Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi

🪔 About

Thiyam Suryamukhi Devi (born around 1940, passed away on June 29, 2025) was a celebrated and legendary Indian classical dancer, profoundly recognized for her mastery and contributions to Manipuri dance over five decades. Born in Keishampat Leimajam Leikai, Imphal West, Manipur, to a family of artists—her father, Thiyam Iboton Singh, was a renowned Pung player, and her mother, Thiyam Ongbi Tombimacha Devi, was known for making traditional Manipuri outfits—Suryamukhi Devi began her artistic journey as a child artist at the Aryan Theatre in Imphal. She received her formal training in Manipuri dance from eminent gurus including Maisnam Amubi Singh (also known as Meishnam Amubi), Yambem Mahabir Singh, Haobam Atomba Singh, Amudon Sharma, Kh. Lokeshwar, A. Yaimabi, and Th. Babu Singh. She was associated with Nrityashram, a pioneering Manipuri dance institute established in 1950, from its inception. In 1954, she joined the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy (JNMDA), where she further honed her craft under legendary mentors. Her repertoire included traditional forms like Raas Leela, Lai Haraoba, and tribal folk traditions. She also trained in contemporary dance under choreographers like Apunikarta, Prabhat Ganguli, and Narendra Sharma, and in Chhau dance from Guru Krishnachandra Naik. Suryamukhi Devi's career as a performer saw her debut her Manipuri solo dance “Abhimanyu” at Bharatiya Kala Kendra, Delhi, in 1953. She represented India as one of six Manipuri cultural delegates, performing in the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1954, and subsequently in countries such as China, Japan, South Korea, Poland, Sweden, and Czechoslovakia. She composed several Manipuri solo dances, including Basanta Varnan, Sakhi Ukti, Yasoda, and Dooti Sambad. Beyond performing, she was a dedicated teacher, shaping generations of dancers and serving as a guru for SPICMACAY's Guru-Sishya Parampara. She retired as a Production Assistant from the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy in 2006 and later became the Chief Functionary of the "Research Centre for Manipuri Art and Culture." Awards & Honours: State Kala Akademi Award (1985), Nritya Bhushan (1999), Sangeet Natak Akademi Award (2003), Guru Tarunkumar Sanman (2009), Padma Shri Award (2025).