KellyePoindexter at 19:10, 1 February 2026

2026-02-01T19:10:30Z

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{{Short description|Indian film director}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Aribam Syam Sharma
| image = Director of the Manipuri film ‘Ishanou’ Aribam Syam Sharma at the presentation of the film on Nov.27,2007 at IFFI,Panaji, Goa (cropped).jpg
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1936|03|21}}
| birth_place = [[Imphal]], [[Manipur]], India
| occupation = Film director, Singer, Music composer
| awards = [[Golden Montgolfiere]] (1982)<br/>[[Padma Shri]] (2006)<br/>V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award (2008)<br/>[[Kamal Kumari National Award]] (2009)<br/>Jewel of Manipuri Cinema (2015)
| website = {{URL|aribamsyamsharma.in}}
| imagesize =
}}

'''Aribam Syam Sharma''' is an Indian filmmaker and composer from [[Manipur]]. He debuted in the first Manipuri film ''[[Matamgi Manipur]]'' as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie ''[[Lamja Parshuram]]''. It became the first Manipuri film to run for 100 days in the box office. His 1979 film ''[[Olangthagee Wangmadasoo]]'' was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for 32 weeks.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74f9c964|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508093755/https://www2.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4ce2b74f9c964|url-status=dead|archive-date=8 May 2021|title=Olangthagee Wangmadasoo (1979)|website=BFI}}</ref> It also broke the local box office records of ''Sholay''.

His fourth film as a director, [[Imagi Ningthem|''Imagi Ningthem'' (My Son, My precious)]] brought him international recognition when the film received the [[Golden Montgolfiere|''Montgolfiere d' Or'']] at the [[Three Continents Festival|''Festival of Three Continents'']], Nantes in 1982.

His 1990 film [[The Chosen One (1990 film)|''Ishanou'' (The Chosen One)]] was screened in the [[Un Certain Regard]] section at the [[1991 Cannes Film Festival]].<ref name="festival-cannes.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.festival-cannes.com/en/archives/ficheFilm/id/131/year/1991.html |title=Festival de Cannes: The Chosen One |access-date=2009-08-10|work=festival-cannes.com}}</ref>

In 2006, the Government of India awarded Sharma with the [[Padmashri]],<ref name="Padma Awards">{{cite web|url=http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |title=Padma Awards |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |date=2015 |access-date=21 July 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151015193758/http://mha.nic.in/sites/upload_files/mha/files/LST-PDAWD-2013.pdf |archive-date=15 October 2015 }}</ref> but he returned the award in February 2019 to protest against the Indian Government's decision to enact the [[Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019|Citizenship Amendment Bill]] of 2019.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/society/indigenous-people-will-become-strangers-in-their-own-lands-aribam-syam-sharma/article26215177.ece|title= Indigenous people will become strangers in their own lands: Aribam Syam Sharma|newspaper=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/veteran-manipuri-filmmaker-aribam-syam-sharma-returns-2006-padma-shri-award-in-protest-against-citiz-1987613|title=Veteran Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma returns Padma Shri Award in protest against Citizenship Amendment Bill|website=www.ndtv.com}}</ref>

