Born on 1 April 1921 in Yangon, Myanmar, Shri P.V. Krishnamoorthy has made wide-ranging contributions to the development of dance, music, and broadcasting in India. For the greater part of his career he served the All India Radio, working as Station Director in various cities. He was finally the first Director General of Doordarshan, an organization he helped bring into being. He was trained in Carnatic music by his sister Rajeshwari and his brother P. V. Subramaniam (Subbudu), the veteran music critic. He holds a Bachelor's degree from the University of Rangoon.
Shri Krishnamoorthy's finest hour came during his posting at AIR in Cuttack in the 1950s, when he was drawn into the company of the pioneers of Odissi dance and contributed to its constitution and propagation. During this phase, he worked closely with Kelucharan Mohapatra in some of his major productions such as Krishna Gatha and Konark Jagaran. Similarly, while serving in Kerala, he enthused the famous Kottakal Kathakali troupe to stage the only attakatha on Buddha titled Buddha Charitham. As Station Director in Calcutta, he worked with many gifted musicians, and conducted programmes by outstanding singers including Sandhya Mukherjee and Shyamal Mitra. Subsequently, Shri Krishnamoorthy was associated with Sangeet Natak Akademi as Vice-Chairman (1983-1988), and worked as media consultant to UNICEF for over a decade. He was also a resource person to international bodies – UNESCO, FAO, UNDP, and the Asian Institute of Broadcasting Development (AIBD) – in their work in several countries. Shri Krishnamoorthy is known worldwide for his innovative approach to development using folk and traditional media.
He has received several honours for his work including the Sangeetha Saraswathi awarded by the Balakrushna Dass Foundation, and the Lifetime Achievement Award bestowed on him by the Guru Devaprasad Das Institute in Orissa. He has been awarded an honorary D.Litt. by the Ravenshaw University in Cuttack.
Shri P.V. Krishnamoorthy is elected Tagore Fellow of Sangeet Natak Akademi for his overall contribution to India's performing arts.
We the members of DDK family group register our profound grief and heartfelt condolences to our great mentor, father like, Unique personality and First Director General of Doordarshan, Shri.P.V. Krishnamurthy who left us today afternoon with a peaceful sleep forever.
Prasar Bharati Parivar condoles the demise of Shri.P.V. Krishnamurthy and prays to the almighty for the peace of the departed soul