Moorthy departs! Curtains down on Krishnamoorthy-led 'Soorya' evenings in capital city

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soorya Krishnamoorthy, the stage art titan who drew capital city residents to the ethereal world of lights and sound, passed away on Wednesday. He was 75. Krishnamoorthy breathed his last at 6:45 PM yesterday while undergoing treatment at KIMS Hospital. He was the founder and guiding force behind the 'Soorya' Stage and Film Society. His official name was Nataraja Krishnamoorthy.

Krishnamoorthy had been in the ICU for two weeks due to pneumonia, and his condition deteriorated significantly by yesterday afternoon. His wife Raji, daughter Sita, and Soorya President Gopalakrishna Pillai were by his side at the time of his death.

The Soorya Festival, held annually in Thiruvananthapuram, is well recognised both nationally and internationally. A mechanical engineering graduate who served as a senior scientist at ISRO for 27 years under A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Krishanmoorthy stepped into a full-time arts organiser after resigning from his lucrative position. The play *Melvilasam*, written and directed by Krishnamoorthy, was staged over 400 times and was later adapted into a film. He is the pioneer of the Malayalam 'Light and Sound Show' and has directed around 110 stage productions, including plays.

Krishnamoorthy has received numerous honours, including the Kerala Government's civilian award 'Kerala Prabha', the Tamil Nadu Government's 'Kalaimamani' award, the Pondicherry Government's award for lifetime achievement, the Central Sangeet Natak Akademi award for best playwright, the Kerala Sangeet Natak Akademi Fellowship, and the Limca Book of Records' 'Man of the Year' award. He served as a director of the State Film Development Corporation on three occasions. His major plays include *Melvilasam*, *Pulari*, *Thudakkam*, *Thudarcha*, *Avatharam*, and *Streeparvam*.

Krishnamoorthy was born on April 11, 1951, in Kottayam, as the son of Chief Engineer T. Nataraja Pillai and Saraswathi Amma, an activist with the Gandhi Peace Foundation. Wife: Raji. Children: Sita (Joint Commissioner, Income Tax) and Lakshmanan (USA). Son-in-law: Chandan Kumar (Joint Commissioner, Income Tax). His mortal remains were brought to his residence around 9:15 PM yesterday and will be placed for public homage at 'Ganesham' in Thycaud at 7:00 AM today.

The final rites will take place at Shanthikavadam at 6:45 PM.