IMPHAL, August 18: Internationally renowned dramaturge and director par excellence, Ratan Thiyam, has been appointed as the chairperson of the National School of Drama, NSD, New Delhi, according to a reliable source in New Delhi.
Thiyam’s theatre group, Chorus Repertory Theatre, tours the world routinely, enthralling the theatre world with refreshing interpretations of classics as well as his own scripts, which have been described by critics as rich with poetic metaphors and characterised by a unique brand of enchanting lyricism.
When contacted by IFP on the phone, the director said though the official letter of appointment has not reached him yet, he has been communicated of his appointment by top authorities of the NSD on the phone.
He said he still has some time to decide when he would assume the new and prestigious responsibility, and this suits him well as he has some important prior commitments to keep.
Thiyam will be leaving for Delhi on Wednesday on way to Tokyo, where he is to attend a world theatre congress as an observer, in preparation for a forthcoming international theatre festival.
Chorus Repertory Theatre, he said is currently working on an interpretation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, and rehearsals are being staged now at repertory’s own facility.
Apart from accolades for his own creations such as the now iconic Nine Hills One Valley, Thiyam has been praised for his creative and distinctive stage interpretations of work of many renowned theatre personalities, contemporary as well as from the past era, including Henrik Ibsen’s many plays, Dharamvir Bharati’s 1954 classic Andha Yug (Blind Age) etc. His Mahabharat Tiology, particularly his portrayal of Abhimanyu, is considered as belonging to the realm of legends in Indian theatre.
Manipur Information Centre adds: Well-known theatre personality Ratan Thiyam from Manipur was on Monday appointed as the Chairperson of the National School of Drama Society.
A press release from the Ministry of Culture said, “The President of India has appointed Shri Thiyam for a period of four years as per the relevant Rules and Regulations of the Society”.
Ratan Thiyam takes over from theatre director, Amal Allana, who demitted office as NSD Chairperson in June this year after serving two consecutive terms.
In 1971, he enrolled at the National School of Drama in Delhi, gaining a reputation as a powerful actor and director. In 1976, he returned to Manipur and founded Chorus Repertory Theatre.
He was also briefly the director of National School of Drama, New Delhi in 1987-88 and was honored with the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987, the Padma Shri in 1989 which he returned and was Sangeet Natak Fellow in 2013.