PKR Pillai, producer of evergreen Malayalam movie ‘Chithram’, no more

PKR Pillai produced evergreen film ‘Chithram’. (Supplied)

PKR Pillai has produced 22 films. His association with director Priyadarshan and superstar Mohanlal had been successful.

His most popular movie, Chithram, was screened at Ajantha theatre in Thiruvananthapuram and Little Shenoys in Ernakulam for 366 days as regular shows.

Some of his other notable films include, Vandanam (1989), Kizhakkunarum Pakshi (1991) and Amrutham Gamaya (1987).

He produced films under the banner of Shirdi Sai Creations and distributed films through Shirdi Sai Release. Pillai produced eight of Mohanlal’s films in the 1980s which gave popularity to the actor.

Vepralam (1984) was PKR Pillai’s first movie as a producer.

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Some of his other films include Thathamme Poocha Poocha (1984), Ezhu Muthal Onpathu Vare (1985), Puli Varunne Puli (1985), Onathumbikkoru Oonjaal (1985), Oru Yugasandhya (1986) Shobhraj (1986).

He also distributed films such as Aey Auto (1990) and Vishnulokam (1990).

He also faced losses with some of his films like Aham (1992), Vandanam (1989), Rapid Action Force (2000), and Pranayamanithooval (2002).

Actor-director Madhupal had condoled the death of PKR Pillai.

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Difficult times

PKR Pillai, was suffering from memory loss, it was reported in 2019. His business collapsed and he plunged into poverty. The news of Pillai, who produced around 22 movies, spending his time in his house in Thrissur was very painful to audiences who even watched those films produced by him in theatres.

Pillai had other business ventures in big cities in India. But the family fell into hard times after the businesses were taken over by those who were close to Pillai by allegedly deceiving him.

Pillai’s situation worsened after the death of his son.

Sidhu R Pillai, one of Pillai’s four children, died in mysterious circumstances in Goa in 2018. He had acted in Dulquer Salmaan’s debut movie Second Show.

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PKR Pillai hails from Koothattukulam in Ernakulam. He had spent most of his life in Mumbai doing various businesses.

Pillai also contested in the Mumbai municipality polls as a Congress candidate. He and his family came down from Mumbai to settle at Thrissur after his businesses met with failure.

Pillai had to sell his luxury house in Mumbai to buy the plot and house in which the family is currently staying. His wife Rama had said that his friends from the cinema industry weren’t in picture after he lost everything.