Mollywood bids tearful adieu to Rajesh Pillai

Traffic and Vettah director Rajesh Pillai passed away in a private hospital in Kochi on Saturday morning.
The 41-year-old filmmaker was suffering from non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis and was undergoing treatment for the past few months. Sources close to him say that he was busy with the post-production of his latest release Vettah for the last few weeks and the strain had led to the deterioration of his condition.He was admitted to a hospital in Kochi on Thursday, a day before Vettah's release. Rajesh Pillai's name has been synonymous with Mollywood's new wave of cinema. In January 2011, when the Malayalam film industry was practically limping, he and his team ushered in a new era with the critical and commercial superhit movie Traffic. The movie undoubtedly changed the landscape of the industry ' be it in terms of content, presentation, theme or cast. A unique feature of Rajesh that many of his colleagues would attest to, was that he saw the potential in people and ensured that it was brought to the fore. Kunchacko Boban, a close friend of the director and who had acted in his debut movie Hridayathil Sookshikan, Traffic and his last movie Vettah, had told us in an earlier interview that Rajesh kept pushing him out of his comfort zone and brought out the best in him. Any other director would have been in a hurry to start working on his next project after the rollicking success of Traffic. But Rajesh wanted to deliver the best as a follow up to such a film. He took three years to come up with his next, a woman-centric movie, Mili, which was about a girl whose low self-esteem stood in the way of her success. Rajesh whose debut movie Hridayathil Sookshikaan didn't rise up to the mark is quoted to have said that he took Mili up as the character's perseverance reminded him so much of himself. Bollywood scribe Suresh Nair, who worked with Rajesh in the yet-to-be-released Hindi remake of Traffic, says that the director had a childlike determination. 'He used to go to great lengths if he wanted something done.
Cinematographer Santhosh Thundiyil and I used to call him the 'baby director' because he was jovial, passionate and also sometimes stubborn like a kid about the things he wanted to be done,' says Suresh. 'He's the kind you could never hold a grudge against.' Those who worked with him in his latest release Vettah endorses his passion for film making. Despite the numerous hospital visits and treatments for his liver condition, Rajesh made sure he completed his work, at times giving priority to his passion over his health. Unfortunately he passed away before he could get to know about the positive reviews his latest movie has been garnering. And Rajesh's dream project, Motorcycle Diaries, remains unfulfilled. Every time somebody asked Rajesh about the film, he would say, 'It's still on. I've spent several years working on it so that it would be close to perfection.' And that's what he strived for, even at the cost of his life. It is an irony that Rajesh, who had advocated organ donation through his Traffic, succumbed to liver cirrhosis after delaying his organ transplant for completing his last movie Vettah.
Indrajith (actor) I knew Rajesh earlier but got to know him closely in the past few months when I was working with him in Vettah. A great bond developed between us in a short span of time and I can't really describe it. He was quite fond of me as an actor and a person. His love for films was immense, and we would talk every day about films and world cinema. In fact, I had given him a copy of my hard drive with foreign films. He was a soft-spoken person, very innocent and child-like, and he never hid his feelings - be it good or bad. He had been ill for a year but once you start shooting, he would suddenly become a different person, bursting with energy. We all thought he would recover but the strain was too much for him, I guess. And sadly, he couldn't get to know the responses to his film, and left us after presenting a good film. He really wished to watch the movie with us. There were many more subjects in his mind, and he has passed away leaving behind several good films, including his dream, Motorycle Diaries. While dubbing for Vettah, he told me that we should sit together and discuss it once.
Lena (actress) Rajesh Pillai was instrumental in bringing a big change in my career. As a director I fondly remember how he taught me the 'outburst scene' in Traffic for which I am remembered. He showed me how to control my energy and react perfectly based on the situation. Once, I was reading a book alongside working on this scene and he suddenly snatched it away and said, 'I won't give it back to you until the shoot is over'. I have a lot of fond memories about him. It is very sad for everyone and also for the entire Malayalam film industry. He had a lot to contribute but unfortunately many of his dreams will remain incomplete. Personally, he is one of the sweetest people I have come across. He was positive about life. He will be badly missed.
Rahman (actor) When I think of him, I remember what Kamal Haasan sir told me after watching Traffic: 'Rahman, please do not mind, I am going to steal your role from Traffic!' I replied that I was glad but you should make sure that it is directed by Rajesh Pillai, because only he could pull off the movie so well. Rajesh was one of the best captains I have worked with and he knows how to sail the ship well and also handle the crew amicably. He was adept at presenting simple ideas well and make the scenes gripping for the audience. He was a promising director, who had the capability to bring dramatic twists to the film culture of Malayalis. Also, he was an incredible human being who, values friendships. He was honest and sincere as a person. Anybody would love him. And when some people go away, they leave an unexplainable void in us. That's how I feel now. He had a lot more to do and contribute to the field of cinema.
Manu Manjith (lyricist) Rajesh sir was a simple man, who had no airs of a director. He enters our heart in the fraction of a second and even before we realise, he becomes a special person in our lives. While working for Vettah, whenever we spoke, he was at hospital and I always wondered how he is able to work bearing all the pain. It shows his devotion and love for cinema. And that is reflected in every film he has done. A 'big' man with a great heart, he had miles to go before he slept.