Shariff Bin Ismail (Shariff Medan)

Shariff bin Ismail (1910, Medan, Indonesia–1997, Singapore), known as Shariff Medan, was a distinguished figure in the Malay performing arts. He was a master of bangsawan (Malay opera) and subsequently expanded into film. He was cast in notable roles in several early Malay films, such as Leila Majnun (1934). From the 1950s to the 1970s, Shariff penned and produced a myriad of scripts for Cathay-Keris Films, before working in television and radio.

Early Life
Born in Medan, Indonesia, Shariff Medan was raised in Penang and Aceh. Despite the challenges in his family environment, he was introduced early to bangsawan. This was a performing art form that was originally enjoyed by royalty but later became popular, particularly among the Peranakans and wealthy Malays.

Career in the Performing Arts
Shariff Medan’s career in the performing arts began in the 1930s, when he became involved in bangsawan, taking on various roles, including female parts. He eventually became known for his portrayal of heroic characters, or the orang muda.

His success in bangsawan opened doors to the world of motion picture, then a burgeoning art form. His first major film role came in 1932 with Samarang (Out of the Sea), an overseas production with scenes set in Singapore, and this marked a significant shift in his career. He went on to star in Leila Majnun (1934), possibly the earliest Malay film produced in Singapore.

During the Japanese Occupation, the bangsawan scene was temporarily disrupted. After the war, he toured Malaya, Borneo, Sabah and Sarawak before returning to Singapore in 1952 with the Grand Jubilee Opera. He soon transitioned to the film industry, starring in Buluh Perindu (The Magic Flute; 1953), the first Malay film in colour.

In 1954, Shariff Medan joined Cathay-Keris Films, where he became a prolific scriptwriter and producer, crafting numerous scripts for the studio. Following the closure of Cathay-Keris Films in 1973, Shariff became a writer and adviser for radio and television programmes, as well as starred in the 1970s Malay television series Sandiwara.

Death
In 1997, he passed away in Singapore at age 87.

To learn more about the history of bangsawan in the region from Shariff Medan, you can access his oral history interview here.

Author
Mohammad Rashikin Bin Rajah

References
1. This article is adapted from: TributeSG, “Shariff Medan,” Esplanade Offstage, 12 October 2016, https://www.esplanade.com/offstage/arts/shariff-medan.

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The information in this article is valid as of October 2025 and correct as far as we are able to ascertain from our sources. It is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete history of the subject. Please contact the Library for further reading materials on the topic. If you have any feedback on this article, please submit it here.