T. M. Abraham

Thottathimyalil Mathew Abraham (born 1 June 1949) is an Indian theatre director and playwright. He is the former Vice Chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy. He is also the recipient of the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy awards for playwriting, Kerala Sahitya Academy Award for the play Peruthachan and the Government of Kerala award for best play direction.

Early life and education
Abraham was born at Neyyassery village in Thodupuzha, Idukki district of Kerala in a Syrian Catholic Christian family to Ouseph Mathew Thottathimyalil and Aleykutty Mathew. He was the second son among the 11 children in the family. Abraham did his primary education from St. Sebastian School, Neyyassery, Thodupuzha. He took his graduation from the University of Kerala. He also holds a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Relations.

Abraham is married to Molly and the couple has a daughter and two sons. The family lives in Edappally in Kochi.

Professional career
Abraham joined Fertilisers and Chemicals Travancore Ltd (FACT), at the age of 21, as a chemist and was the Manager of Public Relations at the time of his retirement in 2004. He was also a nominated member of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi and Kerala Kalamandalam during 1995-1998. He was an executive member of the Samasta Kerala Sahitya Parishad. Abraham also served as the Secretary of the Indian Society of Authors, Kerala Chapter during 2002-2004. Currently he is the Secretary of Cochin Theatre Group, a drama group based in Kochi. He was the Vice Chairman of the Kerala Sangeetha Nadaka Academy (2001-2004 and 2011-2016). Mr. Abraham is also offers guest session at the School of Drama, Thrissur, Kerala.

Books published
A renowned playwright and theatre director, Abraham has published 27 books in Malayalam in various categories, including novels, dramas, monographs, and translations.


 * Novels
 * Ulpatthi
 * Shantigiri


 * One act play collections
 * Perunthachan
 * Nashtapetta Chirakukal
 * Athbuthanganam
 * Pravukal Ippol Karayunnila
 * Keeri Muricha Kannu
 * Rakthabali
 * Kozhutha Kalakutty


 * Drama
 * Nizhal Koodaram
 * Ekakikaluda Thazhvara


 * Theatre Books
 * Abhinayakala Oramugham
 * Theatre Games Kuttikalkku
 * Naveena Nataka Chintakal


 * Translations
 * Vadhu – Malayalam translation of H. S. Shivaprakash’s Kannada play.
 * Jesus CEO – Malayalam translation of Jesus CEO by Laurie Beth Jonas.
 * The Path – Malayalam translation of The Path by Laurie Beth Jonas.
 * Yesukristhuvinte Suvishesham – Malayalam translation of Gospel According to Jesus Christ by Nobel laureate Jose Saramago’s Portuguese novel.
 * Caligula – Malayalam translation of Nobel laureate Albert Camus’s play.
 * Abhinaya Patagala - Malayalam translation of The Art of Acting by Richard Boleslavsky.
 * Miss Julie - Malayalam Translation of Miss Juile by Swedish writer August Strindberg.
 * The Father - Malayalam Translation of Miss Juile by Swedish writer August Strindberg.
 * Mary Magdalene - Malayalam translation of the play by Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck.
 * Anthar Anthare Nayikkumbol - Malayalam translation of collection of four plays by Belgian playwright Maurice Maeterlinck.


 * Monographs


 * N. N. Pillai – Monograph on Malayalam playwright N. N. Pillai.
 * Prof. G. Sankara Pillai - Manograph on Malayalam playwright Prof. G. Sankara Pillai.
 * K.T. Mohammed - Monograph on Malayalam playwright K.T. Mohammed.

His play Rakthabali was translated into Bengali and was published in the special issue of the Bengali Theatre Journal Shoodrak in the year 2000. Nashtapetta Chirakukal was translated into Hindi.

Awards and recognitions

 * First prize in the all Kerala Professional Drama competition conducted by the Government of Kerala in 1980, for the play Aham Aham.
 * Best Director Award in the all Kerala Professional Drama competition conducted by the Government of Kerala in 1980.
 * Kerala Sahitya Akademy Award in 1981 for the play collection Perunthachan.
 * Sangeeta Nataka Akademi award in 1993 for the best playwright.
 * K.C.B.C. Literary Award in 1994, for the one act play Pravukal Eppol Karayunnilla.
 * V. T. Bhattathiripad award for the play collection Keerimuricha Kannu in 2001.
 * Senior Fellowship by Government of India, Department of Culture, in 2004.
 * Kala Ratna Award by Kalasadan Thrissur, for his contributions to the Malayalam Theatre, in 2010.
 * Abu Dhabhi Malayalee Samajam Award for his contributions to the Malayalam Theatre, in 2010.
 * Chavara award by Chavara Cultural Academy in 2017 for the contributions in Theatre and drama.

Plays directed

 * Perunthachan, 1976
 * Atphutanganam, 1978
 * Aham Aham, 1980
 * Nashtapetta Chirakukal, 1982
 * Pavakoothu, 1984
 * Pravukal Ippol Karayunnilla, 1985
 * Yayati, 1988
 * Swapana Bhavanam, 1992
 * Caligula, 1993 (Original play by Albert Camus translated into Malayalam.)
 * The Queen and the Rebels, 1995 (Original play by Ugo Betti translated into Malayalam.)
 * Thuglaq, 2002 (Original Kannada play by Girish Karnad translated into Malayalam.)
 * Antigone, 2003 (Original French play by Jean Anouilh translated into Malayalam.)
 * Madhavi, 2004 (Original Hindi play by Bhisham Sahni translated into Malayalam.)
 * Madhavi, 2005 (Madhavi was presented at the 7th Bharath Rang Mahotsav, at New Delhi on 18 January 2005. The Festival was conducted by the National School of Drama, New Delhi.
 * Oedipus, 2005 (Original Greek play by Sophocles translated into Malayalam.)
 * Waiting for Godot, 2006 (Original French play by Samuel Beckett translated into Malayalam.)
 * Prathibimbam, 2007 (Original Marathi play by Mahesh Elkunchwar translated into Malayalam.)
 * Death and the Maiden, 2017 (Original Chilean play by Ariel Dorfman translated into English.)