Abhilash Pillai (born 17 May 1969) is an Indian
theatre director, both
pedagogue and scholar of contemporary
Indian theatre.
Early life and education
Abhilash Pillai was born on 17 May 1969 at
Trivandrum to S. R. K. Pillai and Sarada Pillai. In 1991, he completed his Bachelor of Theatre Arts from The School of Drama,
University of Calicut and secured third rank. He also completed a three-year Postgraduate Diploma in Dramatics with a specialization in Design and Direction from the
National School of Drama, New Delhi, with distinction in 1994. He then obtained a two-year diploma in Theatre Production and Stage Management with honors from the
Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, London in 1998. He also did a one-year intensive training in advanced theatre direction in association with eminent directors in the
Orange Tree Theatre, United Kingdom during 1998 and 1999 and attained his PhD from
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) is a public major research university located in New Delhi, India. It was established in 1969 and named after Jawaharlal Nehru, India's first Prime Minister. The university is known for leading faculties and r ...
in 2012.
Career
Pillai began his career in theatre as an
artistic director
An artistic director is the executive of an arts organization, particularly in a theatre or dance company, who handles the organization's artistic direction. They are generally a producer and director, but not in the sense of a mogul, since the ...
at the Abhinaya Theatre and Research Centre,
Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum) in
Kerala. He worked there from September 1999 to April 2001. Later, he was appointed as an assistant professor at
National School of Drama, New Delhi and rose to become the dean of academics from July 2008 to June 2011 and 2019 to 2021. In 2016 he became an associate professor at the National School of Drama. Presently, he is a visiting faculty/play director at many universities in
India and abroad. He is also the chairman of Arnav Art Trust since 2011 and a committee member of ''Natrang Pratishtan'',
New Delhi. He works as a professor at
National School of Drama and he is also executive director of the Asia Theatre Education Center (ATEC) Central Academy Of Drama, Beijing, China
Major directorial works
As an actor
*1987 – Indrajith in ''Lanka Lakshmi'' of
C. N. Sreekantan Nair
C. N. Sreekantan Nair (1928–1976) was an Indian independence activist, a Malayalam writer, short story writer, playwright and screenwriter, best known for his ''Ramayana'' trilogy – ''Kanchana Sita'', ''Saketham'' and ''Lankalakshmi''. He wrot ...
, directed by Krishnan Namboodiri
*1988 – Carpenter in ''Andorra'' authored by
Max Frisch, directed by Ashoken, Thrissur School of Drama
*1988 – Common-man in Mahendra Varman's ''Mathavilasam'' directed by
Kavalam Narayana Panicker
*1989 – Curtain-holder in ''Pancharatra'' of
Bhasa, under the direction of
B. V. Karanth
*1990 – Third Son in Bhasa's ''
Madhyama Vyayoga'', directed by Rajendren Thayattu
Awards
* 2003 – National Sanskriti Award 2002–03 (National Cultural Award) for achievements in theatre in December 2003 by
Sanskriti Pratishtan, New Delhi
* 2012 –
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award
Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award is an award given by the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, an autonomous organisation for the encouragement, preservation, and documentation of the performing arts of Kerala, set up by the Department of Cultu ...
for Theatre Direction
* 2013 – Rangkarmee Ram Vinay Rang Samman from Ashirwad Rangmandal, Begusarai, Bihar.
* 2013 - Dr. Vayala Vasudevan Pillai Award For Contribution in Theatre Performance by Kanal Samskarika Vedhi , Kanal Samskarika Vedhi of
Kerala University.
* 2018 - Badal Sarkar Award For Contribution in Theatre, The Fact Art And Culture Society, Bihar.
* 2021 - Dr. Taranikanta Roy Award For Contribution in Theatre Direction by Asom Natya Sanmilan, Asom Natya Sanmilan, Assam.
References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pillai, Abhilash
Indian theatre directors
Living people
Theatre practitioners
Indian drama teachers
National School of Drama alumni
1969 births
Recipients of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award