{{Short description|Indian artist and philanthropist}} {{use Indian English|date=October 2023}} {{use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox person | name = Soorya Krishnamoorthy | image = File:Soory akrishnamoorthy.jpg | alt = | caption = | birth_name = | birth_date = | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | other_names = Nataraja Krishnamoorthy | occupation = Artist, philanthropist and scientist | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = | awards = National Award for Stage Craft and Direction of President of India }} '''Soorya Krishnamoorthy''' also known as '''Nataraja Krishnamoorthy'''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gopal |first1=B. Madhu |title=Soorya reaches out to budding artistes |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/soorya-reaches-out-to-budding-artistes/article33816448.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=12 February 2021}}</ref> is an Indian artist, philanthropist and scientist.<ref>{{cite web |title=A modern theatre for performing arts |url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/A-modern-theatre-for-performing-arts/article16341231.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=25 February 2009}}</ref> He is the chairman of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy<ref>{{cite web |title=Mathrubhumi English - Heritage Studies for MGS, Sangeetha Nataka academy for Soorya Krishnamoorthy |url=http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=112187 |website=Mathrubhumi |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110731155418/http://www.mathrubhumi.com/english/story.php?id=112187 |archive-date=31 July 2011}}</ref> and founded of [[Soorya Festival|Soorya Stage and Film Society]].<ref>{{cite web |title=International Film Festival of Kerala: Iranian director Dariush Mehrjui to receive lifetime achievement award |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/movies/regional-cinema/story/international-film-festival-of-kerala-iranian-director-dariush-mehrjui-to-receive-lifetime-achievement-award-275637-2015-12-04 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Theatre in Kerala on life support |url=http://archive.asianage.com/kochi/theatre-kerala-life-support-620 |website=The Asian Age |language=en}}</ref> In 1996, Krishnamoorthy was honoured with the National Award for Stage Craft and Direction of President of India and has also been conferred the highest honours from Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry governments.<ref>{{cite web |title=From Nataraja to Soorya |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/education/edex/2013/jan/07/from-nataraja-to-soorya-440614.html |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Soorya Festival Invokes a Powerful Sense of Unity —- Soorya Krishnamoorthy's 'Sangamam' Premiered in Houston May 5 {{!}} Indo American News |url=https://www.indoamerican-news.com/soorya-festival-invokes-a-powerful-sense-of-unity-soorya-krishnamoorthys-sangamam-premiered-in-houston-may-5/}}</ref> In 2016, He was nominated for Padma Awards by Amjad Ali Khan.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of nominees, 2016 |url=https://www.mha.gov.in/sites/default/files/2023-01/List_%2520PadmaAwards-2016.pdf |website=mha.gov.in}}</ref> In 2023, he was honoured with [[Kerala Awards|Kerala Prabha Award]], the second-highest honour given by the [[Government of Kerala]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-01 |title=2023-ലെ കേരള പുരസ്കാരങ്ങൾ പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ചു; ടി. പത്മനാഭന് കേരള ജ്യോതി |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/literature/news/kerala-award-2023-announced-tpadmanabhan-bags-kerala-jyothi-award-1.9035186 |access-date=2023-11-01 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref>
==Career== He served as the director of the [[Kerala State Film Development Corporation]] for three terms and as a member of the India National Film Award Committee, the Kerala State Film Award Committee, the NFDC Script Committee and the National Committee for Selecting Indian Panorama Films. He has also been a member of the Expert Committee of the Department of Culture for the [[Government of India]] where he was instrumental in advancing the cultural policy of the country<ref name="IA">{{cite web |title=World Renowned Soorya Festival Makes U.S. Debut {{!}} Indo American News |url=http://www.indoamerican-news.com/world-renowned-soorya-festival-makes-u-s-debut/ |website=Indoamercian}}</ref> and served as the Chairman of the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mania |first1=Friday |title=An unsung patron of arts |url=http://thefridaymania.com/soorya-krishnamoorthy-as-a-byword-for-art/ |website=the fridaymania |date=22 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=(Reopens MDS5) |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/reopens-mds5-462000-2015-09-09 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
After graduating from the [[TKM College of Engineering]] in Kollam, in Electrical Engineering, in 1972, he joined the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) as a scientist/engineer<ref name="TH">{{cite web |last1=M |first1=Athira |title='I didn't expect Soorya to become a movement in itself': Soorya Krishnamoorthy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/in-conversation-with-soorya-krishnamoorthy/article25331863.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=26 October 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Unite to preserve Sugathakumari's house: Soorya Krishnamoorthy |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2023/apr/18/unite-to-preserve-sugathakumaris-house-soorya-krishnamoorthy-2566853.html#:~:text=Nataraja%20Krishnamoorthy%20%E2%80%94%20better%20known%20as,cultural%20activist%2C%20and%20stage%20director. |website=The New Indian Express}}</ref> and in 1977 he founded [[Soorya Festival]] which is organised by his organization Soorya Music & Dance Festival.<ref name="IA" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Soorya Festival, Cultural event, Enchanting Kerala, Newsletter, Kerala Tourism |url=https://www.keralatourism.org/kerala-article/2011/soorya-festival/139 |website=Kerala Tourism |language=en}}</ref> Beside that he also wrote screenplay for the 2011 Indian courtroom drama film [[Melvilasom]].<ref name="TH" />
In 2006, he was the chairman, of the Film Awards Jury of the John Abraham Awards and the P.Padmarajan Award. He has also been a member of the Doordarshan Advisory Committee, the Expert Committee of the Department of Culture, Govt. of India and the steering committee formed by the Department of Culture, Govt. of India to evolve the cultural policy of the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kerala: Roping in Gulf Malayalis to revive age-old arts |url=https://www.news18.com/news/india/kerala-roping-in-gulf-malayalis-to-revive-age-old-arts-520933.html |website=News18 |language=en |date=9 November 2012}}</ref>
==Awards==
*1994: "Prathiba Pranam" Award for Outstanding Creative Artiste by the Government of Kerala<ref name="IA" /> *1994: John Abraham Award for the best-run film Society of Country by the Federation of Film Societies of India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Emerging Kerala Global Connect Coffee Table Book by MK Menon - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/dcmedia/docs/full_book |website=issuu.com |language=en |date=11 September 2012}}</ref> *2001: Selected as one in 101 world-renowned living Keralites of the millennium by the Government of Kerala<ref>{{cite web |title=From Nataraja to Soorya - The New Indian Express |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/education/edex/2013/Jan/07/from-nataraja-to-soorya-440614.html |website=www.newindianexpress.com}}</ref> *2003: "Man of the Year" for the contribution made in the field of art by Limca Book of Records<ref name="IA" /> *2004: "Special Recognition" Award for overall contribution in the field of art and culture by the Government of Kerala<ref name="IA" /> *2006: "[[Kalaimamani]]" Award for Stage Craft and Direction by the Government of Tamil Nadu<ref name="IA" /> *2023: Lifetime Achievement Award<ref>{{cite web |title=Award for Soorya Krishnamurthy |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/award-for-soorya-krishnamurthy/article66955146.ece |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |date=11 June 2023}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krishnamoorthy, Soorya}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:Indian artists]] [[Category:Indian philanthropists]] [[Category:Kerala Prabha Award Winners]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]