MUMBAI: Ratan Thiyam has been appointed the chairperson of the National School of Drama Society.

He will hold office for a period of four years according to the relevant Rules and Regulations of the Society.

An alma mater from this institution in 1974, the 65-year-old takes over from theatre director, Amal Allana, who demitted office as NSD chairperson in June this year after serving two consecutive terms.

He was also briefly the Director of the NSD.

Thiyam (born 20 January 1948) is one of the leading figures of the "theatre of roots" movement in Indian theatre, which started in 1970s.  Also known as Thiyam Nemai, Thiyam is known for writing and staging plays that use ancient Indian theater traditions and forms in a contemporary context. A former painter, and proficient in direction, design, script and music, Thiyam is often considered one of leading contemporary theatre gurus.

He is also the founder-director of 'Chorus Repertory Theatre', formed on the outskirts of Imphal, Manipur in 1976. He was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award in Direction in 1987, and the Padma Shri given by the government in 1989.

He was awarded the 2012 Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, the highest honour in the performing arts conferred by the Akademi.