Soorya Krishnamoorthy Age, Death, Wife, Children, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Soorya Krishnamoorthy

• Soorya Krishnamoorthy grew up in a family connected with engineering and public service.

• He completed his schooling at Thiruvananthapuram.

• During his college days, he became active in college activities.

• He was then elected as the Secretary General of the college union with a very large majority of votes.

• He was also a badminton player, who represented Kerala and Kerala University in many championships.

• After completing his formal education, he joined ISRO in 1972 as a scientist and engineer.

• Reportedly, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, was his mentor during his early years of profession.

• He worked at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre and was involved with India’s early space programme.

• He worked fir 27 years at ISRO with many noted scientists.

• Apart from being a scientist, he was also an artist.

• During a media talk, Soorya Krishnamoorthy once said that Dr APJ Abdul Kalam gave him freedom to continue his artistic activities. He believed that science and culture could exist together.

  

  Soorya Krishnamoorthy during a media talk

• He added that Kalam’s support gave him confidence to continue following his artistic interests.

• Later, he decided that his real passion was art and culture.

• In 1977, Soorya Krishnamoorthy founded the Soorya Stage and Film Society, a cultural organisation, in Thiruvananthapuram.

• This organisation later became a huge movement connected with music, dance, theatre, cinema, literature, photography, and other art forms.

• The main motive of this organisation was “Integration through Culture.”

• The Soorya Festival then became the most famous activity of this organisation.

• This festival continues for more than 100 days.

  

  An invitation of a program at Soorya Festival

• After that, it became known for its 111-day programme, which brings together many famous and young artists from India and other parts of the world.

• Classical music, classical dance, theatre, films, documentaries, talks, literary programmes, exhibitions, and other cultural activities became part of the festival.

• The Limca Book of Records has recognised the Soorya organisation and its festival for their large scale and long duration. The organisation also developed its branches outside India.

• Reportedly, the Soorya Festival gives opportunities to new singers, dancers, actors, theatre groups, and other performers.
  

  Soorya Krishnamoorthy posing with a group at Soorya Festival

• In 1988, Soorya Krishnamoorthy directed a performance in which around 7,000 artists performed at the opening ceremony of the National Games. He also directed the closing ceremony of the event.

• After that, he worked on many major national and international cultural events and programs, such as the International Film Festival of India.

• In 1999, he took voluntary retirement from ISRO and moved into full-time cultural work.

• In 2011, film director Madhav Ramadasan adapted the play into the Malayalam film titled Melvilasom, which starred Suresh Gopi, Parthiban, and Ashokan. Soorya Krishnamoorthy wrote the screenplay of the film.
  

  The poster of the Malayalam film Melvilasom

• Soorya Krishnamoorthy was known for Ganesham, a performance space at Thycaud in Thiruvananthapuram. This open-air theatre provided space for rehearsals and performances.

• Ganesham was open for new comer theatre groups without charging them for the basic facilities.

• The artists were allowed to use equipment such as lights and sound systems and stay there as well.

• He is known for introducing the light-and-sound show in Malayalam.

• In 2018, this space was developed into a black box theatre, which could accomodate around 400 people.

• It included green rooms, a dormitory, exhibition space, and technical facilities.

• Many transgender theatre groups in Kerala were allowed to perform there free of cost.

• As a playwright and director, Soorya Krishnamoorthy wrote many plays, such as Melvilasam, Pulari, Thudakkam, Thudarcha, Neelavelicham, Avatharam, and Sthree Parvam

• His play Melvilasam, meaning “The Address,” became very famous and was performed more than hundred times in different parts of the world.

• In 2000, he contributed to the 50th Republic Day celebrations, where the performance “Pranam to Mother Earth” featured more than 300 folk artists.

• He is known for his contribution to the idea of Tourism Week celebrations in Kerala.

• He was associated with the National Film Awards, Kerala State Film Awards, the NFDC Script Committee, and the Indian Panorama selection process.

• He also served as a director of the Kerala State Film Development Corporation on three occasions.

• Soorya Krishnamoorthy was also associated with the Kerala Chalachitra Academy.

• He had served as the Chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and Board of Studies for Fine Arts at the University of Calicut.

• He was a member of the Doordarshan Advisory Committee and member of expert committees connected with India’s cultural policy.

• Reportedly, his home contained around 2,000 Ganesha idols, sculptures, and paintings.

• He named his home in Thycaud as “House of Ganesha.”
  

  Soorya Krishnamoorthy posing with a Ganesha idol at his home

  

  A collection of Ganesha idols at Soorya Krishnamoorthy’s home

• He used to call Malayalam poet Sugathakumari as his foster mother.

• On 23 September 2026, Soorya Krishnamoorthy died in Thiruvananthapuram, Karala, after a period of illness. He was 75 years old.