Manipur: Legendary theatre icon Ratan Thiyam to receive Lifetime Achievement award

Guwahati: The Shriram Bharatiya Kala Kendra (SBKK) will honour legendary Manipuri theatre icon Ratan Thiyam with the Sumitra Charat Ram Award for Lifetime Achievement 2025, recognising his pioneering contributions that transformed the landscape of modern Indian theatre.

The award will be conferred posthumously at a ceremony scheduled for Monday at the Kamani Auditorium, officials confirmed.

Instituted in 2010, the award celebrates artists who have dedicated their lives to nurturing India’s cultural heritage. This year’s presentation, beginning at 6.30 pm on November 17, the birth anniversary of SBKK founder Sumitra Charat Ram, marks the first time the institution is honouring a theatre personality.

“Ratan Thiyam’s vision reshaped contemporary theatre and gave it a universal language,” said Minaakshi S Dass, trustee of SBKK. “Although we have honoured maestros from music and dance over the years, this is the first time we are recognising a theatre artist. His son, Thawai Thiyam, will receive the award on his behalf.”

Thiyam, who passed away on July 23, had earlier accepted the award and intended to attend the event. Organisers said they expect his wife to attend the ceremony, turning it into an emotional tribute for the theatre fraternity.

Over a career spanning more than five decades, Thiyam emerged as one of India’s most influential theatre practitioners. As the founder of Chorus Repertory Theatre in Imphal in 1976, he developed a distinctive performance grammar that blended Manipuri dance, martial arts, ritual traditions, music, and visual design, while speaking to global audiences through themes of spirituality, philosophy, and human struggle.

His landmark production Chakravyuha, a reinterpretation of Abhimanyu’s final battle, earned critical acclaim worldwide and elevated Indian theatre on the global stage.

Productions such as Uttar Priyadarshi, Andha Yug, and Chinglon Mapan Tampak Ama further showcased his talent for crafting visually arresting spectacles marked by bold compositions, meditative pauses, and evocative lighting.

Thiyam’s work consistently bridged classical Indian thought with contemporary crises, often responding to Manipur’s conflicts with reflections on peace, identity, and collective suffering.

His contributions earned him the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, the Padma Shri, and recognition as one of India’s foremost cultural ambassadors.

Organisers said awarding Thiyam under the name of Sumitra Charat Ram creates a convergence of two cultural pillars: Ram, who envisioned the arts as a civilisational force, and Thiyam, who preserved artistic traditions while mentoring emerging performers.

Following the award presentation by SBKK chairperson Shobha Deepak Singh, audiences will witness Kanupriya Thiyam’s adaptation of Dharamvir Bharati’s celebrated poem, performed by Chorus Repertory Theatre.

The production, shaped entirely by Thiyam, from translation and design to direction, explores Radha’s inner turmoil as she revisits her eternal bond with Krishna.

The evening will also showcase an exhibition of rare photographs of Thiyam’s productions captured by Singh.