Rajesh Pillai

Rajesh Raman Pillai was an Indian film director working in Malayalam cinema. He is credited with setting a new trend in Malayalam cinema with his thriller, Traffic (2011). He began his film career in 2005 by directing Hridayathil Sookshikkan. His second film Traffic, written by brothers Bobby and Sanjay was released in 2011. The film has its narrative in a hyperlink format is inspired from an actual event that happened in Chennai. The film was a notable success and is widely regarded as one of the defining movies of the Malayalam New Wave. In August 2012, the director announced his next movie titled Motorcycle Diaries. However Pillai put the project on hold and started the work of Mili, a heroine-centered film with Amala Paul in title role opposite Nivin Pauly. The film released in January 2015 and received positive reviews from critics and became an above average grosser at box office. Vettah, a psychological thriller, starring Kunchacko Boban, Manju Warrier, Indrajith Sukumaran and Kadhal Sandhya, scripted by Arunlal Ramachandran, and is touted to be the first ever mind game movie in Malayalam was released on 26 February 2016, a day before Pillai's death. Manju Warrier plays the role of Sreebala IPS, the City Police Commissioner in this film. Suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Pillai died on 27 February 2016, at PVS Hospital, Kochi.