Fri Nov 22 14:41:26 UTC 2024: ## Eminent Malayalam Playwright and Poet Omchery N.N. Pillai Passes Away at 100
**Thiruvananthapuram, November 22, 2024** – Renowned Malayalam playwright, poet, and writer Omchery N.N. Pillai passed away in Delhi on Friday at the age of 100. Pillai, a prominent figure in Delhi’s Malayali community for decades, was known for his plays that highlighted the struggles of marginalized communities.
His illustrious career included writing *Ee Velicham Ningalkkullathakunnu*, an early play commissioned by Communist leader A.K. Gopalan to raise funds for coir workers. The production featured prominent Kerala MPs among its cast. Pillai’s work garnered significant recognition, with *Pralayam* winning the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award in 1972 and his memoir *Aakasmikam* receiving the Sahitya Akademi Award in 2020. In 2022, he was honored with the Kerala Prabha Award, the state’s highest civilian honor.
Born in Vaikom in 1924, Pillai’s career spanned government service, including roles with All India Radio and various Union government publications divisions, alongside advanced studies in communication in the United States. He maintained a close connection to Malayalam literature throughout his life, serving as head of the Malayalam Mission, a Kerala government initiative to promote the language among Malayalis abroad. His friendship with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi even led to him authoring *Kuttikalude Nehru*.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan lauded Pillai as an incomparable cultural figure who championed Malayalam culture nationally. Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala also paid tribute, emphasizing Pillai’s enduring dedication to Malayalam literature. Pillai is survived by no immediate family, as his partner, classical musician Leela Omchery, passed away last year.
First Piper 