Renowned cultural activist Soorya Krishnamoorthy today bemoaned the fact that not a single stage actor from Kerala has been so far considered for the Padma Awards.
The government should at least act now and select Kerala stage artistes for the prestigious awards given every year, the 64-year-old scientist-turned-cultural activist said.
Theatre actors from Kerala have received accolades from several quarters and stand tall on all accounts. Despite this, the Padma Awards have eluded them all these years, he told PTI.
Krishnamoorthy was speaking on the first day of Keralotsvam-2015 (Kerala Festival) that began here.
Young figures from Kerala cinema have walked away with the coveted Padma Awards, while senior stage actors, who have toiled for years to entertain lakhs of audience, were ignored, he said.
The activist is also the chairman of Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi.
On its part, the Kerala government has done everything possible to promote theatre in the State, added Krishnamoorthy, the founder of Soorya Stage and Film Society, said to be the largest cultural society in the world.
The Government has launched social security and medical schemes for stage artistes, said Krishnamoorthy, who once worked with Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO).
The Akademi regularly organises competitions for amateur and professional artistes and their troupes to encourage healthy competition in the field, he added.
The collaborative form of fine art had not been receiving as much importance as cinema not only in Kerala, but all over the country, Krishnamoorthy rued.
