Kainikkara Kumara Pillai Biography 
Kainikkara Kumara Pillai is most known for the playwright of theatre play, Harischandra. He is the younger brother of Kainikkara Padmanabha Pillai, an actor and a writer. Kumara Pillai was a teacher by profession and is known most as a writer and actor. He was a well known theatre personality of Malayalam whose contributions are really significant. It was Kainikkara Kumara Pillai, who nourished the talents of Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai during his school days. Kumara Pillai was the headmaster of Thakazhi who exposed him to Indian literature.
Kainikkara Kumara Pillai was born in 1900 to an educated, middle-class family as the son of Perunayil N. Kumara Pillai, an Ayurvedic Pandit and lawyer. After completing schooling, he took B.A in Philosophy from Kumbakonam College, Thiruvananthapuram. After completing his Bachelor of Arts degree, he joined as a school teacher in NSS school in Kainikkara. He has also served as the principal of Karuvatta High School during the period - 1924–1943. Later he became Head Master of Palkulangara High School, Thiruvananthapuram and principal of Mahatma Gandhi College, Thiruvananthapuram (1955–56).
He involved in theatre and wrote powerful playwrights of many plays. He is regarded as one of the best playwrights during middle twentieth century. A few of his dramas include - Harichandracharitam (1933), Manimangalam (1938 ), Mohavum Mukhtiyum (1938), Veshangal (1946), Prema Parinamam (1951), Agnipareeksha (1954), Vicharaveechikal (1955 ), Anthony and Cleopatra (1967) and Olichukali (1971 collection of plays). His radio play - Satyathinde Panthavu (1968 ) was written while he was working at All India Radio, Thiruvananthapuram. He was the Director of Educational Services of All India Radio, one of the highest positions held by him. In 1969, he won Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Mathraka Manushyan.
He has also written a few short stories - Achane Konna Makan (1959) and Balahradayam (1934) and has translated many works of Shakespeare as well. His novel – Durandashanga is now a part of a text-book at the University of Travancore and Madras University.
Published: N/A
Updated: October 24, 2013
