Professor N. Krishna Pillai who carved a unique and distinct path in literature was a doyen of Malayalam Drama. He was born on 22 September 1916 as the son of Kakkattumadathil Kesavn of Attingal and Chekala Vilakkathu Veetil Parvathy Amma of Varkala. Graduated in BA (Hons) in 1938, he began his career as a high school teacher (Malayalam) at Sivagiri, Varkala. Later, he worked as lecture at Hindu College, Thirunelveli, University College, Thiruvananthapuram, professor at Government Brannan College, Thalassery, and respectively Principal at Intermediate College, Thiruvananthapuram. He retired in 1985.
N. Krishna Pillai scripted many plays like Bhagnabhavanam, Kanyaka, Balabalam, Darsanam, Anuranjanam, Mudakkumuthal, Azhimukhathekku, etc. All his plays portrayed the lines conflicts in human relationships aesthetically. The plays presented were based on rationalism. Professor N. Krishna Pillai had received the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.
The professor N. Krishna Pillai Memorial Cultural Center situated in Thiruvananthapuram perpetuates the memory of the great teacher and litterateur. The center stands on the land allotted by the Government of Kerala at Nalanda, Palayam. The day-to-day activities of the centre are supervised by a committee headed by the renowned poet, Prof. ONV Kurup. The building houses a mini theatre with a seating capacity of 250, and a library with over 8,000 titles. The library, the N. Krishna Pillai Memorial library, is a research centre.
A forum titled ‘Nadavanam Balavedi’ functions in the center for the benefit of children. Its main aim is to create awareness among the children about rich cultural heritage.
