The 14th Manipur State Film Development Society (MSFDS) Lifetime Achievement Award, 2022 will be conferred to renowned filmmaker and lyricist Laimayum Banka Sharma.
Banka has been nominated for the lifetime achievement award in honour of his immensely valuable contributions towards the growth of Manipuri cinema, according to MSFDS. The award carries a Maibi memento, citation, shawl and cash prize of Rs 1 lakh.
Hailing from Uripok Machin Khwai Brahmapur, Banka was born on December 11, 1945 to late L Rajbapu Sharma and Laimayum ongbi Ibempishak.
Banka, 76, has been associated with Manipuri films since the first Manipuri feature film ‘Matamgi Manipur‘ though he was not a part of the film crew.
He even assisted director Debkumar Bose through suggestions for particular scenes of the film to capture the right emotions, especially in the classic number ‘Eigi Punshi Nangga’.
Banka was at his peak of popularity after he took on board ‘Nightingale of Bollywood/India’ Lata Mangeshkar, as a playback singer for his ‘Meichak’ and later ‘Madhabee’.
Always with an aura of self-esteem, Banka said that he always wanted to be “The Captain” in the production of a film. So far, he has directed several timeless films such as Wangma Wangma, Yairipok Thambalnu, Meichak, Madhabee, Poppy and Laman among others. He also made short films including ‘Carpenter and his Wife’ and ‘Mitsna’.
He was also among the early Manipuris who went to Mumbai to receive professional film schooling. He was trained in editing from Film and Television Institute in 1971 though he did not complete the entire course.
