Biography

Aribam Syam Sharma is an Indian film director and composer from Manipur in India. He debuted in the first Manipuri film Matamgi Manipur as an actor. In 1974, he directed his first movie Lamja Parshuram. Lamja Parshuram became the first Manipuri film to run for 100 days in the box office. His 1980 film Olangthagee Wangmadasoo was the first ever and the only Manipuri film to run for 32 weeks. It also broke the local box office records of Sholay. His fourth film as a director, Imagi Ningthem (My Son, My precious) brought him international recognition when the film received the Montgolfiere d' Or at the Festival of Three Continents, Nantes in 1982.

His 1990 film Ishanou (The Chosen One) was screened in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1991 Cannes Film Festival. Ishanou was restored by Film Heritage Foundation and the restored film was selected for a red-carpet world premiere at the classics section of Cannes Film Festival 2023.

He was honoured with the Padmashri in 2006. But, he returned the award in February 2019 to protest against the Indian Government's decision to enact the Citizenship Amendment Bill, 2019.

In recognition of his contribution in the Indian documentary cinema, Government of India conferred him Dr. V. Shantaram Lifetime Achievement Award in the 10th Mumbai International Film Festival, 2008 organised by the Films Division. 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.