Thiruvananthapuram: Renowned Malayalam theatre personality, writer and director Surya Krishnamoorthy passed away while undergoing treatment in Thiruvananthapuram. He was the founder of the Surya Stage and Film Society and was widely recognised for his contributions to theatre and light-and-sound productions.
Born Nataraja Krishnamoorthy, he became a prominent figure in Kerala’s cultural landscape through his association with the Surya Festival, which was launched in Thiruvananthapuram in 1977 under the banner of the Surya Stage and Film Society. The festival later gained international recognition and became a major platform for performing arts.
An engineering graduate, Krishnamoorthy began his professional career as a scientist with the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in 1972. He worked at the space agency for 27 years, including under former President and renowned scientist Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.
He eventually took voluntary retirement as a senior scientist to devote himself to cultural activities and the performing arts.
Through his work in theatre, writing, direction and innovative light-and-sound presentations, Krishnamoorthy made a lasting contribution to Kerala’s cultural scene. His death marks the loss of a prominent figure who played a significant role in taking Indian performing arts to wider audiences.
