Atlas Ramachandran, a prominent businessman and film producer, died in Dubai.

 Atlas Ramachandran, a prominent businessman and film producer, died in Dubai.

Extremely well known among Malayalee People group in the Bay, individuals recall him as an individual who helped many individuals in their troublesome times.

M.M. Ramachandran, Chairman of Atlas Group of Companies and film producer, died in a hospital in Dubai on Sunday night after suffering a cardiac arrest. He was 80.

Ramachandran began his career as a bank employee in Madhukkara, near Mullassery in Thrissur, and later entered the gold business. Later on, he successfully expanded his business into other fields such as film production, real estate, and healthcare.

Name of the family

The very popular tagline of his Jewellery Group Atlas - Atlas Jewellery, Janakodikalude Viswastha Stapanam (trusted name of crores of people) - and Ramachandran's unique way of delivering the tagline made him a household name among Malayalees.

Even with his hectic business schedule, he was involved in art and cultural activities. He directed hit films such as Vaisali, Vasthuhara, Dhanam, and Sukrutham. He also appeared in Arabikkada, Malabar Wedding, and 2 Harihar Nagar. His company released films such as Kouravar, Venkalam, and Innale.

Starting over

In a setback to his otherwise successful career, he was sentenced to prison in Dubai in 2015 after a court found him guilty of issuing bounced cheques as security to two banks. He was released in 2018.

According to sources close to his family, after his release from prison, he was working on a plan to repay all of his loans and restart his business.

People remember him as a person who helped hundreds of people in difficult times among Malayalee communities in the Gulf.