https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=Omchery_N._N._PillaiOmchery N. N. Pillai - Revision history2026-11-04T08:03:16ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=Omchery_N._N._Pillai&diff=522923&oldid=prevIndianeagle1 at 10:01, 27 December 20252025-12-27T10:01:02Z<p></p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Indian playwright and novelist (1924–2024)}}<br />
{{Distinguish|N. N. Pillai}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2018}}<br />
{{Infobox person<br />
| name = Omchery N. N. Pillai<br />
| image = <br />
| imagesize = <br />
| caption = <br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1924|02|01}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Vaikom]], [[Travancore]], [[British Raj|India]] (present-day [[Vaikom]], [[Kerala]], India)<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|2024|11|22|1924|02|01}}<br />
| death_place = [[New Delhi]], India<br />
| restingplace = <br />
| restingplacecoordinates = <br />
| othername = <br />
| occupation = Playwright, novelist, poet<br />
| yearsactive = <br />
| spouse = {{marriage|[[Leela Omchery]]|1950|1 November 2023|end=died}}<br />
| children = 2, including [[Deepti Omchery Bhalla]]<br />
| parents = Narayana Pillai ([[Sr.]]) <br> Pappi Amma<br />
| relatives = [[Kamukara Purushothaman]] (Brother-in-law)<br />
| website = <br />
| awards = [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]; 1972, 2010<br> [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Malayalam|Sahitya Akademi Award for Malayalam]]; 2020<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Omchery Narayana Pillai Narayana Pillai''' (1 February 1924 – 22 November 2024) was an Indian [[Malayalam|Malayalam–language]] playwright, novelist and poet from [[Kerala]]. He wrote nine full-length plays, more than 80 one-act plays and a few novels. His plays are noted for their bold experiments in form and technique as well as the uncommon vision inherent in many of the themes. Pillai won the [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] twice: in 1972 for the play ''Pralayam'' and in 2010 for his overall contribution to [[Malayalam literature]]. In 2022, he was honoured with [[Kerala Awards|Kerala Prabha Award]], second highest civilian award given by the Kerala Government.<br />
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==Life and career==<br />
Pillai was born in [[Vaikom]] in [[Travancore]], on 1 February 1924, as the son of Omchery Narayanan Pillai, Sr., and Pappikkutty Amma.<ref name="Asianet">{{Cite web|last=arunraj|title=2020ലെ എറ്റവും മികച്ച മലയാള കൃതിക്കുള്ള കേന്ദ്ര സാഹിത്യ അക്കാദമി പുരസ്കാരം ഓംചേരി എൻഎൻ പിള്ളയ്ക്ക്|url=https://www.asianetnews.com/kerala-news/omcheri-n-n-pillai-awarded-sahithya-academy-award-2020-in-malayalam-qyc8ma|access-date=2022-02-11|website=Asianet News Network Pvt Ltd|language=ml}}</ref> He started writing poems at a very young age. After completing his education from [[University College, Thiruvananthapuram]], he joined the news department of [[Delhi]] [[All India Radio]] in 1951 and later promoted as Editor in their publication department. He pursued his higher studies in [[Mass Communication]] from Pennsylvania University, Watten school and [[New Mexico State University]] and worked in the [[Indian Institute of Mass Communication]].<ref name="Asianet"/><br />
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After working in the Chief Censors Office and the Food Corporation of India, Pillai retired from the Central Service on February 1, 1989.<ref name="Asianet"/> He later joined the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and worked there till December 2019.<ref name="Asianet"/><br />
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Pillai wrote his first play ''Ee Velicham Ningaludethakunnu'' (This Light is Ours) at the behest of [[A. K. Gopalan]] who was then the [[Leader of the Opposition (India)|Leader of Opposition]] in [[Lok Sabha|the Indian parliament]]. Members of Parliament K. C. George, P. T. Ponnoose, [[E. K. Imbichi Bava]], V. P. Nair etc. acted in the play. Omchery has written nine full-length plays and more than 80 one-act plays. He founded the theatrical organisation 'Experimental Theatre' in 1963. [[DC Books]] published a collection of his 26 selected plays on 27 November 2011. Besides being a regular presence in Kerala's literary and cultural fields, Omchery was the Principal of the Delhi [[Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan]]'s College of Communication Management. He was married to [[Leela Omchery]], a well-known singer and sister of famous Malayalam singer, [[Kamukara Purushothaman]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://leelaomchery.org/ |title=PROF. DR. LEELA OMCHERY &#124; Musician, Musicologist and Author |access-date=2014-04-11 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407065154/http://leelaomchery.org/ |archive-date=2014-04-07 }}</ref> Leela Omcheri was from the Mankoyikkal Nair Tharavadu in Thiruvattar, near the Aadhikeshava Permual Temple. The couple had a son, S. D. Omchery and a daughter, famous classical dancer, [[Deepti Omchery Bhalla]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://leelaomchery.org/my-family/# |title=My Family &#124; PROF. DR. LEELA OMCHERY |access-date=2 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213224052/http://leelaomchery.org/my-family/# |archive-date=13 February 2015 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref><br />
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Pillai died in New Delhi on 22 November 2024, aged 100.<ref>[https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/omchery-n-n-pillai-passes-away-1.10100185 Renowned writer Omchery N N Pillai passes away]</ref><br />
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==Works==<br />
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===Plays===<br />
* ''Ee Velicham Ningaludethakunnu''<br />
* ''Pralayam''<br />
* ''Cherippu Kadikkilla''<br />
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===Novels===<br />
* ''Pralayam''<br />
* ''Thevarude Aana''<br />
* ''Kallan Kayariya Veedu''<br />
* ''Daivam Veendum Thettiddharikkappedunnu''<br />
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==Awards==<br />
* 1972: [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] for ''Pralayam''<br />
* 2010: [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]] for his overall contribution to [[Malayalam literature]]<ref>[http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/ml_aw12.htm "Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Overall Contribution to Malayalam Literature"]. [[Kerala Sahitya Akademi]]. Retrieved 7 July 2013.</ref><br />
* 2013: Pravasi Kalaratna Award<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/an-award-that-feels-like-home/article4557642.ece "An award that feels like home"]. ''[[The Hindu]]''. 28 March 2013. Retrieved 7 July 2013.</ref><br />
* 2020: [[Sahitya Akademi Award]], for ''Aakasmikam''<ref>{{cite news |title=Sahitya Akademi announces 2020 Odia, Malayalam awards |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/sahitya-akademi-announces-2020-odia-malayalam-awards/article36079187.ece |website=The Hindu |date=24 August 2021 }}</ref><br />
* 2022: [[Kerala Awards|Kerala Prabha]], second highest civilian award of Kerala<br />
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==References==<br />
<references /><br />
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{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}<br />
{{Authority control}}<br />
{{Sahitya Akademi Award For Malayalam}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Omchery N. N.}}<br />
[[Category:1924 births]]<br />
[[Category:2024 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian male writers]]<br />
[[Category:20th-century Indian novelists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian men centenarians]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male novelists]]<br />
[[Category:Indian male dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:Writers from Kochi]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language dramatists and playwrights]]<br />
[[Category:Malayalam-language novelists]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award]]<br />
[[Category:Novelists from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Poets from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Dramatists and playwrights from Kerala]]<br />
[[Category:Recipients of the Sahitya Akademi Award in Malayalam]]<br />
[[Category:Kerala Prabha Award Winners]]</div>Indianeagle1