Win Oo (; , 13 March 1935 – 14 December 1988) was a two-time Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Awards winning Burmese actor, singer, director, writer and publisher. He became publicly known for his acting, singing and directing. Win was considered one of the most important actors in history of Burmese cinema. He died of colorectal cancer in 1988.
Youth Win Oo was born on 13 March 1935 as Hla Myint in Rangoon (now Yangon) to his parents U Ba Nyunt (Chit-Dukkha), a history professor at Rangoon University, and Daw Hnin Yi, as the third of five children. He matriculated at TTC (Practicing High School, passing his 10th standard examinations at the age of 14. He subsequently attended Rangoon University, where he studied mathematics, economics, and French and wrote short stories under the pen name "Nyo Min Lwin."
In 1952, during his third year, he departed from his university studies and joined the Burmese Army. Win Oo was stationed in Maymyo (now Pyin Oo Lwin) and Meiktila, and spent 9 months in 1959 training in Australia. Upon his return to Burma, he became a more prolific writer, penning nineteen stories in Shumuwa, including a novel, A University Student (တက္ကသိုလ်ကျောင်းသားတစ်ဦး), in 1960. He was honourably discharged from the army as a captain in 1962.
Career He launched his acting career in 1962, starring in Hna-Yauk Hte Nay-Gyin-De, adapted from his eponymous novel, directed by Tin Yu. But this movie was not his first film. Chit-Thaw-Thu-Ta-Yauk was his first film in cinema but this movie was not commercially successful. He both directed and starred in Saung Einmet and Hmon Shwe Yee. He founded the Sanda movie company, established first "color offset printer" in Burma, established "Sanda Magazine Office" and published Sanda Magazine. He won numerous Myanmar Academy Award for his performances, including Best Actor for Hmon Shwe Yee in 1970. He starred in 27 films, before dying in 1988. He wrote 31 novels. His most famous book is Main ma Hla Ah Mone.
Legacy He is best known for his image, acting, unusual voice, and way of speaking and singing, which some artists often imitate as a fun way of entertainment, especially in traditional live performances on the stage. The BBC (Myanmar) described that in Myanmar, not many artists have great success beyond their age and grave, and that Win Oo is one of the few whose success and influence extend till these days. The late Hla Htut, a famous Myanmar pianist and composer, remarked that his use of low-pitched, nasal and legato voices in several songs like "Maung Do Cherry Myay" (Our Cherry Land) and his voices of interjection in such songs as "Mee Pon Pwe" (Bonfire) and "Ma Ma Moe" (Lady Moe) were quite distinct and earned his place in the category of remake-western songs in Myanmar. He directed and appeared as an actor in many films; in Ah Twe Ah Tar, an unusual film for that time because no actress appeared; the main roles are a child-actress and him only, and in a self-directed film, Chit Thu Yway Mae` Chit Ware Le` he acted in an octa-role with many actresses, which he even made it successful in spite of lack of high film-technology for that period. Hmon Shwe Yi is one of his prominent works, through which some elements and aspects of Myanmar Stage Performance and Entertainment can be observed. Last but not least, his love for songs by Myoma Nyein and participation in Mandalay Thingyan festival over a decade is still considered to be a cultural icon in Myanmar.
Filmography + Lists of Films No. Year Film Co-Stars Note 11962Chit Thaw Thu Ta YaukKhin Than Nu 2Hna Yauk Htae Nay Chin TalTin Tin Mu, Daisy Kyaw Win 3Mone Ta Hlae Pyone Ta HlaeTin Tin Aye 41963Saung Ta Nya WalWah Wah Win Shwe 5Bain Mi Thar Ra Tin Maung, Kyi Kyi Htay, Kyi Kyi Nyunt 6Mharna TakhonTin Tin Aye 7Padauk Yake WalTin Tin Aye, Hnin Si 8Bawa MattanTin Tin Aye 9MyatMyint Myint Khin, Tin Tin Nwet, Chit Sabal 10Ta Pwint Tae Pan MalKyi Kyi Htay, Thi Thi 11Maung Doh Cherry MyayKhin Than Nu 12E San Eain WalWah Wah Win Shwe 13Chit Thaw Mg MgThi Thi 14Maung Chawt Myu Pa MalKyi Kyi Htay 15Yin Thway Yin NitMay Thit, Wah Wah Win Shwe 161964Thit Sar Tu PyaingMyint Myint Khin 17Bal Yat Htar NayWah Wah Win Shwe18Maung A Chit TawTin Tin Mu, Chit Sabal19Myittar PanMyint Myint Khin, Khin Than Nu20Thi Kyar Say Thet Thay NhyunWah Wah Win Shwe, Khin Than Nu21Nyi Nyi LwinWah Wah Win Shwe221965Mone May Par NaingTin Tin Mu, Thi Thi, Wah Wah Win Shwe, Aung Lwin23Chit ThelWah Wah Win Shwe241966Su Htoo Nge Pan Ywal ThunDaisy Kyaw Win, Nwet Nwet San251967Yee Sar Da MyaKhin Than Nu26Maung Maung Nae TheingiSan Shar Tin, San San Win27Hnin Pyauk Tae NwayTin Tin Mu, Tin Tin Aye28Saung EinmetTin Tin Aye, Aye Aye Thin291968Ko Chit Thu Bal Mhar Shi TalKhin Than Nu30ThoeKhin Than Nu31Tein Hlwar Moht Moht LwinMyint Myint Khin321969Kyaukme A Kyin TharKhin Than Nu331970Hmone Shwe YeeKhin Than Nu, Aung Lwin, Po Par Gyi341971Ta Kyawt Hna Kyawt Tay Ko ThiTin Tin Mya, Cho Pyone351972A Twal A TarSandar Lin361973Latt LattKhin Than Nu37Mone Par Tal Maung KoMyint Myint Khin38Pan Myo Taw Tho Chay Lann Lay SalKyaw Swar Win, Cho Pyone Guest391975Chit Thu Yway Mal Chit Wae LalMyint Myint Khin, Tin Tin Nwet, San San Aye, Myint Myint Khine, Cho Pyone, Nwet Nwet Mu, Sandar401976Min Bal Pyay Ma Lae Mi Cho ThelSandar411977Tein Oo Lay Pyay Maung Ko SayKhin Yu May, Tin Tin Nwet421980Thet Tan Paw Ka Lu Ta YaukKhin Than Nu, Aye Aye Thin431981Main Ma Nae Yauk KyarMyint Myint Khine, Yin Yin Aye44Kyun Taw Pyaw Thaw A Chit A KyaungKhin Than Nwe45Myittar Kabar Char Lay ThuNwet Nwet Mu46Chit Thu Kyin Thu Myat Noe ThuMyint Myint Khin, Myint Myint Khine47Zar Ti ThwayKyi Kyi Htay, Swe Zin Htaik481982Yarma Lattkhana Lo A Chit MyoSwe Zin Htaik49WootKyaw Swar Win, May Win Maung50Moe Palae YadanarSaw Mya Thandar, Thidar Win51Hna Yauk Htae Nay Chin TalAye Min Win, Cho Pyone, May Win MaungDirector521987Ngwe Hlaing Zar Paw MharKyaw Swar Win, Cho Pyone531992Khine Mar Lar Hnin SiYan Aung, Khin Than Nu
Awards
Year Award Category Nominated work Result 1967Myanmar Motion Picture Academy AwardsBest Actor Saung Einmet 1970 Hmone Shwe Yee
References
Cartoon Win Aung's famous artist published in 2006.
External links Win Oo' Songs Myanmar chronicle