Born in Keezha Manakudy of the Diocese of Kottar in the civil district of Kanyakumari district, Tamil Nadu, India, Pillai sought to become a priest, entering the St Thomas Minor Seminary, Santhome, Chennai in 1969.

He was appointed as assistant parish priest in our Lady of Lourdes Shrine in Chetpet (1979-1980) and in Sacred Heart Church in Polur (1980-1981).

To add a feather to his extensive pastoral ministry, he has been a missionary to Guadeloupe, France (1990-1996).

[4] After two years of ministry in the diocese, he was sent to St Peter's Pontifical Institute, Bangalore for master's degree in theology (1981-1983).

He also pursued a doctoral degree in biblical theology from Pontifical Urban University, Rome (1986-1989).