Published Sep 23, 2026 | 7:47 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 23, 2026 | 9:09 PM
Soorya Krishnamoorthy.
Synopsis: Krishnamoorthy held several important positions in Keralam’s cultural and film institutions. He served as director of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation for three terms. He served on the National Film Award Committee, the Keralam State Film Award Committee, the NFDC Script Committee, and the committee for selecting Indian Panorama films.
Renowned cultural personality, theatre director and former ISRO scientist Soorya Krishnamoorthy passed away at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, 23 September.
Krishnamoorthy, 75, had been critically ill with a liver-related ailment for the past two weeks.
Known for taking the performing arts beyond conventional stages, Krishnamoorthy founded the Soorya Stage and Film Society and grew the Soorya Festival into a major cultural platform.
Born Nataraja Krishnamoorthy, he graduated in electrical engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam, in 1972, and began his professional career as a scientist-engineer with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
But his deep engagement with the arts eventually led him to devote much of his life to theatre, music, dance and cinema.
He founded the Soorya Festival in 1977, bringing together artistes and performers from across India and abroad.
Over the years, the festival became closely associated with his name and his efforts to create a sustained platform for the performing arts.
Krishnamoorthy also held several important positions in Keralam’s cultural and film institutions. He served as director of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation for three terms and was associated with the National Film Award Committee, the Keralam State Film Award Committee, the NFDC Script Committee, and the committee for selecting Indian Panorama films.
He also served on the Doordarshan Advisory Committee and various expert and steering committees of the Union Ministry of Culture.
He served as chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and helped shape national discussions on cultural policy.
His contribution to the arts earned him several honours. He received the National Award for Stage Craft and Direction in 1996 and was honoured by the governments of Keralam, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.
He was also nominated for the Padma Awards and received the Kerala Prabha in recognition of his contribution to public life and culture.
His creative pursuits also extended to cinema. Krishnamoorthy wrote the screenplay for the 2011 Malayalam courtroom drama Melvilasam and served on several film award juries, including those for the John Abraham and P. Padmarajan awards.
For decades, Krishnamoorthy remained a familiar presence in Keralams cultural landscape, combining his scientific background with an enduring commitment to the arts.
The institutions and platforms he created, particularly Soorya, became an important part of his lasting contribution to the state’s cultural life.
Chief Minister VD Satheesan condoled in Krishnamoorthy’s death, describing it as an irreparable loss to Keralam’s art and literary world.
Satheesan said Krishnamoorthy had played a key role in taking Keralam’s cultural heritage to a global audience. His life was a rare blend of science and art, he said.
Krishnamoorthy had worked as a scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) for over two decades, including alongside former President APJ Abdul Kalam, before devoting himself to the arts and cultural sector.
Satheesan recalled that the Surya Festival, launched in Thiruvananthapuram in 1977, grew into a major international celebration of Indian arts, reaching audiences in more than 30 countries.
The festival, recognised by the Limca Book of Records as Asia’s longest-running cultural festival, helped place Kerala on the global cultural map, he said.
He also credited Krishnamoorthy with introducing new technological and artistic dimensions to Malayalam theatre through innovative light-and-sound shows and stage productions.
His efforts to popularise art and provide international platforms for traditional artists would remain an inspiration for future generations, Satheesan said.
He conveyed his condolences to Krishnamoorthy’s family and friends.
Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said he had been friends with Krishnamoorthy for decades and had the opportunity to work closely with him on several arts and cultural initiatives.
“Surya Krishnamoorthy was a cultural figure of great stature. The Surya Festival, which he conceived, was one of the finest arts platforms in the world. He brought artists from across the globe to Keralam’s capital, giving people an opportunity to experience their creative brilliance. His contributions in this field are timeless,” Chennithala said.
He said Krishnamoorthy had made a lasting mark on the state’s cultural sphere through his artistic vision and organisational abilities.
Tourism and Cultural Affairs Minister PC Vishnunadh also described his death as marking the end of a creative era.
In a condolence message, Vishnunadh said Krishnamoorthy was a rare personality who made art his life’s mission.
As a playwright and director, he created a distinctive theatre experience by combining sound, light, visuals and music while retaining the essence of traditional theatre.
Vishnunadh said the Surya Stage and Film Society and the Surya Festival had made significant contributions to Keralam’s cultural life by bringing together theatre, dance, music and cinema and providing platforms for artists.
As Akademi chairman, he also took initiatives to address artists’ welfare and their practical difficulties.
A recipient of the Kendra Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award and Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, Krishnamoorthy also worked to promote opportunities for a new generation of artists.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) state Secretary MV Govindan said Krishnamoorthy had served as an ambassador of Indian arts and culture and would be remembered as an outstanding cultural organiser.
Govindan said Krishnamoorthy had conceived and organised several innovative artistic projects that inspired those working in the arts and cultural sectors.
Through numerous cultural events, he helped showcase Indian arts and culture to audiences worldwide, he said.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
