N. N. Pillai
Encyclopedia
N. N. Pillai was an Indian playwright
, actor, theatre director, and orator. Dedicated to the cause of drama, Pillai have written over 30 Malayalam plays, 40 one-act plays, two theoretical studies on theater and an autobiography. Gifted with enormous theaterical as well as artistic talents, and varied experiences, N. N. Pillai always appeared deep and unruffled.
, Kottayam district
to Ullilakkiru Parambil Narayana Pillai and Vaikom Thekkathil Parukkutty Amma. He did his studies from CMS College Kottayam but failed in Intermediate exams. He went to Malay in search of a job. During Second World War, he took part in the campaigning for INA
. He returned to Kerala
in 1945 only to return to Malay with his family within a year. He stayed in Malay for three and a half years and came back and settled at Olassa in Kottayam district
.
His family includes his wife Chinnamma, sister Omana, two daughters Sulochana and Renuka and son Vijayaraghavan who is a popular Malayalam film actor.
Some of his popular plays are Kapalika, Prethalokam, Gorilla, Folydol, Kanakku Chembakaraman, Easwaran Arastil and Cross Belt. Pillai has also acted in two movies in Malayalam, Godfather
and Nadodi
both of which were blockbuster successes. Godfather was also remade into Telugu
and Tamil language
and he acted in the lead role in all these languages.
Pillai has also written two studies on state plays, Nadaka Darppanam and Curtain. His autobiography is called Njaan.
His autobiography Njaan received an award from Abudabi Malayala Samajam.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
, actor, theatre director, and orator. Dedicated to the cause of drama, Pillai have written over 30 Malayalam plays, 40 one-act plays, two theoretical studies on theater and an autobiography. Gifted with enormous theaterical as well as artistic talents, and varied experiences, N. N. Pillai always appeared deep and unruffled.
Personal life
N. N. Pillai was born in 1918 at VaikomVaikom
Vaikom is a taluk and also its capital town, situated in the North-West of Kottayam in Kerala, India. Its western border is the Lake Vembanad, and is crossed by various estuaries of the River Muvattupuzha. It lies between Ernakulam and Kottayam...
, Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...
to Ullilakkiru Parambil Narayana Pillai and Vaikom Thekkathil Parukkutty Amma. He did his studies from CMS College Kottayam but failed in Intermediate exams. He went to Malay in search of a job. During Second World War, he took part in the campaigning for INA
Indian National Army
The Indian National Army or Azad Hind Fauj was an armed force formed by Indian nationalists in 1942 in Southeast Asia during World War II. The aim of the army was to overthrow the British Raj in colonial India, with Japanese assistance...
. He returned to Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
in 1945 only to return to Malay with his family within a year. He stayed in Malay for three and a half years and came back and settled at Olassa in Kottayam district
Kottayam district
Kottayam is one of the 14 districts in the state of Kerala, India. The district has its headquarters at Kottayam town, located at 9.36° N and 76.17° E. According to the 1991 census, it is the first district to achieve highest literacy rate in the whole of India...
.
His family includes his wife Chinnamma, sister Omana, two daughters Sulochana and Renuka and son Vijayaraghavan who is a popular Malayalam film actor.
Career
N. N. Pillai started a drama troupe called Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi in 1952 and staged his own plays. Pillai acted in all his plays. The plays were being staged throughout Kerala, all over India and even abroad. 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 Kapalika, Prethalokam, Gorilla, Folydol, Kanakku Chembakaraman, Easwaran Arastil and Cross Belt. Pillai has also acted in two movies in Malayalam, Godfather
Godfather (1991 film)
Godfather is a 1991 Malayalam musical comedy film written and directed by Siddique-Lal, and produced by Appachan. The film stars a huge cast consisting of Mukesh, N. N. Pillai, Kanaka, Jagadish, Innocent, Thilakan, Philomina, Siddique, K. P. A. C...
and Nadodi
Nadodi
Naadody is a 1992 Malayalam film produced and directed by Thampi Kannanthanam, and starring Mohanlal in the title role. Others in the cast include N. N. Pillai, Suresh Gopi, Babu Antony, Jagathy Sreekumar, Kuthiravattam Pappu, Jose Pellissery, Sathaar, Mohini, Sangeetha, and Baby Vichitra. The...
both of which were blockbuster successes. Godfather was also remade into Telugu
Telugu language
Telugu is a Central Dravidian language primarily spoken in the state of Andhra Pradesh, India, where it is an official language. It is also spoken in the neighbouring states of Chattisgarh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Orissa and Tamil Nadu...
and Tamil language
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
and he acted in the lead role in all these languages.
Pillai has also written two studies on state plays, Nadaka Darppanam and Curtain. His autobiography is called Njaan.
Awards
N. N. Pillai has received awards from Indian Government, Kerala State Government, Kerala Sahithya Academy, Sangeetha Nataka Acamedy and Sahithya Pravathaka Samgham.His autobiography Njaan received an award from Abudabi Malayala Samajam.