In recognition of his contribution in the Indian documentary cinema, the Government of India conferred him ''Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award'' in the 10th Mumbai International Film Festival, 2008 organised by the Films Division.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://imphalreviews.in/aribam-syam-sharma-a-genius-in-the-world-of-indian-cinema/|title=Aribam Syam Sharma: A Genius in the World of Indian Cinema|author=MEGHACHANDRA KONGBAM|website=imphalreviews.in}}</ref> Syam Sharma was given the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 7th Manipur State Film Festival 2010. He was also conferred with the ''Jewel of Manipuri Cinema'' award on 14 May 2015 by the Film Forum Manipur and the Manipur State Film Development Society.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ifp.co.in/page/items/26544/jewel-of-manipuri-cinema-2015-award-to-be-conferred-to-aribam-shyam-sharma|title=Jewel of Manipuri Cinema 2015 award to be conferred to Aribam Syam Sharma|newspaper=Imphal Free Press}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Feature films===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1972||''[[Matamgi Manipur]]''||Actor, Music Director||First Manipuri full-length feature film. The movie bagged the President's Medal at the [[20th National Film Awards]].
|-
|1974||''[[Lamja Parshuram]]''||Director, Music Director||His debut film as a director.
|-
|1976||''[[Saaphabee]]''||Director||Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the [[24th National Film Awards]].
|-
|1979||''[[Olangthagee Wangmadasoo]]''||Director||Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the [[27th National Film Awards]].
|-
|1981||''[[Imagi Ningthem]]''||Director, Music Director||First Indian film to win Grand Prix Award at Nantes. Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the [[29th National Film Awards]].
|-
|1983||''[[Paokhum Ama]]''||Director||Screened at Tyneside International Film Festival, U.K.
|-
|1990||''[[Ishanou]]''||Director, Music Director||Screened at the [[Un Certain Regard]] section of the 1991 Cannes International Film Festival. Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the [[38th National Film Awards]].
|-
|1995||''[[Sanabi (film)|Sanabi]]''||Director, Music Director||Selected for Cairo International Film Festival, Egypt and IFFI. Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the [[43rd National Film Awards]].
|-
|1998||''Shingnaba''||Director||Film on superstitions and beliefs in Manipur and HIV menace.
|-
|2000||''[[Paari (2000 film)|Paari]]''||Director||First Manipuri children film.
|-
|2003||''[[Ashangba Nongjabi]]''||Director, Producer, Music Director||Adapted from [[M. K. Binodini Devi]]'s famous 1966 play of the same title.
|-
|2008||''Crossroads''||Director||Film on a group of friends and their aspirations to establish a rock band in Manipur.
|-
|2011||''Miraang''||Director||Based on Arambam Samarendra's play of the same title.
|-
|2012||''[[Leipaklei]]''||Director||Screened at [[Jeonju International Film Festival]], South Korea. Best Feature Film in Manipuri at the [[60th National Film Awards]].
|-
|2013||''Dasha''||Director||Based on Arambam Samarendra's play of the same title.
|-
|2019||''[[Nongphadok Lakpa Atithi]]''||Music Director, Screenplay Writer, Director||Premiered at the 3rd Guwahati_International_Film_Festival as the Opening Film of the Indian Section.
|}

===Non-feature films===
{| class="wikitable"
! Year !! ''Title'' !! Role !! Notes
|-
|1980||''Sanaleibak Manipur''||Director||Best Documentary Film in the Non-Feature category at the First Manipuri State Film Festival 1984.
|-
|1986||''[[Tales of Courage (film)|Tales of Courage]]''||Director||Deals with the freedom struggle movement in Manipur, emphasising on the role of Manipuri women in the resistance against the British rule.
|-
|rowspan="3"|1988||''Sangai: The Dancing Deer of Manipur''||Director||Bagged five merit awards in the 12th International Wildlife Film Festival, Montana, U.S.A. Declared Outstanding Film of the Year by British Film Institute, London.
|-
|''Keibul Lamjao National Park''||Director||Bagged the Best Documentary Film in 2nd Manipur State Film Awards 1994.
|-
|''Koro Kosii''||Director||Participated in Indian Panorama of IFFI 1989. Screened at Indian Film Week, Hungary, 1989 and Bombay International Film Festival 1989.
|-
|1989||''The Deer on the Lake''||Director||National Film Award for Best Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film at the [[37th National Film Awards]].
|-
|1990||''Indigenous Games of Manipur''||Director||National Film Award for Best Exploration/Adventure Film at the [[38th National Film Awards]].
|-
|rowspan="2"|1991||''Meitei Pung''||Director||Special Mention Award at the [[39th National Film Awards]].
|-
|''Lai Haraoba''||Director||Official selection in the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI), 1992.
|-
|1993
|''[[Orchids of Manipur (film)|Orchids of Manipur]]''||Director||Best Environment/Conservation/Preservation Film at the 41st National Film Awards. Screened at the [[Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival]] 2019, Japan. Participated in International Wildlife Film Festival, Morocco, 1994.
|-
|1995||''[[Yelhou Jagoi]]''||Director||National Film Award for Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film at the [[43rd National Film Awards]]. Opening film of the Indian Panorama of the IFFI in 1996. Screened at the [[Yamagata International Documentary Film Festival]] 2019, Japan.
|-
|1998||''Loktak: The Dying Lake of Manipur''||Director||
|-
|rowspan="2"|1999||''Thang-Ta: The Martial Art of Manipur''||Director||National Film Award for Best Arts/Cultural Film at the [[47th National Film Awards]].
|-
|''The Marams''||Director||Participated at Indian Panorama of IFFI, 2000; Mumbai International Film Festival 2000 in Competition Section and Kathmandu International Mountain Film Festival, 2000.
|-
|2001||''The Monpas of Arunachal Pradesh''||Director||Best Anthropological/Ethnographic Film at the [[49th National Film Awards]].
|-
|rowspan="2"|2002||''M.K. Binodini''||Director||Documents the life of the renowned writer [[M. K. Binodini Devi]].
|-
|''The Golden Hands''||Director||A film on Manipuri traditional handloom continuing an age old cultural tradition.
|-
|rowspan="2"|2003||''Pandit Khelchandra''||Director||
|-
|''Binodini: A Writer's Life''||Director||
|-
|2004||''Neelamani: The Master Potter of Manipur''||Director||Documents the life and achievements of the famous potter of Manipur [[Neelamani Devi]].
|-
|2005||''Guru Laimayum Thambalngoubi Devi''||Director||National Film Award for Best Biographical Film at the [[54th National Film Awards]].
|-
|2007||''[[Rajarshi Bhagyachandra of Manipur]]''||Director||Selected for Indian Panorama in the non-feature section of the [[38th International Film Festival of India]] 2007.
|-
|rowspan="2"|2008||''Mr. Manipur''||Director||Screened at the Mahindra Indo-American Arts Council (MIAAC) Film Festival 2008.
|-
|''Leirol''||Director||A non-feature film on the oral folk literature describing flowers.
|-
|2009||''Sankirtan of Manipur''||Director||
|-
|2011||''Leaders from the Below''||Director||
|-
|2012||''[[Manipuri Pony (film)|Manipuri Pony]]''||Director||National Film Award for Best Exploration/Adventure Film (Including sports) at the [[60th National Film Awards]].
|-
|2014||''Kangla''||Director||
|-
|2018||''Raas Leelas of Manipur''||Director||Won the Best Non-Feature Film Award at the 12th Manipur State Film Awards 2019.
|-
|2019||''E. Sonamani Singh''||Director||
|-
|2022||''Khumanthem Prakash Singh''||Music Director, Script & Director|| Won the Best Biographical / Arts & Culture Film Award at the 15th Manipur State Film Awards 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thenortheastaffairs.com/manipur-state-film-awards-declared-m-nilamani-wins-lifetime-achievement-award/|title=Manipur State Film Awards declared; M Nilamani wins Lifetime Achievement Award|website=thenortheastaffairs.com}}</ref>
|}

