Ratan Thiyam: Difference between revisions

| known_for = [[BirbhumChorus BlossomRepertory Theatre]]

| occupation = playwrightPlaywright, theatreTheatre directorDirector<br />Founder ''Chorus Repertory Theatre'', 1976

'''Ratan Thiyam''' (born 20 January 1948) is an [[Demographics of India|Indian]] playwright and theatre director, and the winner of [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in 1987, one of leading figures of the "''theatre of roots''" movement in [[Indian theatre]], which started in the 1970s.<ref name=co>[[#Co|Cody, p. 1348]]</ref> Also known as Thiyam Nemai, Ratan Thiyam is known for writing and staging plays that use ancient [[Theatre in India|Indian theatre]] traditions and forms in a contemporary context.<ref>[http://manipuronline.com/Profiles/thiyam.htm Thiyam Nemai] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070706071507/http://www.manipuronline.com/Profiles/thiyam.htm |date= 6 July 2007 }}</ref> A former painter, and proficient in direction, design, script and music, Thiyam is often considered one of leading contemporary theatre gurus.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=950CE2DC1130F937A25753C1A9609C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all Theater in Review – 'Nine Hills One Valley'] by Jason Zinoman, [[New York Times]]'', 14 October 2006.</ref>

PresentlyHe he is workingworked as Chairperson of the prestigious [[National School of Drama]] from 2013-2017. He had also worked as Vice-Chairman of [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]] before joining NSD. He has also worked as Director of National School of Drama from 1987 to 1989. He is also the founder-director of ''Chorus Repertory Theatre'', formed on the outskirts of [[Imphal]], Manipur in 1976.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121104012601/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2008/12/30/stories/2008123050210600.htm The world's a stage: Theatredoyen Ratan Thiyam on how he conquers space] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 30 December 2008.</ref> He was awarded the [[Sangeet Natak Akademi Award]] in Direction in 1987, given by [[Sangeet Natak Akademi]], India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama, and the [[Padma Shri]] given by [[Government of India]] in 1989. He was awarded the 2012 [[List of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellows|Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship]], the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Sangeet Natak Akademi, India's National Academy for Music, Dance and Drama. In the year 2013, Ratan Thiyam receives honorary D.lit from Assam University, Silchar.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://zeenews.india.com/entertainment/art-and-theatre/india-needs-many-more-regional-schools-of-theatre-nsd-chairperson-ratan-thiyam_148181.html|title=India needs many more regional schools of theatre: NSD chairperson Ratan Thiyam|date=2013-12-23|work=Zee News|access-date=2018-01-19|language=en}}</ref>

Ratan Thiyam graduated from [[National School of Drama]], New Delhi in 1974,.<ref>[http://www.nsd.gov.in/Annual_Report_2005-06.pdf NSD Graduates] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718213711/http://www.nsd.gov.in/Annual_Report_2005-06.pdf |date=18 July 2011 }}</ref>

His production of [[Ajneya]]'s ''Uttar Priyadarshi'' in [[Meitei language|Meitei]] was staged at the 1st [[Bharat Rang Mahotsav]] (BRM), the annual theatre festival of [[National School of Drama]] (NSD), Delhi in 1999.,<ref>{{cite news |title=All the world's classics, on a stage |url=http://www.indianexpress.com/ie/daily/19990318/ile18004.html |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] |date=18 March 1999}}</ref> his presentation of [[Kalidasa]]'s epic poem ''[[Ritusamhaara|Ritusamharam]]'' was closing production of 4th BRM in 2002.,<ref>{{cite web |title=BHARAT RANG MAHOTSAV : A RETROSPECTIVE|author= Kavita Nagpal |url=http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2002/fapr2002/f170420021.html |date=16 April 2002 |publisher=Press Information Bureau ([[Govt. of India]]) }}</ref> subsequently the 10th BRM in 2008, which also marked the golden jubilee of NSD, opened at [[Kamani Auditorium]], New Delhi, with a performance was "''Prologue"'', the first part of his "''Manipur Trilogy"'', when all past alumni has gathered for the festival.<ref>[http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/Culture_Cauldron/National_School_of_Drama_celebrates_golden_jubilee_in_style/rssarticleshow/2694072.cms National School of Drama celebrates golden jubilee in style] [[The Economic Times]], 12 January 2008.</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Celebrating 50 years of NSD|author=Manisha Jha|url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/27/stories/2007122750620200.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071230102238/http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/27/stories/2007122750620200.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 December 2007 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=27 December 2007 |location=Chennai, India}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/the-graduates/255144/|title=The Graduates|date=28 December 2007|newspaper=Indian Express|access-date=2 April 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004221012/http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/the-graduates/255144/|archive-date=4 October 2012|df=dmy-all}}</ref> The 12th BRM in January 2010 featured Ratan Thiyam's "''When we Dead Awaken"''.<ref>{{cite news |title=Talking theatre|url=http://www.thehindu.com/features/friday-review/theatre/article74498.ece |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=2 January 2010 |location=Chennai, India |first=P. |last=Anima}}</ref>

