Rajesh Pillai

Rajesh Pillai Biography

Rajesh Pillai is a talented young director of Malayalam who shot to fame after directing the movie ‘Traffic’ (2011) in hyperlink format, inspired from an actual event that happened in Chennai one year ago. Later the movie has inspired many to donate organs after brain death and successfully transport to other parts of the country, just the same way plotted in the film. He directed its Hindi version as well, though the movie has been delayed. The movie is also defined as one of the defining movies of the new generation Malayalam movies. In 2015 he directed the highly acclaimed film – Mili – starring Amala Paul. Vettah is one of the much awaited projects of 2016 and the movie stars Manju Warrier, Kunchacko Boban, Indrajith Sukumaran and Sandhya in lead roles.

Rajesh Pillai is a Keralite, born and brought up in Delhi. He is married to Mekha Rajesh. He made his film debut with 2005 romantic film - Hridayathil Sookshikkan starring Kunchacko Boban, Bhavana and Nithya Das. The movie was a box office flop and he took a long break from the industry. He returned with Traffic in 2011, which gave him a permanent space among new generation directors of Malayalam cinema. The movie received numerous awards at various award functions including Asianet Film Awards, Surya Film Awards, Reporter TV Film Awards, Reporter TV Film Awards and 1st South Indian International Movie Awards for Best Direction.

In 2012, he announced his project - Motorcycle Diaries starring Nivin Pauley in the lead role. However he started working on the Hindi version of ‘Traffic’ at the same time and also Amala Paul-Nivin Pauley starrer – Mili, which received appreciation from both critics and audience. Now placed among the leading directors of Mollywood, many surprises from his kit are yet to come.

Suffering from non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, Pillai died on 27 February 2016, at PVS Hospital, Kochi. 

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Updated: March 06, 2016