N. Krishna Pillai | |
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| Born | (1916-09-22)September 22, 1916 Travancore (present-dayVarkala, Kerala, India) |
| Died | July 10, 1988(1988-07-10) (aged 71) |
| Occupation(s) | Playwright, critic, historian |
| Spouse | Saraswathi Kunjamma |
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N. Krishna Pillai (22 September 1916 – 10 July 1988) was an Indiandramatist,literary critic, translator and historian ofMalayalam language. Known for his realism and dramatic portrayal of psycho-social tensions, Pillai's plays earned him the moniker,KeralaIbsen. He was a recipient of theSahitya Akademi Award,Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama,Odakkuzhal Award,Vayalar Award andKerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, besides other honours. TheKerala Sahitya Akademi inducted him as adistinguished fellow in 1979.
N. Krishna Pillai was born on September 22, 1916, at Muthana, a small village nearVarkala,Travancore (present-day Varkala, north ofThiruvananthapuram district,Kerala) to Kakkattu Matom Kesavar Kesavan and Chekalavilakkathuveettil Parvathy Amma.[1] After schooling at schools inSivagiri andAttingal, he studies at Maharaja's College, Thiruvananthapuram, now known asUniversity College Thiruvananthapuram from where he graduated withhonours in Malayalam in 1938 and started his career as a teacher of Malayalam at Sivagiri Malayalam School.[2] He quit the job in 1940 to pursue research at theUniversity of Kerala and in 1943, he joinedThe Madurai Diraviyam Thayumanavar Hindu College as a lecturer but when he received a posting as a lecturer at the University College, the next year, he returned to Thiruvananthapuram to take up the post. Later, he worked in a number of other institutions such asGovernment Brennen College, Thalassery as a professor, Intermediate College, Thiruvananthapuram as the principal, and as the professor of Malayalam at the University College.[2]
N. Krishna Pillai was married to Azhakattu Saraswathy Kunjamma, the marriage taking place in 1943,[2] and the couple had four daughters, Sahiti, Kala, Madhuri and Nandini, and a son, Hari. Pillai died on July 10, 1988, atSree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, at the age of 71.[1]
The founder of modern Malayalam drama — none other than N. Krishna Pillai can be referred so. He was a genius who made Malayalam drama what it is today, saidC. Radhakrishnan on N. Krishna Pillai[3]
Krishna Pillai's oeuvre consists of 14 plays of which three were written for radio, 13 one-act plays, 7 books of children's literature, literary criticisms, historical essays and research papers.[4] He was credited with introducing social issues into Malayalam theatre at a time when mythological operas were the standard practice.[3]
Pillai brought a new outlook to the Malayalam drama, by omitting the farcical humour and concentrating on detailed studies of the character and the society, portrayed in drama, which earned him the moniker,KeralaIbsen.[5]Bhagna-Bhavanam (Broken Home) published in 1942,Kanyaka (Spinster) (1944),Balabalam (Might against might) (1946),Anuranjanam (Compromise) (1954),Mutakkumutal (Investment) (1960) andKutathile Vilakku (Lamp inside the pot) published in 1972 are some of his notable works.[2] He also published 11 essay compilations, two books of memoirs and interviews and 9 books of children's literature.[6] His book,Pratipathram Bhashanabhedham, is a detailed study of the novels ofC. V. Raman Pillai and the book has won a number of awards.[7]
WhenKerala Sahitya Akademi introduced anannual award for drama in 1958, Krishna Pillai received the inaugural award, for the work,Azhimukhathekku.[8] His essay compilation,Theranjedutha Prabhandangal was selected for theOdakkuzhal Award in 1972[9] and he received theKerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award in 1973.[10]Kerala Sahitya Akademi inducted him as adistinguished fellow in 1979[11] and he received theSahitya Akademi Award in 1987;[12] he also received theVayalar Award[13] and C. V. Sahitya Puraskar, in 1987.[7] He was also a recipient of the Father Abraham Vadakkel Award.[1]
N. Krishna Pillai Foundation, an eponymous organization, organized a three-day arts festival inThiruvananthapuram in memory of Krishna Pillai in 2018 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary ofKanyaka one of Pillai's works.[14]N. Krishna Pillai Memorial Cultural Center, an institution in Pillai's honour, is situated atPalayam, Thiruvananthapuram, and houses a 250-seat mini theatre and N. Krishna Pillai Memorial library, a research centre with over 8000 titles.[15] The Foundation also organizes an annual theatre festival in his honour.[16]
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