---
title: "Cultural and Theatre Activist Surya Krishnamurthy Dies at 75"
english_title: "Surya Krishnamurthy Dies at 75; Former Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Chairman Passes Away"
publisher: "Truevision English News"
canonical_url: "https://english.truevisionnews.com/news/383948/surya-krishnamurthy-dies-at-75-former-sangeetha-nataka-akademi-chairman"
published_at: "2026-09-23T19:51:00+05:30"
category: "Big Story"
language: "en"
image: "https://cf.zdn.im/img/truevisionnews.com/0/image-uploads/6ab3e10ddad75_surya-krishnamurthy-dies-at-75-former-sangeetha-nataka-akademi-chairman.jpg"
keywords: ["Surya Krishnamurthy", "Sangeetha Nataka Akademi", "Kerala Culture", "Surya Festival", "Theatre Activist", "Kerala Prabha"]
---

# Cultural and Theatre Activist Surya Krishnamurthy Dies at 75

> **Lead Summary:** **Thiruvananthapuram: **Cultural and theatre activist and former chairman of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Surya Krishnamurthy, 75, has died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He had been undergoing treatment for liver disease. His death comes at a time when this year’s Surya Festival, associated with the cultural collective ‘Surya’, is scheduled to be held on October 1.

## Article Content

**Thiruvananthapuram: **Cultural and theatre activist and former chairman of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, Surya Krishnamurthy, 75, has died at a private hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. He had been undergoing treatment for liver disease. His death comes at a time when this year’s Surya Festival, associated with the cultural collective ‘Surya’, is scheduled to be held on October 1.

Surya Krishnamurthy was a former chairman of the Sangeetha Nataka Akademi and the leading figure behind the cultural collective ‘Surya’. He had made his mark in the fields of theatre and culture through his work in different capacities.

He was known as a playwright, cultural figure and arts organiser. Krishnamurthy had also served as a senior scientist at the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). The Kerala government honoured him with the civilian award Kerala Prabha in 2023.

He also served as a director of the State Film Development Corporation on three occasions. Along with his work in cultural activities and theatre, Krishnamurthy was actively involved in writing and directing plays and other productions.

His notable plays include Melvilasam, Ente Rakshakan and Chayakkadakkathakal. Chayakkadakkathakal is a series comprising six plays. When Melvilasam was later adapted into a film, Krishnamurthy himself wrote the screenplay for the movie.

He also directed Chayakkadakkathakal as telefilms for Doordarshan. Through his contributions as a playwright, cultural activist and arts organiser, he remained an active presence in Kerala’s cultural scene.

Krishnamurthy was also associated closely with the cultural collective ‘Surya’. His death has come shortly before the scheduled start of this year’s Surya Festival on October 1. His passing marks the end of the life of a cultural and theatre personality who had worked across multiple areas, including theatre writing, cultural activities and arts organisation.

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