When Ratan Thiyam danced with Joy at Khajuraho
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Bhopal's theatre vetran, Anoop Joshi—affectionately known as "Bunty"—who curated a retrospective festival of Thiyam's works around 15 years ago under the auspices of Kala Parishad, shared some cherished memories with TOI. Reflecting upon the time spent under Thiyam's mentorship, Bunty spoke of a theatrical visionary whose artistry cast an indelible glow across India's stage horizon.
A sanctuary of art in Imphal
Bunty painted a vivid portrait of the festival's genesis: A journey to Thiyam's farmhouse near Imphal in Manipur, where he stayed for several days.
"I was amazed to see that he had created a strong theatre community on a large expanse of land. Theatre artistes stayed there in small stunning huts, grew their own vegetables, rice and fruits, caught fish from the ponds and staged plays at a private theatre on the premises.
Theatre aficionados came to watch the plays there," said Bunty.
When Thiyam graciously agreed to bring his theatrical magic to Bhopal, he stipulated only one condition: The stage must replicate his Imphal stage inch-by-inch.
Bunty said, "I told him he would not be disappointed.And upon seeing the open-air stage in Bhopal, Thiyam gently placed a hand on my shoulder and declared, 'it is perfect'. At that moment, I screamed in joy."
Visual poetry on stage
He said, the festival unveiled the visual brilliance of Thiyam's dramatic compositions, where each scene unfolded like a framed masterpiece. Despite the audience's unfamiliarity with the Manipuri language or the lyrics, an ethereal hush enveloped the 1,500-strong crowd—a "pin-drop silence" ruled as they watched, enthralled, every nuance of the performance.
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Bunty said, "There was a scene in one of the plays, where hundreds of paper bundles were rapidly thrown on the stage, followed by a blackout of less than ten seconds.
When lights were on, there would not a trace of newspapers." A feat so magical, Bunty could only ask Thiyam later how he orchestrated it. Thiyam simply smiled and responded, "That mystery is for you to unravel."
Joy spun from rain at Khajuraho
It was at the Khajuraho Dance Festival—where Thiyam attended as a state guest between 2013 and 2014—that a rare glimpse of his spontaneous spirit emerged.
Recalling the moment, Bunty said: "It started raining at Khajuraho Festival and the event had to be shifted to an alternative canopied venue. During the break, I was having jaggery tea prepared by a Rajasthani chef, who had put up a stall there. Thiyam sir walked up to me; I offered him the unique tea and just at that moment, some local artistes who were standing under a tree, started singing.
Thiyam sir, who spoke quite less, told me that his heart was filled with so much happiness that he wanted to dance.
Before I could realise what was happening, he broke into impromptu moves and kept dancing for a long time. I did not have a smartphone at that time, so I could not capture those golden moments, but it is marked on my mind till eternity."
The legacy of a gem
Bunty reflected, with a voice filled with admiration and mourning: "Theatre has really lost a Ratan (gem). Thiyam was not merely a director or actor, but an entire cosmos of visual poetry, spiritual depth, and theatrical daring."
Thiyam's legacy lives on
The theatre world is in shock after the loss of Ratan Thiyam. Bhopal-based actor-director-playwright Rajiv Verma captured the sentiment best: "Thiyam's brilliance will never fade. His masterpieces will continue to ignite creativity in youth—pushing them to dream bigger and break barriers."
National award-winning theatre stalwart Sarfaraz Hasan added: "After Habib Tanveer, Thiyam was my North Star. When I saw his work in Bhopal, I was struck by how deeply he remained rooted in his heritage—even as he redefined the modern stage."
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