N. N. Pillai: Difference between revisions

He started his drama troupe “ Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi” in 1952. This intellectual and brave mind has produced 23 full-length plays, 40 one act plays, 2 theatrical studies and his much acclaimed and daring autobiography “Njan” meaning “I”.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Nivin Pauly to play theatre legend N N Pillai in biopic by Rajeev Ravi|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2017/oct/12/nivin-pauly-to-play-theatre-legend-n-n-pillai-in-biopic-by-rajeev-ravi-1671857.html|access-date=2021-05-31|website=The New Indian Express}}</ref>  His most popular plays are Kapalika, Cross Belt, Prethalokam, Dam, Vishamavritham, Easwarn Arrestil, Guerilla, Supreme Court and Njan Swargathil. He along with his family members gave life to the characters in most of his plays. His plays questioned the socio political injustice, hypocrisy and corruptions prevalent in the society. The satire and sharp dialogues he used in his plays have sent shockwaves across the state. Through the themes and dialogues used, he aimed to bring forth the wretched inequalities and injustice in the society and to purify them by strong ridicule. Mr.Pillai was never an advocate of any political party or ideology. The ideology he upheld was humanity and nationalism which reflects in all his dramas and articles.

N. N. Pillai was born on 23 December 1918 at [[Vaikom]], [[Thalayazham]] [[Kottayam district]] to Ullala KeettuParambil Narayana Pillai and Vaikom Thethathil Parukkutty Amma.<ref name="Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal">{{Cite web |url=http://www.keralasahityaakademi.org/sp/Writers/PROFILES/NNPillai/Html/NNPillaiPage.htm |title=Biography on Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |date=2019-04-24 |website=Kerala Sahitya Akademi portal |access-date=2019-04-24}}</ref><ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|last=S.r.praveen|date=2018-11-22|title=A legend’s masterpiece to be revived|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/a-legends-masterpiece-to-be-revived/article25561244.ece|access-date=2021-05-31|issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=CiniDiary|url=http://cinidiary.com/|access-date=2021-05-31|website=cinidiary.com|language=english}}</ref> His father was a village officer. Due to his fathers 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 from [[CMS College Kottayam]] but failed in the exams. He went to [[British Malaya|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 his stint in Malaysia, he became an avid reader of diverse English books and novels. He mastered Malayan and Japanese language during this period. While working as a journalist he interviewed then famous hollywood actor Paul Muni in Singapore, perhaps the first indian to have interviewed this legendary actor.

During the [[Second World War]], he was part of the Field Propaganda Unit as Commanding Officer of a 58-member Team of [[Indian National Army|INA]]. After dissolution of INA he returned to [[Kerala]] 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 under [[Pattom Thanu Pillai]]. Along with his wife and elder daughter, he went to Malaysia again were he worked for four years as an estate manager and medical dresser. He himself took birth of his Son Vijayaraghavan while working in the Malaysian Estate.  

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. Driven by patriotism he left his estate job 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 in Singapore. He was elevated to the rank of Commanding officer of a 58 member unit. During his stint in INA he had faced the cruel faces of the war and many a times managed to escape from heavy carpet bombings of the British allies and guerrilla attacks of the Burman militant group. 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". After dissolution of the I.N.A in 1945 by Netaji, pillai was taken to Calcutta by the British army , were he skillfully managed to escape enroute to the prison and returned to his native, Kottayam. 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. In fact he had recommended many of his INA colleagues for availing the pension benefits.

== Theatre and movies ==

N. N. Pillai started his [[drama]] troupe called ''Viswa Kerala Kala Samithi'' in 1952 under the presence of Famous Poet Vallathol Narayana Menon."Manushyan" meaning 'Human' 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 and perhaps a rare thing across the world were an entire family coming forth for the cause of drama and as their livelihood. But 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|Thantiia 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. Qurbani was the 2nd drama he had written under Netaji's instruction, which was staged in front of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose while in Ragoon camp. Netaji was highly moved by the play, tears rolled down his cheeks watching the play and Mr.Pillai was gifted a purse by Netaji. Thantia Tope was also the last play watched by Netaji,just 4 days before his fatal air crash.  

== Awards and accolades ==