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N. N. Pillai | |
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 Pillai | |
| Born | Narayana Pillai Narayana Pillai (1918-12-23)23 December 1918[citation needed] Vaikom, Travancore,British India(Present day, Vaikom, Kottayam district, India) |
| Died | 14 November 1995(1995-11-14) (aged 76)[citation needed] |
| Occupations | Actor, playwright, theater director, orator, lyricist, commanding officer in I.N.A Field Propaganda Unit |
| Spouse | Chinnamma(Kalyanikutti Amma) |
| Children | Vijayaraghavan |
N. N. Pillai (Narayana Pillai Narayana Pillai; 1918–1995) was an Indianplaywright, actor,theatre director,orator, screenplay writer, lyricist and an I.N.A Freedom fighter. He served as Commanding Officer of Field Propaganda Unit underNetaji Subhas Chandra Bose inINA – Indian National Army.[1] He has been given the title “Nadakacharyan” of Malayalam Theatre.[citation needed] through his contributions to theater as a playwright, director, actor and a producer.
He started his drama troupe “Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi” in 1952. He has produced 23 full-length plays, 40 one act plays, 2 theatrical studies and his autobiography “Njan” meaning “I”.[2] His plays, which question the socio political injustice, hypocrisy and corruptions in society, includeKapalika,Cross Belt,Prethalokam,Dam,Vishamavritham,Easwarn Arrestil,Guerilla,Supreme Court and Njan Swargathil.
Pillai was born on 23 December 1918 atVaikom,Thalayazham to Keettuparambil Narayana Pillai and Thethathil Parukkutty Amma (Parvathi).[3][2][4][5] His father was a village officer. Due to his father's official transfer he studied in different places in central Kerala. He had a taste for literature at a very early age which he gives credit to his mother. He started reading books at the age of 6 and by the age of 12; he had memorized 5000 plus Akshara Slokams and poems and had won many competitions. Languages, history, philosophy and human civilizations were his favorite subjects.He did his intermediate fromCMS College Kottayam but failed in the exams. He went toMalaysia at the age of 19, in search of a job where he worked as a Journalist (sub-editor forKerala Bandhu Daily and Staff Reporter forSingapore Herald), estate manager and medical dresser and later joined INA during World War II.[citation needed] During his stint in Malaysia, he became a reader of English books and novels. He mastered Malayan and Japanese language during this period. While working as a journalist he interviewed hollywood actorPaul Muni in Singapore.[citation needed]
During theSecond World War, he was part of the Field Propaganda Unit as Commanding Officer of a 58-member Team ofINA. After dissolution of INA he returned to India in 1946 and married Chinnamma. He became popular and recognized as an INA freedom fighter and was appointed the Travancore State Secretary of INA Relief fund underPattom Thanu Pillai. Along with his wife and elder daughter, he went toBritish Malaya again where he worked for four years as an estate manager and medical dresser.[citation needed] He himself took birth of his son Vijayaraghavan while working in an estate in Malaya.[citation needed]
His family includes sonVijayaraghavan, who is a Malayalam film actor.
While working in Malaysia as a journalist and estate supervisor in 1942, he was attracted by the patriotic and freedom movements, the Indian Independence League and the Indian National Army. He left his estate job and joined INA in Gafar company Platoon II under Platoon Commander Major Somasundaram as Nayik/ soldier.[citation needed] After few months of training he was moved to Field Propaganda Unit named "Azad Hind Dal" formed under guidance ofNetaji Subhash Chandra Bose in Singapore. He was elevated to the rank of Commanding officer of a 58 member unit.[citation needed] His troop was moved to Mergui and later to Rangoon as a backup for the Imphal war. During his association with Netaji once he asked him about the trustworthiness of the Japanese army, for which Netaji replied "If required the guns can be used for firing backwards also".[citation needed] After dissolution of the I.N.A in 1945 by Netaji, pillai was taken to Calcutta by the British army, where he managed to escape en route to the prison and returned to his native, Kottayam.[citation needed] In-spite of being the commanding officer for a Unit and the secretary of I.N.A Travancore state relief fund he has never availed any pension or grants for his services.[citation needed]
Pillai started his drama troupe calledViswa Kerala Kala Samithi in 1952 under the presence of acclaimed poetVallathol Narayana Menon.Manushyan meaningHuman was the first drama staged by Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi. Pillai and his family members performed in all his dramas making it a family affair. The initial dramas he had written were during his stint in INA at the age of 24 which upheld patriotism and national pride.Tantia Tope was the first play written and directed by him in which he played the role of thantia thope. The play was written in English. It was translated into various languages and staged in military camps in INA.[citation needed]Qurbani was the second drama he had written under Netaji's instruction, which was staged in front of NetajiSubhas Chandra Bose while in Ragoon camp.
Later while working as a teacher for a short stint in Kililoor Sanskrit school, Kottayam in 1946 he had written a one-act play:Aa Ottu Company Mathiyarunnu for the schools annual day and was staged by students of the school under his direction. All his plays addressed the social inequality, injustice, corruption and hypocrisy. His wife Chinnamma, sisterG.Omana (winner of Kerala state award for best actress – theatre) played in his plays. His troupeViswa Kerala Kala Samithi staged his plays until 2005, by his sonVijayaraghavan and son-in-law Rajendra Babu.
Some of his plays areEaswaran Arrestil,Kapalika,Supreme Court,Prethalokam,Gorilla,Folydol,Kanakku Chembakaraman andCross Belt. His playsKapalika andCross Belt were remade into movies.[citation needed] Pillai also acted in movies in Malayalam,Kapalika,Godfather andNaadodyGodfather was also remade intoTelugu andTamil where he acted in the same role in all these languages.[citation needed]
A stone monument made of Krishnashila stone depicting a theatre is built at his residenceOlassa,Kottayam in 1996. Every year, a gathering of family members and admirers lights lamp and shower flowers at the monument on 14 November, the day of his death. Cultural personalities are honored and young talents are awarded by NN Pillai foundation formed by his son Vijayaraghavan and Daya Samskarika Vedhi, Kodayampady, Kottayam on the same day.[citation needed]
Every year since 2012, a fortnight long drama festival is conducted by Chorus arts society Maniyattu, Kasargod district in November in remembrance of Pillai. The festival ends with honoring the best play, playwright, actor and actress.[citation needed]
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