KOCHI: Noted young film director Rajesh Pillai, 42, died in a private hospital here on Saturday due to liver-related complications. Mr Pillai was admitted to hospital in a critical condition on Friday and he died round at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday.
Doctors said he had been suffering from non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis for a long-time.
Noted young film director Rajesh Pillai, 42, died in a private hospital here on Saturday due to liver-related complications. Mr Pillai was admitted to hospital in a critical condition on Friday and he died round at 11.30 a.m. on Saturday.
Doctors who treated Mr. Pillai said that he had been suffering from non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis for a long-time. His condition worsened after contracting pneumonia. Doctors had advised him to undergo a liver transplant long ago, sources said.
Mammotty comes out from the hospital after paying last respects to Rajesh Pillai in Kochi on Saturday. (Photo: DC)
Friends and well-wishers of Mr. Pilliai said that he had ignored the health warnings as he was busy with the completion of his latest film 'Vettah' starring Kunchacko Boban and Manju Warrier. Ironically, Mr. Pillai was admitted to hospital in a critical condition the day the movie was released across the state.
The cremation of Mr. Pillai will be held at Ravipuram crematorium in Kochi at 10.30 a.m. on Sunday. Mr. Pillai turned an independent director with the 2005 film 'Hridaythil Sookshikkan'.
He stayed away from the industry for nearly six years before coming up with his second film 'Traffic' hailed by critics as path-breaking in the history of Malayalam films. 'Traffic,' one of the first in the new-generation Malayalam films, was followed by 'Mili' and 'Vettah.'
The Hindi version of 'Traffic' was also directed by Mr. Pillai. He is the son of Dr. K. Raman Pillai, former head of the department of political science, University of Kerala. He is survived by wife Megha.
