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Zarganar
ဇာဂနာ
Zarganar speaking at the Freedom Film Festival in Yangon, Myanmar on 1 January 2012.
Born
Thura
(1961-01-27) 27 January 1961 (age 63)
Rangoon, Burma
Alma mater
Yangon University of Dental Medicine
State High School No. 1 Dagon
Occupation(s)
Writer, director, actor, comedian, satirist
Years active
1981–present
Spouse
Lwin Mar Oo
Children
Myat Kaung, Nge Oo Mon
Parent(s)
Aung Thein (Nan Nyunt Swe) and Hla Kyi (Kyi Oo)
Website
Official Facebook account (currently unavailable)
This article contains Burmese script. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Burmese script.
Maung Thura "Zarganar" (also called Zaganar, Burmese: ဇာဂနာ; also Zargana, pronounced[zàɡənà]); born 27 January 1961) is a popular Burmese comedian, film actor, and a film director as well as a fierce critic and often political prisoner of the Burmese military government. Known for his wicked puns against the government which is a 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 a cyclone devastated the Irrawaddy Delta.[1] 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.[2][3] 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.[4] In December 2008, Zarganar has been sent to Myitkyina Prison in Kachin State in the country's far north,[5] from which he was freed on 11 October 2011 in a mass amnesty of political prisoners.[6]
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.[7] In October 2008, Zarganar was awarded One Humanity Award by PEN Canada of which he is an honorary member.[8]
^"Zarganar Arrested, Cyclone Relief Money Seized". The Irrawaddy. 5 June 2008.
^Saw Yan Naing (27 November 2008). "Zarganar and Journalist Associates Receive Additional Sentences". Irrawaddy News.
^"Myanmar charges comedian with public order offence". Reuters. 1 August 2008.
^Khin Hnin Htet (16 February 2009). "Zarganar's sentence reduced by 24 years". Democratic Voice of Burma.
^Saw Yan Naing (4 December 2008). "Zarganar, Other Dissidents Sent to Remote Prisons". Irrawaddy News.
^"Burma frees dissident Zarganar in amnesty". Bangkok Post. 11 October 2011.
^"Laughing all the way to prison". The Irrawaddy, quoted on Burmanet. 12 June 2006. Retrieved 26 September 2007.
^"PEN Canada Launches 25th Anniversary by giving One Humanity Award to Burmese Poet" (PDF). 20 October 2008. Retrieved 19 November 2008.
marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Burmese script. Maung Thura "Zarganar" (also called Zaganar, Burmese: ဇာဂနာ; also Zargana, pronounced [zàɡənà]);...
one blogger named Zarganar was sentenced to prison for publishing a video of destruction caused by Cyclone Nargis in 2008; Zarganar was released in October...
HIV-positive orphans founded by the comedian Zarganar. Along with fellow rapper Nge Nge, he also visited Zarganar's orphanages to help teach English to the...
often for public expressions of his views. He, alongside Burmese satirist Zarganar and City of Rhyme – a 14-strong hip-hop group from northern Brazil, whose...
Tint Tun Won-Best Actress Award Style Mite Ti Lwin Moe, Yar Zar Ne Win, Zarganar, Soe Myat Nanda, May Thinza Oo 2005 Chit Chin Phwat Met Tar Khin Maung...
were Tony Harrison and the Burmese poet and comedian Maung Thura (a.k.a. Zarganar). In January 2011 Being Harold Pinter, a theatrical collage of excerpts...
Taing Mee Pwar Nandar Hlaing Ta War War Ta Har Har Khin Saw Myo Kyaw Thu, ZarGanar, Su Pan Htwar Tain Kwel See Sar Nay Paing Soe Pyae Thazin Tain Nyunt Sar...
Suu Kyi's opposition National League for Democracy (NLD) party. Comedian Zarganar and star Kyaw Thu brought food and water to the monks. On Saturday, monks...
workers". DW. Deutsche Welle. 29 May 2012. Retrieved 20 January 2024. Zarganar called on Burmese film director, Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi, to oversee the film's...
Kenji Nagai, Japanese photojournalist who was killed during the protests, Zarganar, Burmese comedian and protester U Gambira, a leader of the Buddhist monks...
2010 documentary This Prison Where I Live, featuring the Burmese comedian Zarganar who was imprisoned by his country's military junta for lampooning and criticizing...
Phyu Shin Lu Min Maung Maung Ta Maung Wunna Midi Z Myint Aung Sein Lyan Htun Thu Kha Tin Maung Win Oo Wyne (Own Creator) Zarganar Zin Yaw Maung Maung...
role in the film Bar Ayay Gyi Sone Lae, alongside Kyaw Thu, Lu Min and Zarganar, which screened in Myanmar cinemas in 2001. She then starred in the film...
documentary "This Prison Where I Live" about the detained Myanmar comedian "Zarganar" and the recent film productions "After the Silence" and raised funds for...
Yaza Ne Win, Htun Eaindra Bo, Zaw One, Zarganar, Kutho and Bay Lu Wa. Yaza Ne Win Htun Eaindra Bo Zaw One Zarganar Kutho Bay Lu Wa Zaw Win Htut It was released...
Tony Harrison, poet and playwright International Writer of Courage Award: Zarganar (Maung Thura), Burmese artist PEN Pinter Prize: Hanif Kureishi International...
out of usage) provide entertainment while the minthami changes outfits. Zarganar and Kutho were successful comedians in early anyeint revival. In more recent...
arrested. Many well-known artists from Myanmar (such as Ludu Daw Amar and Zarganar) signed the petition. On 4 January 2007, the 88 Generation Students organized...
laureate Aung San Suu Kyi to demand the release of the Burmese comedian Zarganar and the removal of a work ban imposed on actor U Kyaw Thu. Special Evening...
Bath, UK. Htein Lin Archived 2010-04-30 at the Wayback Machine, Free Zarganar. Htein Lin Papers, International Institute of Social History, Amsterdam...
Myeikson Kabya Mya (1995). His son Thura, better known by his stage name Zarganar, is a well-known comedian. Zon Pann Pwint (19 July 2010). "Poet and writer...
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