Veteran Manipuri audiographer, filmmaker, singer and composer Aribam Shantimo Sharma died on September 27 at the age of 90 following a prolonged illness.
The Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS), where Sharma served for two decades, mourned his death, describing it as a major loss to Manipuri cinema.
Sharma had a career spanning more than three decades and contributed to 19 feature films and 22 non-feature films as an audiographer. He worked with filmmakers across generations and played a significant role in shaping the soundscape of Manipuri cinema.
Among his notable works was Ishanou, the acclaimed feature directed by Aribam Syam Sharma, which received international recognition and was screened in the Cannes Classics section in 2023.
He also collaborated with filmmakers including K. Ibohal Sharma, Oken Amakcham, Makhonmani Mongsaba and Sunzu Bachaspatimayum.
A professionally trained sound engineer, Sharma received training at the Film Centre of the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC) and India Film Lab in Kolkata. He also participated in film-related workshops organised by the then Manipur Film Development Corporation.
Remembered for his quiet professionalism and technical expertise, Sharma’s contribution largely remained behind the scenes but became an integral part of Manipuri cinema. His death has been widely mourned by the state’s film community.