Omchery N. N. Pillai

Omchery N. N. Pillai Biography

Omchery N. N. Pillai is an accomplished writer, playwright and poet associated with Malayalam literature. He is married to noted Carnatic musician and academician, Leela Omchery – a Padma Shri recipient. His brother-in-law Kamukara Purushothaman was a legendary singer of Malayalam cinema in the 1950s and 1960s. A master of weaving together multi-layered plays, he has written plays related to socio-political changes and has spent over 6 decades in the field. He has always experimented with the themes.

One of the veteran playwrights of the field, he has written more than 80 one-act plays, 9 plays and also a few novels. In 1972 he won Kerala Sahitya academy Award for best drama – Pralayam. He has also been honoured with Kerala Sahitya Akademi in 2010 for his contributions to Malayalam literature. He is also a recipient of Pravasi Kalaratna Award – 2013. Currently he is settled in Delhi with his wife, who works as a professor. He had a professional career as a journalist and media consultant.

Omchery was born in Palarivattom of Ernakulam district in the year 1924. Quite interested in literature, he started off his literal career at a very young age starting with poems. His graduation was completed at the capital city of Kerala and joined the news department of Delhi All India Radio in 1951. Promoted as Editor in their publication department, he also worked in the Indian Institute of Mass Communication following his studies abroad in this field.

Influenced by leftist movement and ideas that prevailed in Kerala social scenario then, his first play was Ee Velicham Ningaludethakunnu, at the behest of A. K. Gopalan. Pralayam and Cherippu Kadikkilla are other noted plays. Thevarude Aana, Kallan Kayariya Veedu and Daivam Veendum Thettiddharikkappedunnu are his published novels. Though he wrote plays in typical Malayali social life, he was able to connect with viewers of other parts of the country as well, through the same works.

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Updated: January 19, 2016