Get Ready for More Rajesh Pillai Magic in his New Release 'Mili'

Rajesh Pillai is back in the Malayalam film industry with his new film "Mili" starring Amala Paul and Nivin Pauly in the lead. It is Pillai's third film after 3 years since his last release "Traffic" in 2011.

"Mili" is a motivational film and Amala Paul will play the lead role of Mili, which is supposed to be a career defining role for her. Mili is an introvert and  someone who is struggling to come up in life. Nivin will play the significant character of Naveen in the film who is a soft skills trainer who is a big part of Mili's life.

The director believes that there is a Mili in each of us. "I failed class seven. It was one of the lowest points in my life, particularly because I come from a family of academic achievers. Then, my first film "Hridayathil Sookshikaan" bombed at the box office and everyone wrote me off. But yet I perserved in filmdom, often against all odds and with a lot of support from my friends and family, particularly my father, Raman Pillai, a former head of the department of politics, University of Kerala. Five years later came with "Traffic" and the green light to success!" said Pillai to The Hindu pointing that he too was once a character like "Mili."

Pillai's "Traffic," a multi starrer thriller was considered as the beginning of a new phase for Malayalam films which opened as a critical and commercial success. "Traffic" was later remade in Tamil starring Sarath Kumar in the lead. The film which has now been made in Hindi with Manoj Bajpai in the lead is set to release in August. It also has Bengali actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jimmy Shergill, Divya Dutta and the "Kahaani" fame Parambrata Chatterjee playing important characters. Suresh Nair who has written the script for "Kahaani" has done the same for the Hindi version of "Traffic."

Pillai had earlier announced another Malayalam film "Motorcycle Diaries" starring Kunchacko Boban, Nivin Pauly and Vishaka Singh in the lead roles to be his next venture after "Traffic." The film is now said to roll only next year. It is said to be a story of a Bullet for over four decades. The motor cycle will pass through four owners from Leh to Ladakh and the film is about discovering the real India.

Meanwhile, "Mili" will also mark the comeback of actress Kasthuri of "Aniyan Bhaawa Chettan Bhaawa" fame as Nancy who will be a mentor to Mili in her struggle. The story and the screen play of the film are done by Mahesh Narayanan. "Mili" is Mahesh Narayanan's first venture as a script writer who has been the editor of films like "Beautiful", "Traffic", "Mumbai Police" and "Vishudhan."