From ISRO to the stage: The many lives of ‘Soorya’ Krishnamoorthy

Nataraja 'Soorya' Krishnamoorthy, a prominent cultural icon from Keralam, passed away on Wednesday at the age of 75. Born into a family of engineers in Kottayam district, Krishnamoorthy pursued electrical engineering from TKM College of Engineering, Kollam before joining ISRO as a scientist in 1972. Simultaneously, he nurtured his passion for arts, founding Soorya Stage and Film Society and introducing the first light-and-sound show in Malayalam in 1978.

After 27 years at ISRO, Krishnamoorthy retired voluntarily to focus entirely on promoting art and culture. The Soorya Festival, which he founded, has grown to become one of the longest cultural events in the world, showcasing diverse Indian art forms. Krishnamoorthy's contributions extended to dance, theatre, cinema, painting, and photography, as well as scripting, choreographing, and directing productions.

He played a significant role in Kerala's largest events, including the National Games and Republic Day celebrations. As a director, he organized major events with thousands of performers and served in various advisory and jury roles for national film awards. Keralam's Chief Minister hailed Krishnamoorthy as a revolutionary force in Malayalam theatre, whose innovative light-and-sound shows and stage productions ushered in new waves of technology and aesthetic expression in Indian theatre.

His legacy as an architect of Keralam's cultural landscape will be remembered and cherished by generations to come.