The Founder, Director, and Playwright of Koothu-p-Pattarai, N Muthuswamy passed away in Chennai due to prolonged illness at the age of 83.
N Muthusamy is recognized as a pioneer in experimental Tamil theatre. In 1969, his production entitled “Kaalam Kaalamaaga” (Time after Time) was hailed as the first modern play in Tamil stage history. Since then, over a dozen plays have followed.
N Muthuswamy has won the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award from the Government of India for the year 1999. He was also awarded the Padma Shri the fourth highest civilian award by the Government of India in 2012.
Meanwhile, he is also the mentor of many leading Kollywood actors, including Vijay Sethupathi, Vemal, Pasupathi, and many others who came out from theatres.
Vijay Sethupathi took to his Twitter space to share his condolence message - "மிகுந்த மனவருத்ததுடன் பகிர்கிறேன்... கூத்துப்பட்டறை யின் தந்தை..எங்கள் ஆசான் #முத்துசாமி அய்யா அவர்கள் இன்று காலமானார்."
The tweet is roughly translated as, "Deeply disturbed and worried to share this news. The father of Koothu Pattarai and our mentor Muthuswamy Ayya passed away this morning."
மிகுந்த மனவருத்ததுடன் பகிர்கிறேன்... கூத்துப்பட்டறை யின் தந்தை..எங்கள் ஆசான் #முத்துசாமி அய்யா அவர்கள் இன்று காலமானார். pic.twitter.com/BPKns2KQkq
— VijaySethupathi (@VijaySethuOffl) October 24, 2018