Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday condoled the death of NRI businessman and Atlas Group chairman MM Ramachandran, who reportedly died of age-related ailments in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on October 2.
The businessman, also known as ‘Atlas’ Ramachandran, was 80 years old.
Vijayan, in a statement issued by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), said the businessman was active in public forums and cultural gatherings in Dubai and had close contacts with non-resident Malayalis.
It also helped the poor, the chief minister said in the statement.
Expressing his condolences, he said that Ramachandran, who was a jeweler and also a film producer, died before he could realize his desire to return to his native Kerala.
The businessman is known for his motto — ‘trusted institution of millions’ — and, in addition to producing films, he has also acted in a few.
Born in Kerala’s Thrissur district in 1942, Ramachandran started his career as a bank clerk before moving into the jewelery business, the CMO statement said.
