E. V. Krishna Pillai (14 September 1894 – 30 March 1938) was an Indian writer of

Malayalam literature Malayalam, the lingua franca of the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (union territory), Puduchery, is one of the six classical languages of India. Malayalam literature comprises those literary text ...

and member of

Sree Moolam Popular Assembly The Sree Moolam Popular Assembly in the erstwhile state of Travancore was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of India. Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with eight appointed members. Sri Mu ...

Travancore The kingdom of Travancore (), also known as the kingdom of Thiruvithamkoor () or later as Travancore State, was a kingdom that lasted from until 1949. It was ruled by the Travancore Royal Family from Padmanabhapuram, and later Thiruvanan ...

. He was known to be a multi-talented personality and excelled as an advocate, Member of Legislative Assembly, editor and writer. During his short life, he wrote comedies, dramas, short stories and an autobiography. He was also a columnist and a caricaturist. He was an eminent satirist and a genius in comedy.

Biography

E. V. Krishna Pillai was born on 14 September 1894 at Kunnathur Taluk of

Quilon Kollam (;), is an ancient seaport and the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is 71 kilometers (44 mi) nort ...

to Pappu Pillai and Kalyani Amma. After completing his schooling at Kunnathur, Krishna Pillai went on to graduate in Arts and Law and started his career as a government servant. He married Maheswari Amma, the youngest daughter of writer, C. V. Raman Pillai. The couple had five sons and two daughters. Chandraji (Ramachandran Nair), the eldest, was a film actor, the second son,

Adoor Bhasi K. Bhaskaran Nair (1 March 1929 – 29 March 1990), professionally credited by his stage name Adoor Bhasi, was an Indian actor and film director. He was mostly cast as a sidekick to protagonists, particularly Prem Nazir. His comedic roles were w ...

(Bhaskaran Nair), and the third, Padmanabhan Nair (Padman), a journalist and the writer of the cartoon ''Kunchu Kurup''. His other children were Omana Amma, Rajalakshmi Amma, Sankaran Nair (who died at the young age of 18 due to

heart disease Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is any disease involving the heart or blood vessels. CVDs constitute a class of diseases that includes: coronary artery diseases (e.g. angina pectoris, angina, myocardial infarction, heart attack), heart failure, ...

) and Krishnan Nair. Later, he took up the positions as Editor of publications such as ''Malayali'' and ''

Malayala Manorama '' Manorama'' is a morning newspaper in Malayalam published from Kottayam, Kerala, India by the Malayala Manorama Company Limited. Currently headed by Mammen Mathew, it was first published as a weekly on 14 March 1888, and currently has a rea ...

''. Pillai during this period, shifted his residence to Peringanad, near

Adoor Adoor is a Municipalities of Kerala, municipality in the Pathanamthitta district of Kerala, India. It is the headquarters of the List of taluks of Kerala, Adoor Taluk and Adoor Revenue Division. Adoor is located southwest of the district he ...

in erstwhile

state. He also served as a member of the

of Travancore. Krishna Pillai died on 30 March 1938 at the young age of 43. The ''E. V. Krishna Pillai Smaraka Sahitya Award'' has been instituted in his honour by Piravi Samskarika Samithi.

Works

Hasya Krithikal (comedy)

Naatakangalum Prahasanangalum (coma and farce)

Aathmakadha (autobiography)

Cherukadha (short story)

2 ente gandharvasnehithan

Novel

Prabandha Samahaaram (collection of essays)

Baala Saahithyam (children's literature)

E. V also co-authored books like Veeramahathwam with A. Sankara Pillai, Gaandhi Kaalam Onapaattu with C. V. KunjuRaaman.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, E. V. Krishna Writers from Thiruvananthapuram Malayalam-language writers 1894 births 1938 deaths Members of the Sree Moolam Popular Assembly 20th-century Indian dramatists and playwrights 20th-century Indian essayists 20th-century Indian novelists Indian children's writers Novelists from Kerala