N. Krishna Pillai was an Indian dramatist, literary critic, translator and historian of Malayalam language. Known for his realism and dramatic portrayal of psycho-social tensions, Pillai's plays earned him the moniker, Kerala Ibsen. He was a recipient of the Sahitya Akademi Award, Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama, Odakkuzhal Award, Vayalar Award and Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi Award, besides other honours. The Kerala Sahitya Akademi inducted him as a distinguished fellow in 1979.

The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Drama is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi to Malayalam writers for writing a drama of literary merit. It is one of the twelve categories of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.