Entertainment

The Myanmar Traditional Artists and Artisans Organisation (Central) is staging an exhibition of traditional paintings at Bogyoke Aung San Market from today to June 21.

On display are masterpieces created by 18 modernist artists including Maung Maung Hla Myint, Than Kywel, Myat Han, Hla One, Thiha, Aung Min Min and Kyaw Thura Aung. 

Myanmar Media 7 is filming a special video tribute to the Myanmar football teams U-20 (recently represented at the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup) and U-23 that competed in the 28th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games) in Singapore on Monday.

“Letter to the President”, a feature film by noted Myanmar director Wyne, has been under review by the Myanmar film censorship board for three months, and there’s still no sign of the film being given the board’s permission anytime soon.  

The board has requested that a character who’s portrayed as the son of a minister be changed to the son of a minister’s crony. 

Actress turned singer Htun Aeindra Bo has denied the rumour that her and four other artists had visa applications rejected by the US Embassy for stating that they were NLD (National League for Democracy) members in their paperwork.

A Facebook user named Khaing Zaw wrote that the five artists claimed they were NLD members in their application forms but had been rejected as their names were not on the party membership list held by the embassy.

Ponnya Khin is regarded as one of Myanmar’s influential chick-lit authors. The film adaptation of her best-selling novel “Kya Ma Ka Hnin Si Par Maung” (“I am a Rose, Dear”) has just hit the theatres. While the film has caused a sensation among film critics, its title is becoming one of the buzzwords on social media following its press preview. The novelist told Myanmar Eleven in a recent interview how she’s coping with the success of the film and the sheer popularity of her several other novels destined for the big screen. 

“Let’s Go”, the acclaimed travel documentary in Myanmar, has started airing its new episodes shot on location in Malaysia on MWD every Tuesday, according to Myanmar Media 7.

“’Let’s Go’ has become more successful of late because we are able to go places for the audience. The new episodes were filmed in Malaysia. Bunny Phyoe, one of the cast members, was unable to participate in these episodes due to his commitment to his US tour. The rest of the cast are in it,” said Wai Min Maung, chairman of Myanmar Media 7.

Documentary Review

“A Way Back Home”, a documentary about child soldiers in Myanmar, will be screened at the third Human Rights Human Dignity Festival from June 14 to 19 at Naypyidaw and Wizayar cinemas.

Rocker Myo Gyi has just released his new album titled “Pyaung Lae Chin” (“Changes”).“There’s a big gap between my new album and my last album. It took a long time because I needed time to select the songs and prepare them. I’m satisfied with the outcome anyway,” said the artist.

“Rather than sticking to a certain schedule for an album’s release, I always release one whenever I’m satisfied with its quality. The next album will follow the same practice,” he added.

Htike Htike has certainly come a long way since the day of her triumph in the Melody World singing contest. Now as a member of the newly formed girl group “Myanmar Girls” (made up of the former members of “Me Na Ma Girls”), she has a bright career ahead of her though that comes with certain constraints on things like making choices between career priorities and personal needs. Surprisingly  she’s been allowed to release her first solo album without any fuss. The title track of “Oh My God!” has topped the charts at Myanmar Music Store for weeks.

For nearly three decades, writer-cum-artist Kyaw Sein Win has devoted his life to a mission to unearth, save and research ancient Pyu-era artefacts near Min Bu and its environs on the west bank of the Ayeyawady River, home to the ancient Pyu civilisation.  The former school teacher is not only one of a few researchers who can read and write in Pyu, but he also owns a collection of rare Pyu-era artefacts such as burial urns, smoking pipes and beads.