Film producer & distributor PKR Pillai dies

Thrissur: P K Ramachandran Pillai, who was the producer of 16 films including the Malayalam blockbuster ‘Chithram’, died at his residence at Mandanchira near Peechi, following age-related ailments, on Tuesday. He was 92.Pillai, fondly called PKR Pillai, was the founder of the film production company ‘Shirdi Sai Creations’ and had been the distributor of several movies.He entered the film field by producing the Malayalam movie ‘Vepralam’ in 1984. He was the producer of films like ‘Amritham Gamaya’, ‘Vandanam’, ‘Kizhakkunarum Pakshi’, ‘Aham’ and ‘Oomappenninu Uriyadappayyan’. ‘Pranayamanithooval’ released in 2002 was his last film.‘Jalakam’, ‘Vellanakalude Nadu’, ‘Aye Auto’ and ‘Vishnulokam’ are some of the films distributed by him. Pillai leaves behind his wife Rema, son Rajesh and daughters Preethi and Sonu. His son Sidhu, who was an actor, was found dead in Goa in 2018.“Pilla chettan’s name will be etched in golden letters in the history of Malayalam cinema. He was a great humanist who had lifted up artists, including myself, to the forefront of Malayalam cinema. Words will not be sufficient to describe the support he had given me in my growth as an actor,’’ Mohanlal said in his condolence post.