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{{short description|Indian dramatist and historian}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Infobox person
| name = N. Krishna Pillai
| image = NKrishnaPillai.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1916|9|22}}
| birth_place = [[Varkala]], [[Thiruvananthapuram district]], Kerala, India
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1988|7|10|1916|9|22}}
| death_place =
| restingplace =
| occupation = Playwright, critic, historian
| spouse = Saraswathi Kunjamma
| children =
| relatives = {{ubl|Kakkattu Matom Kesavan (father)|Parvathy Amma (mother)}}
| website =
| awards = {{ubl|1958 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama]]|1972 [[Odakkuzhal Award]]|1973 [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi|Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]]|1979 [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]]|1987 [[Sahitya Akademi Award]]|1987 [[Vayalar Award]]|1987 C. V. Sahitya Puraskar|Father Abraham Vadakkel Award}}
}}
'''N. Krishna Pillai''' (22 September 1916 – 10 July 1988) was an Indian [[dramatist]], [[literary critic]], translator and historian of [[Malayalam language]]. Known for his realism and dramatic portrayal of psycho-social tensions, Pillai's plays earned him the moniker, ''[[Kerala]] [[Henrik Ibsen|Ibsen]]''. He was a recipient of the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama]], [[Odakkuzhal Award]], [[Vayalar Award]] and [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi|Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]], besides other honours. The [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] inducted him as a [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship|distinguished fellow]] in 1979.

== Biography ==
N. Krishna Pillai was born on September 22, 1916 at Muthana, a small village in [[Chirayinkeezhu taluk]], [[Thiruvananthapuram district]] of the south Indian state of [[Kerala]] to Kakkattu Matom Kesavar Kesavan and Chekalavilakkathuveettil Parvathy Amma.<ref name="Prof.N.Krishnapillai Biography">{{Cite web |url=https://sites.google.com/site/nkrishnapillaifoundation/nkrishnapillai |title=Prof.N.Krishnapillai Biography |website=N. Krishna Pillai Foundation |access-date=2014-08-18}}</ref> After schooling at the local schools in [[Sivagiri, Kerala|Sivagiri]] and [[Attingal]], he studies at Maharaja's College, Thiruvananthapuram, now known as [[University College Thiruvananthapuram]] from where he graduated with [[Honours degree|honours]] in Malayalam in 1938 and started his career as a teacher of Malayalam at Sivagiri Malayalam School.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/NKrishnaPillai/Html/NKPillaigraphy.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-14 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> He quit the job in 1940 to pursue research at the [[University of Kerala]] and in 1943, he joined [[The 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 as [[Government Brennen College, Thalassery]] as a professor, Inermediate College, Thiruvananthapuram as the principal, and as the professor of Malayalam at the University College.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" />

N. Krishna Pillai was married to Azhakattu Saraswathy Kunjamma, the marriage taking place in 1943,<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> and the couple had four daughters, Sahiti, Kala, Madhuri and Nandini, and a son, Hari. Pillai died on July 10, 1988, at [[Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology]], at the age of 71.<ref name="Prof.N.Krishnapillai Biography" />

==Legacy==
[[File:NKP-2.jpg|thumb|left|Prof. N. Krishna Pillai receiving the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship]]]]
{{quotebox|align = right|width=22em|''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,'' said [[C. Radhakrishnan]] on N. Krishna Pillai<ref name="‘N. Krishna Pillai brought theatre closer to society’" />}}
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.<ref name="N. Krishna Pillai - profile">{{Cite web |url=http://sangeetnatak.gov.in/sna/citation_popup.php?id=1075&at=2 |title=N. Krishna Pillai - profile |website=sangeetnatak.gov.in |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> He was credited with introducing social issues into Malayalam theatre at a time when mythological operas were the standard practice.<ref name="‘N. Krishna Pillai brought theatre closer to society’">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/n-krishna-pillai-brought-theatre-closer-to-society/article8526317.ece |title=‘N. Krishna Pillai brought theatre closer to society’ |author=Staff Reporter |date=2016-04-27 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref>