==Bibliography==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Work
! Ref.
|-
|2006
|''Living Shadows''
|<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=features.Profile_of_Manipuri_Personalities.Donny_Luwang.Aribam_Syam_Film|title=Aribam Syam Sharma - Life sketch (Awarded Padmashree in the year 2006)|last=Luwang|first=Donny Meisnam|publisher=E-pao|access-date=1 February 2010}}</ref>
|-
|rowspan="2"|2014
|''Eshei Binodinigi''
|
|-
|''Modern Manipuri Music and Me''
|
|-
|2016
|''Manipuri Cinema: Eigi Paodam''
|<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/Archive/chronicle/2016/December/04-12-2016/Page_4.pdf|title=Book Review|via=The People's Chronicle|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-date=13 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113113453/http://www.thepeopleschronicle.in/Archive/chronicle/2016/December/04-12-2016/Page_4.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
|2022
|''Critics on Indian Cinema''
|<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=16..050122.jan22|title=Legendary filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma to release new book|access-date=5 January 2022|website=e-pao.net}}</ref>
|-
|}

==In popular culture==
Documentary films focussing on the life and the filmmaking career of Aribam Syam Sharma was made by Gurumayum Nirmal Sharma and Thoudam Brajabidhu.

Another non-feature film on the filmmaker titled ''[[Pabung Syam]]'' was also made in 2020 by [[Haobam Paban Kumar]] and produced by [[Films Division of India]]. The film was selected at the [[52nd International Film Festival of India]] 2021 in the non-feature section of Indian Panorama.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thenewsmill.com/five-films-from-northeast-in-iffis-indian-panorama/|title=Five films from Northeast in IFFI's Indian Panorama|website=The News Mill}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0788860}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in Art}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharma, Aribam Syam}}
[[Category:Meitei Brahmins]]
[[Category:Brahmins of Manipur]]
[[Category:Film directors from Manipur]]
[[Category:1936 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from Imphal]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in arts]]
[[Category:Indian documentary filmmakers]]
[[Category:Indian autobiographers]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian people]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian people]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from Manipur]]
[[Category:Musicians from Manipur]]

Aribam Syam Sharma - Revision history

KellyePoindexter at 19:10, 1 February 2026