P. Kesava Pillai

Born: 20 July 1904

Died: 1 July 1983

He, better known by his pen-name P. Kesavadev, was a novelist and social reformer of Kerala, India.
He is remembered for his speeches, autobiographies, novels, dramas, short stories, and films.
Odayil Ninnu, Nadhi, Bhrandalayam, Ayalkar (Central Academi Award-winning novel), Ethirppu (autobiography) and Oru Sundariyude Athmakadha are some among his 128 literary works.
Kesavadev along with Thakazhi Sivasankara Pillai and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer are considered the exponents of progressive Malayalam Literature.
He was a prolific writer.
He has written about 300 short stories.
His stories offer a very wide range and variety in theme and technique and deal with the trivialities of the ordinary people as their themes.
Though he is primarily known for his contributions as a Novelist and Short Story Writer, the full-length plays and one-act plays he has written were very popular in those days and attracted huge audiences when enacted in stages.
His plays reflect his social criticism.
Plays like Pradhanamanthri (Prime Minister) have political undertones and were popular.