Ratan Thiyam, the internationally acclaimed theatre director and founder of Chorus Repertory Theatre, died Wednesday morning at RIMS hospital in Imphal after a brief illness. He was 77.
Born on January 20, 1948, in Imphal West district to dancers Tarun Kumar and Bilasini Devi, Thiyam became one of India’s most significant theatre practitioners and a leading figure in the “theatre of roots” movement.
From Novelist to Theatre Innovator
Thiyam originally worked as a novelist and painter before transitioning to theatre in the early 1970s after training at the National School of Drama. He founded Chorus Repertory Theatre in Imphal in 1976, which became his primary vehicle for theatrical innovation over three decades.
His approach to theatre emphasized visual storytelling over traditional narrative structures. “I paint and I erase. I paint and I erase. Again and again. But the impressions remain even after erasure and come up as unseen layers in the work,” Thiyam explained in a 2007 interview with Amrita Shah for The Indian Express.
International Recognition
Thiyam gained international attention for productions including Chakravyuha, Uttar Priyadarshi, Urubhangam, and Blind Age. His work Chakravyuha won the Fringe First Award at the Edinburgh International Festival in 1987.
The New York Times described his work as “luminous,” and prominent international directors including Peter Brook, Tadashi Suzuki, and Eugenio Barba recognized him as a major theatrical talent. His productions toured extensively across India, Europe, and North America.
Artistic Vision
Thiyam’s productions were known for their minimal sets, striking use of color, and integration of traditional Manipuri art forms including Thang-Ta martial arts and Nata Sankirtana ritual dance. He created what he called a “composite art” that combined multiple theatrical elements.
“Theatre must touch the senses,” he said in the 2007 interview. His productions featured carefully composed visual scenes with monochromatic color schemes and choreographed movement rather than conventional dialogue-driven narratives.
Cultural and Political Stance
Thiyam was an outspoken advocate for Northeast India’s cultural recognition. In 2001, he returned his Padma Shri award in protest against the government’s handling of the deteriorating situation in Manipur.
“We read about Nehru and Sardar Patel and others in our schoolbooks but is there any mention of Manipuri heroes in your textbooks?” he asked in the 2007 interview, highlighting what he saw as cultural marginalization of the Northeast.
He served as Chairman of the National School of Drama and Vice Chairman of the Sangeet Natak Akademi. The Manipur government honored him with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Legacy
Thiyam’s work bridged traditional Manipuri culture with contemporary theatre, creating a distinctive theatrical language that influenced Indian experimental theatre. His approach of integrating regional art forms with universal themes became a model for theatre practitioners across India.
Thiyam’s productions continue to be performed by Chorus Repertory Theatre. He leaves behind a significant body of work that established him as a major figure in post-independence Indian theatre.
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