Pillai is an influential Hindu caste who speak Tamil and Malayalam. They are also found in Sri Lanka, Singapore, Malaysia, South Africa and Fiji. It started as a Hindu title, mostly used by people of the Vellalar caste of Tamil descent in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu and the Nairs. The title of Pillai was bestowed through a formal ceremony known as Thirumukom Pidikkuka i.e. holding the face of the king and included the payment of a fee known as 'adiyara' to the king. A person thus bestowed with this title secured the honorific title of Pillai suffixed and the distinctive title of Kanakku (meaning accountant) prefixed to his name.