Cultural historian Jane M. Ferguson notes, 'Changing technology and expanding consumer demand inspired entrepreneurs to build more permanent homes for this new popular entertainment.'
[4] Burma's first film was a recording of the funeral of Tun Shein - a leading politician of the 1910s, who campaigned for Burmese independence in London.
He hired Nyi Pu (Burma's first actor) to shoot the first Burmese silent film Myitta Ne Thuya (Love and Liquor) which proved a major success, despite its poor quality due to a fixed camera position and inadequate film accessories.
Fox of America asked for Burmese nature study scenes and bought them from Ohn Maung.
Some of the famous directors of this era were Nyi Pu, Sunny, Tote Kyi, and Tin Pe.
[6] The first Burmese sound film was produced in 1932 in Bombay, India with the title Ngwe Pay Lo Ma Ya (Money Can't Buy It) and directed by Tote Kyi.
There were also films that were banned like Do Daung Lan (Our Peacock Flag) in 1936 and Aung Thabyay (The Triumphant Jambul) in 1937.
The film Palè Myetyay (Tear of Pearl), produced in the wake of the Kuomintang invasion of Burma in the 1950s, highlighted the importance of the armed forces or Tatmadaw to the country.
The government issues strict rules on censorship and largely determines who produces films, as well as who gets academy awards.
[10] Another issue plaguing the Burmese cinema is a steep decline in the number of theatres in which to screen the films.
[15] The movie also starred a real Burmese Spiritualist medium, U Hla Aye, who died after his part of the shooting was done.