The once top star Daw May Shin died of pulmonary edema at her residence in Aung Daw Mu Ward, Mandalay. She was 91.

"Doctors at the hospital diagnosed her with 'pulmonary edema' and told her family members to take her back home where she died. She was hospitalized on Saturday and died on Wednesday," a nephew of Daw May Shin said.

She became famous at 18 as a singer and was awarded the 'Wunnu Kyaw Htin' title for her religious services. She was given the title at Maha Myat Muni Buddha image in Mandalay.

She entered the world of celluloid by first acting in 'Physarshin' a film produced by Rangoon based A1 Film Company along with co-star Yegaung Chit Swe.

The woman writer 'Win Win Myint-Nandaw Shay' wrote the biography of the famous actress and singer in the times of A1 Film and A1 Records under the title 'Pan da bwint ye yin khone than'.

Her other famous films are 'Phusarshin', 'Mhyar Nat Maung' (Cupid), 'Chit Tha Mhyar', 'Saung Daw Shin', 'Chein Tan Be', 'May Thwar Dar'. And her famous and hit songs are 'Shin Thi Wili', 'Pyo Hmar Tan', 'Thaw Dar Ngwe Min', 'Shwe Inn Wa', 'Parimidaw', 'Myat Lay Ngone', 'Kyay Say Taman' and 'Chit Phet Thet Lyar'.

May Shin a.k.a. Ma Than Shin was born to U Khin Lay and Daw Phwar Yun in Mandalay on March 10, 1917 and she was the youngest of five siblings. Her elder sisters are Daw Chit Su, Daw Chit Oo, Daw Thein Chit and Daw Phwar Yin.

Mandalay FM station has started airing her songs today in her memory. She will be buried at the 'Kyar Ni Kan' cemetery tomorrow at 3 p.m.