Soorya Krishnamoorthy
Born in Kottayam in 1951, he moved to Thiruvananthapuram after joining Isro as a scientist-engineer in 1972. As the founder of Soorya Stage and Film Society, established in 1977, he played a key role in shaping Thiruvananthapuram’s cultural scene in the 1980s and 1990s.
The practice of starting shows at the predetermined time in the city started with Soorya Festival,” Sreekanth said. The establishment of Ganesham mini-theatre was a major boost for contemporary theatre,” said veteran theatre artist D Raghoothaman. He organised performances by legendary classical musicians and dancers from across the country in Thiruvananthapuram. Dancers Padma Subrahmanyam and Shobana and singers M S Subbulakshmi and K J Yesudas were the permanent fixtures for Soorya festival. Alongside programmes featuring classical art forms, he also organised film festivals showcasing a mix of art-house and commercial films. Krishnamoorthy set up the branches of Soorya in multiple countries and organised a number of cultural shows abroad. He was the pioneer of the light and sound show in Malayalam. “He pioneered the use of multimedia in stage shows in Keralam when he staged a light and sound show with his own signature. What I admired most about him was his punctuality as an organiser of art and cultural events. After organising Soorya Festival successfully for over two decades, Krishnamoorthy began promoting contemporary theatre as well. Under his guidance, Soorya Society presented several theatre productions. His association with theatre led him to establish Ganesham, a mini-theatre that provided a space for theatre artistes to stage their plays. “Krishnamoorthy was one of the most-successful organisers of art and performance events in India. People in Thiruvananthapuram were able to watch performances by famed musicians and dancers thanks to his efforts.