Rajesh Raman Pillai was a renowned Indian film director, whose impressive career spanned over a decade, primarily working in the Malayalam cinema industry. His remarkable contribution to the industry is often credited with setting a new trend in Malayalam cinema with his thrilling film, Traffic, released in 2011.
Pillai began his film journey in 2005 with the direction of Hridayathil Sookshikkan. His second film, Traffic, written by brothers Bobby and Sanjay, was released in 2011. This innovative film, featuring a hyperlink narrative, was inspired by a real-life event that took place in Chennai. The film's success was widespread, and it is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the Malayalam New Wave.
In August 2012, the director announced his next project, titled Motorcycle Diaries. However, he put the project on hold and began working on Mili, a heroine-centered film starring Amala Paul in the title role opposite Nivin Pauly. The film was released in January 2015 and received positive reviews from critics, ultimately becoming an above-average grosser at the box office.
Vettah, a psychological thriller starring Kunchacko Boban, Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran, and Kadhal Sandhya, was scripted by Arunlal Ramachandran and touted to be the first ever mind game movie in Malayalam. The film was released on February 26, 2016, a day before Pillai's untimely demise. Manju Warrier played the role of Sreebala IPS, the City Police Commissioner, in this film.
Sadly, Pillai's life was cut short due to non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. He passed away on February 27, 2016, at PVS Hospital in Kochi.
