Imphal, July 23 -- Renowned Indian playwright and theatre director Ratan Thiyam died at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal in Manipur, on Wednesday, hospital sources said. He was 77. He breathed his last in the early morning hours of Wednesday after a prolonged illness.

The Manipur government honored Padma Shri Ratan Thiyam, the living legend of Manipur, with the Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 for his contributions to the field of art and culture. The award includes a citation, a shawl, and a cheque of Rs 10 lakhs.

Ratan Thiyam (20 January 1948 - 23 July 2025) was an Indian playwright and theatre director, and the winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in 1987. He was one of the leading figures of the "theatre...