Chithram, Vandanam producer PKR Pillai passes away at 92

PK Ramachandran Pillai entered the film industry in 1984 by producing the film Vepraalam, starring Sukumari, Adoor Bhasi, Lakshmi and Menaka in the lead roles.

His film Chithram, directed by Priyadarshan and starring Mohanlal, Ranjini, Nedumudi Venu, Lissy, Poornam Viswanathan, Sreenivasan, MG Soman, and Sukumari, was one of the highest-grossing Malayalam films at its time and achieved the rare fete of playing in two theatres in Kerala for over 300 days. The film was later remade in four languages — in Telugu as Alludugaru, in Hindi as Pyar Hua Chori Chori, in Kannada as Rayaru Bandaru Mavana Manege, and in Tamil as Engirundho Vandhan.

Though his Vandanam, again directed by Priyadarshan, was an average grosser at the box office, the film went on to achieve cult status over the years.

Pillai also bankrolled the 1986 action thriller film Shobhraj, directed by J Sasikumar, which was a remake of the 1978 Hindi film Don starring Amitabh Bachchan and Zeenat Aman.

His films Amrutham Gamaya, Aham, and Kizhakkunarum Pakshi received critical acclaim for stellar performances by actor Mohanlal.

Apart from bankrolling about 16 films, he also distributed eight movies, including successful projects such as Vellanakalude Nadu (1988, Dir. Priyadarshan), Aey Auto (1990, Dir. Venu Nagavalli) and Vishnulokam (1991, Dir. Kamal). While Thulasidas’ Pranayamanithooval (2002) was the last he produced, Lal Jose’s Achanurangatha Veedu (2006) was the final flick that Pillai distributed.

According to Reporter Live, Pillai was facing severe financial distress during his final years and was in a condition where he couldn’t afford even food and medicine.

In 2018, Pillai’s son and Malayalam actor Sidhu R Pillai was found dead in Goa. PKR Pillai is survived by his wife Rema and their three children.