Art Director P. Krishnamoorthy: Legend

Legendary art director P. Krishnamoorthy passed away last night due to prolonged illness at his residence.

P. Krishnamoorthy Born in the coastal town of Poompuhar in 1943, began sketching at very young age, In 1960, Krishnamoorthy joined School of arts and started his career as Art Director in Kannada’s  Landmark film Hamsa Gethe.

He has worked over 55 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit Malayalam and English, won five National Film Awards—three for Best Art Direction and two for Best Costume Design. In addition, he is the recipient of five Kerala State Film Awards and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards.

Reputed for his paintings and set designs, his contributions to Indian art have been substantial and game-changing. He designed sets for Hollywood directors like Manoj Night Shyamalan as well as several acclaimed directors in India.

His aesthetics and art direction techniques has set new bench mark in films like Oru vadakkan veera khadha Madhuvacharya,Vaishali Perumthatchan.

Once speaking to him on a light conversation he said production design for Master Director  G. V. Iyers Kannada film Madhuvacharya was very much challenging for him as it evolves around a Sage, no properties should be used in the cinematic composition. He came up with a idea of  drawing Kolam a form of drawing that is drawn by using rice flour, that enriched look of the film and won him many awards.

A minimalist by nature  his philosophy and approach towards art direction is always to keep things simple and harmonious in the frame.

Krishnamoorthy always tries to exploit original location than building a set for a film, to be noted he is famous for periodic films.

His art direction for Tamil feature film includes  Nadoodi Thendral, Taj Mahal, Indira, Bharathi, Kutty, Imsai ArasanArasan, Paandavar Bhoomi.

He won two national awards for Bharathi one for art direction and other for costume design.

Krishnamoorthy sees costume design as integral part of art direction, so he always does costume design along with art work in feature films.

His interests expands to theatre plays also..Koothupatarai was started initially at his residence years back.

Krishnamoorthy went on to play a major part in the setting up of the Cholamandal Artist Village in the city in 1966 along with KCS Paniker.

P. Krishnamoorthy was so full of life. Gentle, simple, generous and thoughtful.

His contributions to Indian Cinema will always be remembered.

P. Krishnamoorthy

Filmography

Source : Wikipedia

• Hamsageethe (1975)
• Kudre Motte (1975)
• Prema Kama (1976)
• Rishyashringa (1977)
• Nalegalannu Maduvavaru (1978)
• Kaadu Kudure (1979)
• Kann Sivanthaal Mann Sivakkum (1983)
• Adi Shankaracharya (1983)
• Karthavya (1985)
• Madhvacharya (1986)
• Ithihasa (1986)
• Swathi Thirunal (1987)
• Vaisali (1988)
• Ramanujacharya (1989)
• Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha (1989)
• Wall Poster (1989)
• Hrudayanjali (1990)
• Vachanam (1990)
• Nilapennai (1990)
• Oliyampukal
• Pooram
• Nadodi Thendral (1991)
• Perumthachan (1991)
• Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992)
• Rajasilpi (1989)
• Praying with Anger (1992)
• Ghazal (1993)
• Aathma (1993)
• Bhagavad Gita: Song of the Lord (1993)
• Parinayam (1994)
• Pasumpon (1995)
• Mogamul (1995)
• Indira (1995)
• Maharaja (1996)
• Tamizh Selvan (1996)
• Kulam (1996)
• Sangamam (1999)
• Thaj Mahal (1999)
• Thenali (2000)
• Kutty (2000)
• Vaanavil (2000)
• Pavazhakkodi (2001)
• Pandavar Bhoomi (2001)
• Azhagi (2001)
• Bharathi (2001)
• Thenral (2002)
• Julie Ganapathi (2003)
• Athu (2004)
• Pasakkilikal (2005)
• Imsai Arasan 23rd Pulikecei (2006)
• Thuvanam (2006)
• Naan Kadavul (2009)
• Padithurai
• Jaganmohini (2009)
• Ramanujan (2014)

Article by

CJ Rajkumar

Author/Cinematographer.