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, ''[[Kerala]] [[Henrik Ibsen|Ibsen]]''.<ref name="Tributes to ‘Kerala Ibsen’">{{Cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kozhikode/tributes-to-kerala-ibsen/article8518504.ece |title=Tributes to ‘Kerala Ibsen’ |author=Staff Reporter |date=2016-04-25 |website=The Hindu |language=en-IN |access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> ''Bhagna-Bhavanam'' (Broken Home) published in 1942, ''Kanyaka'' (Spinster) (1944), ''Balabalam'' (Might against might) (1946), ''Anuranjanam'' (Compromise) (1954), ''Mutakkumutal'' (Investment) (1960) and ''Kutathile Vilakku'' (Lamp inside the pot) published in 1972 are some of his notable works.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal" /> He also published 11 essay compilations, two books of memoirs and interviews and 9 books of children's literature.<ref name="List of works">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/NKrishnaPillai/Html/NKrishnaPillaibooks.htm |title=List of works |date=2019-04-15 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-15}}</ref> His book, ''Pratipathram Bhashanabhedham'', is a detailed study of the novels of [[C. V. Raman Pillai]] and the book has won a number of awards.<ref name="George1992">{{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Plays and prose|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTXougCB-NMC&pg=PA374|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-783-5|pages=374–}}</ref>

== Awards and honours ==
When [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] introduced an [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama|annual award for drama]] in 1958, Krishna Pillai received the inaugural award, for the work, ''Azhimukhathekku''.<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/Play.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama |date=2019-04-14 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516212809/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/ksa/Awards/Play.htm |archive-date=16 May 2018 |url-status=dead }}</ref> His essay compilation, ''Theranjedutha Prabhandangal'' was selected for the [[Odakkuzhal Award]] in 1972<ref name="Winners of Odakkuzhal Award">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/odakkuzhal-award/576 |title=Winners of Odakkuzhal Award |date=2019-04-14 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> and he received the [[Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi|Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award]] in 1973.<ref name="Drama, Awards, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/drama-a-ksna/465 |title=Drama, Awards, Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi |date=2019-04-14 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]] inducted him as a [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship|distinguished fellow]] in 1979<ref name="Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Fellows/Html/HonoraryList.htm |title=Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship |date=2019-04-14 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-14 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331092627/http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/Fellows/Html/HonoraryList.htm |archive-date=31 March 2019 |url-status=dead }}</ref> and he received the [[Sahitya Akademi Award]] in 1987;<ref name="KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS (MALAYALAM)">{{Cite web |url=http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524212356/http://www.prd.kerala.gov.in/awards.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2007-05-24 |title=KENDRA SAHITYA ACADEMY AWARDS (MALAYALAM) |date=2007-05-24 |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> he also received the [[Vayalar Award]]<ref name="Winners of Vayalar Award">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/vayalar-award/575 |title=Winners of Vayalar Award |date=2019-04-14 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> and C. V. Sahitya Puraskar, in 1987.<ref name="George1992" /> He was also a recipient of the Father Abraham Vadakkel Award.<ref name="Prof.N.Krishnapillai Biography" />

''N. Krishna Pillai Foundation'', an eponymous organization, organized a three-day arts festival in [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in memory of Krishna Pillai in 2018 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of ''Kanyaka'' one of Pillai's works.<ref name="Arts festival in memory of N Krishna Pillai - Times of India">{{Cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thiruvananthapuram/arts-festival-in-memory-of-n-krishna-pillai/articleshow/65760583.cms |title=Arts festival in memory of N Krishna Pillai - Times of India |website=The Times of India |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> ''N. Krishna Pillai Memorial Cultural Center'', an institution in Pillai's honour, is situated at [[Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram]], and houses a 250-seat mini theatre and N. Krishna Pillai Memorial library, a research centre with over 8000 titles.<ref name="Professor N. Krishna Pillai Memorial Cultural Centre, Thiruvananthapuram">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralaculture.org/krishnapillai-memorial-cultural-centre/525 |title=Professor N. Krishna Pillai Memorial Cultural Centre, Thiruvananthapuram |date=2019-04-14 |website=www.keralaculture.org |language=en |access-date=2019-04-14}}</ref> The Foundation also organizes an annual theatre festival in his honour.<ref name="Drama fest to remember N Krishna Pillai">{{Cite web |url=http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/article488669.ece |title=Drama fest to remember N Krishna Pillai |date=20 September 2010 |publisher=The New Indian Express |access-date=2014-08-18}}</ref>

