N. N. Pillai

N. N. Pillai was born on 23 December 1918 at Vaikom,Thalayazham Kottayam district to Ullala KeettuParambil Narayana Pillai and Vaikom Thethathil Parukkutty Amma.[2][3] His father was a Village officer. He did his studies in various schools due to his fathers transfer. 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 has memorized 5000 plus Aksharaslokams and Poems and had won many competitions. Languages, History, Philosophy and Human civilizations were his favorite subjects. He did his intermediate from CMS College Kottayam but failed in the exams. He went to Malaysia at the age of 19 in search of a job were he worked as a Journalist (subeditor for KeralaBandhu daily and Staff Reporter for Singapore Herald), estate manager & medical dresser and later joined INA during world war II.

During the Second World War, he was part of the Field Propaganda Unit as Commanding Officer of a 58-member Team of INA. He returned to Kerala in 1946 and married Chinnamma. He became recognized and popular by everyone as a freedom fighter in INA. He was appointed as the Travancore State Secretary of INA Relief fund under Pattom Thanu Pillai. Along with his wife and Elder Daughter he went to Malaysia again were he worked for four years as Estate Supervisor and Medical Dresser. He himself took birth of his Son Vijayaraghavan while working in the Malaysian Estate.

His family includes his wife Chinnamma (late), sister Omana(late), two daughters Sulochana and Renuka and son Vijayaraghavan who is a popular Malayalam film actor. He was a strong atheist throughout his life. His son said in an interview that even in his death bed in hospital, he felt uneasy on hearing prayers.

While working in Malaysia as a Journalist and estate supervisor in 1942 he was attracted by Freedom Movements,the Indian Independence League and Indian National Army. He left his estate supervisor job, persuaded his friends and joined INA in Gafar company Platoon II under Platoon Commander Major Somasundaram as Nayik/ soldier. After few months of training he was moved to Field Propaganda Unit named " Azad Hind Dal" formed under guidance of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. He was elevated to the rank of Commanding officer of the unit managing 58 members. During his stint in INA he has faced the cruel face of the war and many a times he managed to escape from heavy carpet bombings and guerilla attacks. After dispersing of INA in 1945 by Netaji, he was in Rangoon for a short period. Later while being taken to calcutta by British force , he managed to escape and returned to his native, Kottayam.

N. N. Pillai started his drama troupe called Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi in 1952 under the auspicious presence of Vallathol Narayana Menon and staged his own dramas. "Manushyan" meaning 'Human' was the first drama staged. Pillai and his family members acted in all his dramas. But the initial dramas he had written were during his stint in INA at the age of 24 which upheld patriotism and national pride ."Thantiia Tope" was his first play written and directed by him in which he also played the role of thanthia thope. The play was written in English. It was translated into various languages and staged in many military camps in INA. Qurbani was the 2nd drama he had written which was staged in front of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose. Netaji was highly moved by the play and tears rolled down his cheeks watching the play. Mr.Pillai was gifted a purse by Netaji for this play. Thantia Tope was also the last play watched by Netaji, 4 days before the air crash. 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 mathiyarnnu" for the schools annual day and was staged by students of the school under his direction. All his plays lashed out at the social inequality, injustice, corruption and hypocrisy and have attracted audiences throughout Kerala, all over India and even abroad. His wife chinnamma, sister G. Omana ( winner of kerala state award for best actress - theatre), elder daughter sulocahana and son Vijayaraghavan played important characters in his plays. His Troupe Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi staged his plays till 2005 even after his death in 1995, by his son Vijayaraghavan and son-in-law Rajendra Babu.

Some of his popular plays are Easwaran Arrestil, Kapalika, Prethalokam, Gorilla, Folydol, Kanakku Chembakaraman and Cross Belt. Pillai also acted in movies in Malayalam,Kapalika Godfather and Naadody of which Godfather was a blockbuster success. Godfather has made a huge impact in the minds of Malayalam audience that he became highly popular with the younger and present generation. Godfather was also remade into Telugu and Tamil language and he acted in the lead role in all these languages.

• Kerala Sahithya Academy Award for the Best Play in 1967 for "Prethalokam"
• Kerala Education Society (Delhi) award in 1967
• Kendra Sangeet Nataka Academy Award in 1969 for Acting
• Malayala Nadu Award in 1970 for Best Dramatist
• Kerala sahithya Academy Award in 1971 for 'Nadakadarpanam" •
• Best Playwright Award for his drama "Manwantharam" by Amateur cultures Trivandrum in 1975
• Abhudhabi Malayali Samajam Sahithya award for his Autobiography "Njan" Award in 1982
• Kerala State Award in 1990 for his contribution to theatre. •
• Sri Swathi Thirunal Sangeeta Sabha Award in 1991 for his works in theatre
• Prof. Krishna Pillai Foundation Award in 1992 for his excellence in theatre • Sreerangom award in 1992 for his contribution to Malayalam theatre
• Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy Fellowship in 1992 for Award in 1992 for his contribution to drama

• 1973 - Kaapalika as Lazar
• 1991 - Godfather
• 1992 - Naadody
• 1992 - Peddarikam (Telugu)

• nnpillai.com
• N N Pillai at MSI
• N. N. Pillai at IMDb