'Thiramala' means waves. Made in 1953, the movie was path-breaking. It was a musical, that had a strong social content. It was theatrically distributed by Maryland Studios in Trivandrum. The movie went on to introduce and establish actor Satyan, director Ramu Kariat and song writer P.Bhaskaran. All of them latter became house-hold names in Kerala, the southern most state of India. Its popular songs are still replayed on All India radio.
The director/Producer of this film-P.R.S.Pillai,did not make another feature film but directed several documentaries. One of them titled 'Virginia Tobaco'won the National Film Award from the President of India in 1962-63.He had a long career span with the Government of India. Subsequently as the first Chairman/Managing Director of the Kerala State Film Corporation (KSFDC), he set up the first modern studio film complex in Trivandrum in 1975-'76 called 'Chitranjali'.This studio in Kerala helped in replanting the Malayalam film industry back to Kerala from Madras.The studio still flourishes with its chain of art theatres in Kerala.
