P. Krishnamoorthy

P. Krishnamoorthy (8 September 1943 – 13 December 2020) was an Indian film art director, production designer and costume designer who worked predominantly in the South Indian cinema. As of 2015, he had worked in over 55 films in Kannada, Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, Malayalam and English, and won five National Film Awards—three for Best Art Direction and two for Best Costume Design. In addition, he was the recipient of five Kerala State Film Awards and four Tamil Nadu State Film Awards. The five-time National Award winner died in Chennai on 13 December 2020, due to age related ailments.

Biography Hailing from Poompuhar, Tamil Nadu, P. Krishnamoorthy graduated from the Government College of Fine Arts, Chennai. Starting his profession as an artist, he got into films through G. V. Iyer. He first met Iyer in 1968 when the latter was about to make Hamsa Geethe, a Kannada film. Krishnamoorthy was immediately signed up despite having no prior experience in art direction. The film eventually released in 1975, but he remained unnoticed. However, he got an opportunity to work in plays for B. V. Karanth and Bansi Kaul. His involvement with Malayalam cinema in the late 1980s and early 1990s earned him five Kerala State Film Awards for Best Art Director.

In 1991, Krishnamoorthy made a comeback to Tamil cinema through Bharathiraja's Nadodi Thendral. This was followed by Balu Mahendra's Vanna Vanna Pookkal (1992).

Selected filmography

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)