== Bibliography ==
=== Plays ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=210333&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Randu Krithikal |last=Krishna Pillai. N |publisher=Kamalalaya |location=Kamalalaya}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=305695&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=N.Krishnapillayute naatakangangal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=305065&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Aaru Prahasanangal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |publisher=D. C. Books |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=305038&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Oru Swapnanatakam or etra dukhamayam lokam |last=Strindberg |first=August |date=1980 |publisher=National Book Stall |location=Kottayam |translator-last=Krishna Pillai |translator-first=N.}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304831&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=N.Krishnapillayute Lakhu Naatakangangal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1990 |publisher=D. C. Books |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304830&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Maruppacha |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1972 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304829&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Bhagnabhavanam |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1942 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304828&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Balabalam |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1945 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304827&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Anuranjanam |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1950 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304826&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Azhimukhathekku |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1956 |publisher=Nandanam |location=Trivendrum}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=304825&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Mutakkumuthal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1953 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Co-operative Society |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=43337&query_desc=au%253A%2522Krishna%2520Pillai%252C%2520N%253B%2520Author%2522 |title=N Krishna Pillayude naatakangal sampoornam |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N; Author |date=2008 |isbn=9788126421046 |location=Kottayam, D C Books}}
{{div col end}}

=== Essays ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=98515&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Kairaliyude katha |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=2010 |publisher=D C Books |isbn=9788126405091 |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=327172&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Kalidasan mutal O. N. V. vare |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1992 |publisher=D. C. Books |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=327050&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Prathipaathram bhashanabhedam |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1994 |publisher=D. C. Books |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=326464&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Akapporul thedi |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1990 |publisher=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |location=Trichur}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=241433&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Thiranjedutha prabhandhangal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1983 |publisher=Sahitya Pravarthaka Sahakarana Sangam |location=Kottayam}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27515&query_desc=au%253A%2522Krishna%2520Pillai%252C%2520N%253B%2520Author%2522 |title=Adiverukal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N; Author |date=1991}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27514&query_desc=au%253A%2522Krishna%2520Pillai%252C%2520N%253B%2520Author%2522 |title=Akapporul thedi |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N; Author |date=1990}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27371&query_desc=au%253A%2522Krishna%2520Pillai%252C%2520N%253B%2520Author%2522 |title=Anubhavangal abhimathangal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N; Author |date=1998}}
* {{Cite book |url=http://mgucat.mgu.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=27516&query_desc=au%253A%2522Krishna%2520Pillai%252C%2520N%253B%2520Author%2522 |title=Niroopanarangam |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N; Author |date=1989}}
{{div col end}}

=== Translations ===
{{Div col|colwidth=40em}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=325315&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Kalangam |last=Émile Zola |date=1980 |publisher=M. S. B. Depot |location=Quilon |translator-last=N. Krishna Pillai}}
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=306366&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Irulum velichavum |last=Hugo |first=Victor |date=1994 |publisher=State Institute of Children's Literature |location=Trivendrum |translator-last=N. Krishna Pillai}}
{{div col end}}

=== Memoirs ===
* {{Cite book |url=https://catalog.uoc.ac.in/cgi-bin/koha/opac-detail.pl?biblionumber=305501&query_desc=au%252Cwrdl%253A%2520N.%2520Krishna%2520Pillai |title=Priyasmaranakal |last=Krishna Pillai |first=N. |date=1989 |publisher=D.C.Books |location=Kottayam}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book|author=K. M. George|title=Modern Indian Literature, an Anthology: Plays and prose|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=eTXougCB-NMC&pg=PA374|year=1992|publisher=Sahitya Akademi|isbn=978-81-7201-783-5|pages=374–}}
* {{cite book|author=M K K Nayar|title=Story of an Era Told Without Ill-will|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EvGvDQAAQBAJ&pg=PA163|date=24 February 2014|publisher=DC Books|isbn=978-93-81699-33-1|pages=163–}}

== External links ==
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/NKrishnaPillai/Html/NKrishnaPillai.htm |title=Portrait commissioned by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi |date=2019-04-14 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-14}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/NKrishnaPillai/Html/NKrishnapillaipage.htm |title=Handwriting |date=2019-04-14 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi |access-date=2019-04-14}}

{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}
{{Kerala Sahitya Akademi Fellowship}}
{{Vayalar Awards}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, N. Krishna}}
[[Category:1916 births]]
[[Category:1988 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Varkala]]
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Malayalam-language dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:Indian literary critics]]
[[Category:Indian literary historians]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian historians]]
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]

N. Krishna Pillai - Revision history

Rahulsoman: /* External links */ {{Vayalar Awards}}