His works are strongly influenced by [[Natya Shastra of Bharata|Natya Sastra]], an Indian theatre style propounded by [[Bharata Muni|Bharata]] during the second century B.C., as also [[Theatre of ancient Greece|ancient Greek drama]], and the [[Noh]] theatre of Japan. His approach to theatre has been shaped by years of study under the tutelage of several major exponents of the traditional Meitei performing arts. Thiyam is also known for his use of traditional martial arts, of [[Thang-Ta]] in his plays, such as in ''[[Urubhangam]]'' (Broken Thigh), of Sanskrit playwright [[Bhāsa]] itself based on an episode from epic, the ''[[Mahabharata]]'', which along with ''Chakravyuh'' (Army Formation) is considered one of his finest works.<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=maGU4ziPQJQC&pg=PA146&dq=ratan+thiyam&as_brrpg=0PA146 India – Ratan Thiyam] ''The World Encyclopedia of Contemporary Theatre: Asia/Pacific'', by Don Rubin. Published by Taylor & Francis, 2001. {{ISBN|0-415-26087-6}}. ''Page 146''.</ref> In 1986, he adapted Jean Anouilh's "Antigone" as ''Lengshonnei'', a comment on the personal behaviour of politicians, failing to handle political situation in the state.<ref name=co/> ''Uttar Priyadarshi'' (The Final Beatitude), an adaptation of Hindi verse play by playwright and poet [[Agyeya]] in 1996, based on a story of redemption of King [[Ashoka]], a man's struggle against his own inner dark side and a plea for peace, knowing its impact on future generation. The play has since travelled to many parts of the South Asia, Australia and the US.<ref name=ba/><ref>{{cite news |title=Next Wave Festival Review; In Stirring Ritual Steps, Past and Present Unfold|author=Margo Jefferson|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?pagewanted=print&res=990ce6dc1131f934a15753c1a9669c8b63 |newspaper=New York Times |date=27 October 2000 }}</ref>

==List of Playsplays==

[[File:The Shrine at Chorus.jpg|thumb|160px|'The Shrine', the main theatre of Ratan Thiyam's Chorus Repertory, Imphal]]

* ''Ritusamharam'' (''[[Ritusamhaara|Ritusamharam]]'' by Sanskrit playwright [[Kalidasa]])<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050204151236/http://www.hindu.com/mag/2005/01/30/stories/2005013000450500.htm "Real art attacks the wrong system" and director-playwright Ratan Thiyam's plays bear testimony to his words] ''[[The Hindu]]'', 30 January 2005</ref>

* ''Ashibagee Eshei'' (based on [[When We Dead Awaken]], by Norwegian playwright [[Henrik Ibsen]]) (2008)<ref>[http://www.e-pao.net/epSubPageExtractor.asp?src=reviews.theatre.When_We_Dead_Awaken Delhi Ibsen Festival : When We Dead Awaken – Play]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130203175734/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1090306/jsp/northeast/story_10626902.jsp Another play by Ratan Thiyam, another astonishing splash.] ''[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]]'', 6 March 2009.</ref>

''Some Roots Grow Upwards'' a 2003 documentary by Kavita Joshi and Malati Rao, was based on the life and work of Ratan Thiyam, especially his political ideologies, and his use of theatre as medium of political protest.<ref>[http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/files/13357/10675953141open_frame_report.rtf/open_frame_report.rtf Open Frame 2003– August 21–27 2003] [[India Habitat Centre]], New Delhi.</ref>

[[Category:Academic staff of the National School of Drama faculty]]