of Union of Myanmar. Religious honorary orders Before and after Myanmar's independence, governments presented two religious orders, Abhidhaja Maha Ratht ...

. She also starred in sound film ''Myittar Shwe Yee'' directed by Mya Maung alongside Myint Aung, Ba Myint, Than Nwet, Yee Yee San, Myint Pe and then she won Best Actress Award in 1960 Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards for this film. She also won the 'Thurathati award', award of voting by the audiences for this film in 1960. She also starred in sound film ''Yin Wal Ta Theint Theint'' directed by Shumawa U Kyaw alongside Yin Htway, San San Aye, May Nwet,

Kyauk Lone Kyauk Lone ( my, ကျောက်လုံး; ; also spelt as Kyauk Lon) was three-time Myanmar Academy Award-winning Burmese actor. He was the first recipient of the Best Supporting Actor Academy Award in the Burmese film industry. He won hi ...

, Khin Nyunt, Yin Kyi and then she won Best Supporting Actress Award in 1964 Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards for this film. After won two film awards, she starred as leading actress in films ''Than Yaw Zin'', ''Chit Thel Oo'', ''Shwe Nyar Myay'', ''B Za'', ''Pwal Gyi Pwal Kaung'', ''A Chit Nae A Pyit'', ''May Kwet Ko Shar'', ''Ta Nay TawvPyan Lar Mal'', ''San Pwint Lar Pyi'', ''A Shet Nae A Thet'', ''Yay Myay Sone Tine'', ''Myar Di Kar'', ''Shwe Wah'', ''Han Ko Pho'', ''Thar'', ''Ngwe Kyun'', ''Pa Khan Ko Gyi Kyaw'', ''Ya Lay Lone'', ''Pan Taing Pwint Par Say'', ''Ta Moe Ta Myay'', ''Saing Thu Paing Thu'', ''Sular Than Bawa'', ''Mahar Than Bawa'', ''Chit Hlaine Than'', ''Chit Wingabar'', ''Tint Hla Pay Han'', ''The Ta Kwae Wal'', ''Gon So Dar'', ''Aung Myin Thaw Nay'', ''Kyite Pyi'', ''Hna Hmwar A Thel''. She also starred as supporting actress in films ''Myin San Say Chin The Hla Davi'', ''A Pyaw Cho Tae A Pyo Chaw'', ''Ywet Sein'', ''San Yay Pa Mar Mi Myittar'', ''Yone Ywae Kan Ywae'', ''Yat Kyi Thu'', ''Wa Yan Pyay Phoe Thein'', ''Sein Nae Tay Zar'', ''Ngwe'', ''Chit Mone Man'', ''Shwe Pyi Tan'', ''Mhae Ta Pauk'', ''Thway Mha Thatti Shi Thaw Kyaung'', ''Nay Zar'', ''Sanay Ma'' and ''Aung Pwal Nae A Tu Pyan Lar Mal''. She starred in film ''Nwet Myo Sone Lin Nwet Lite Chin'' directed by Htun Myint alongside Zaw Lin, Khin Thidar Htun, Myint Naing, Than Pe Lay, Sein Gyun Htun Shwe, Khin Ohn Myint and then she won Best Supporting Actress Award in 1976 Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards for this film. Then she starred in many films until 1990s.

Personal life

She was married to Zayya Kyawhtin U Ko Ko, Retired Lieutenant Colonel and they got two son; named Ko Ko Oo, Ko Ko Latt and a daughter; named Win Yee. After divorcing U Ko Ko, she was married again to U Win, Regional Religious Officer.

Death

She died on 30 September, 2001 at 4:25 pm at Sakura Hospital,

Yangon Yangon ( my, ရန်ကုန်; ; ), formerly spelled as Rangoon, is the capital of the Yangon Region and the largest city of Myanmar (also known as Burma). Yangon served as the capital of Myanmar until 2006, when the military government ...

Myanmar Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...

.ကျော်သန်းမြင့် (ဗန်းမော်) ရွှေအမြူတေ မဂ္ဂဇင်း၊ စက်တင်ဘာလ၊ ၂၀၀၂။

References

{{Authority control People from Bago Region 1925 births 2001 deaths Burmese film actresses 20th-century Burmese actresses