Renowned Theatre Icon & Padma Shri Ratan Thiyam Passes Away at 77

Renowned theatre personality and Padma Shri awardee Ratan Thiyam died at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences in Imphal, Manipur, on 23 July 2025 after a prolonged illness. He was 77 years old.

Ratan Thiyam, from Manipur, was one of the three pioneers of the “theatre of roots movement” in the country, along with Habib Tanvir and B.V. Karanth.

The passing away of Ratan Thiyam was condoled by Chief Minister of Assam Himanta Biswa Sarma, Chief Minister of West Bengal Mamata Banerjee and other eminent theatre personalities of India.

Pioneer of Manipur’s Theatre of Root Movement 

Theatre of root movement refers to the effort undertaken in the 60s and 70s to create a nationalistic theatre movement that aimed to create a national identity for the Indian theatre.  The content was heavily inspired by the region’s distinct traditional theatrical elements in dances, rituals, festivals, martial arts, popular entertainment and was seamlessly integrated with the professional standards of modern European theatre as established during the colonial era.

Thus, each region of India developed its own distinct style of theatre.

Ratan Thiyam is credited with artistically blending traditional Manipuri art with modern theatre, thereby putting the traditional Manipuri theatre on the global map.

Work of Ratan Thiyam

Ratan Thiyam passed out from the prestigious National School of Drama in 1974.

In 1976, he went to Imphal and established the Chorus Repertory Institute in1976. 

In his theatrical work, Ratan Thiyam utilised the traditional Manipuri dance and music, as well as its martial art, Thang-Ta, and blended them with modern theatre.

Thiyam’s works include Uttar Priyadarshi, Chakravyuha, Lengshonnei (an adaptation of Antigone), and a Manipuri adaptation of Shakespeare's famous work  Macbeth.

His theatre addressed social and political issues of Manipur, touching upon the ethnic conflicts in the state to the  universal themes of war and humanity. Thiyam used his art to champion Manipur’s diverse heritage. 

Awards and Honours for Ratan Thiyem 

• Padma Shri - India’s fourth-highest civilian award in 1989
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Award for Direction in 1987
• Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship in 2012,
• Kalidas Samman in 2005 and 
• La Grande Medaille of France in 1997.

Position in National School of Drama 

• Director from 1987 to 1988.
• Chairperson from 2013 to 2017.