Big budget Konbaung Dynasty film splits Myanmar social media
Last week, one topic filled Myanmar social media: a new film about the Konbaung Dynasty, the country’s last royal family. Shooting has not started yet, but the film’s huge budget and famous cast already have people talking — and arguing. Two companies, Bellarie Production and Shwe Mann Empire Film Production, will make the film together, with director Win Lwin Htet. They plan to shoot it in five parts and spend about 8 to 10 billion kyat, hoping to release it in 2027. A press launch was held recently, and the news spread fast on Facebook. Many people are excited. They welcome the big stars said to be joining, such as Nine Nine, Myint Myat and Tai Ron. “With actors like them, this film will turn out even better,” one Facebook user writes. Another feels national pride: “Neighbouring countries are also filming our history — I want to watch our own country make it like this.” But many others are suspicious. After the 2021 coup, audiences began to boycott films made by companies linked to the military. The best known is 7th Sense Creation, co-owned by junta chief Min Aung Hlaing’s daughter, Khin Thiri Thet Mon, who is under US sanctions. “In such hard economic times, who is spending billions like this? ” one commenter asks. Another adds: “Are these just 7th Sense films coming back under new names?
This article requires PRO
This article is outside the free access window or is a special report. PRO unlocks it and the full archive.
Related articles
- Contributing to productivity of the State through agriculture sector
AS the majority of people living in rural areas depend on agriculture and livestock farming for their livelihoods, the government is implementing poverty reduction and the improve- ment of farmers’ livelihoods as one of
- Customs Dept to auction seized electrical appliances in Taunggyi
THE Taunggyi Township Customs Department will auction electrical appli- ances seized as public property through a com- petitive bidding system. Myanmar citizens are invited to participate in the auction, which will be he
- What has disappeared from a bowl of Mohinga?
Article by – Dr. Moe Thit Nay (Ayeyarwaddy Times, October 4) In 1996, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wrote in her essay “Breakfast Blues” that Mohinga, once abundant with fried items, fish, eggs, and coriander, was gradually losing its ingredients and nutritional value due to rising prices. Now, 30 years later, in a time when military leaders are doing as they please with the country, we are again faced with the need to ask the same question. What has disappeared from a bowl of Mohinga? Mohinga is a representative dish of Myanmar. It is a food deeply ingrained in the daily lives of Myanmar people, evoking morning memories, the Mohinga stall on the street corner, hot fried items, and fragrant fish broth. However, if you look closely at a bowl of Mohinga, you can see the nutritional status, household income, commodity prices, food availability, and the country's economic situation reflected in that bowl. The question “What has disappeared from a bowl of Mohinga?
- Bago’s 3 Fisheries Yield 122M Viss in 6 Months
FISH farmers from three major fisheries sectors in Bago Region-freshwa- ter aquaculture, inland fisheries and common fishing grounds- produced and distributed a total of 122,636,987 viss of fish during the first six mont