Dennis Joseph

Dennis Joseph (20 October 1957 – 10 May 2021) was an Indian scriptwriter and director known for his work in Malayalam films. He was active during the 1980s and early 1990s. He frequently collaborated with directors Joshiy and Thambi Kannanthanam. He is known for scripting films including Nirakkoottu, Rajavinte Makan (1986), Shyama (1986), New Delhi (1987), No.20 Madras Mail (1990), Kottayam Kunjachan (1990), Indrajaalam (1990), Akashadoothu (1993), Palayam (1994), and F.I.R. (1999). He also directed five films, including Manu Uncle, which won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 1988 and the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Children's Film in 1989.

Early life Dennis was born on 20 October 1957 in Ettumanoor, Kottayam district to M. L. Joseph and Eliyamma Joseph. His father worked in the Indian Air Force, while his mother worked as a local teacher. He was also the nephew to Francis, who would go on to be a producer of the 1974 film Shapamoksham. Dennis made his debut into cinema in 1985, as the scriptwriter for the Jeassy film Eeran Sandhya, a film which saw Mammootty star alongside Shobana, Rahman and Dennis' uncle Jose Prakash.

Nirakkoottu was a success, leading Dennis to write a series of other films in the subsequent years. This included Rajavinte Makan, loosely adapted from Rage of Angels, a novel by Sidney Sheldon, which was released in 1986. Directed by Thampi Kannanthanam, this film was a huge success at the box office. Appearing as Vincent Gomas, a crime boss, Mohanlal successfully mesmerized the moviegoers and the film raised his stardom. Similarly, after around many flops, Mammootty was in the darkest days of his career in the period 1986–87, when Dennis scripted New Delhi. Directed by Joshiy, this film was also a loose adaptation of an English novel, Irving Wallace's The Almighty. Completely shot in and around Delhi, and went on to become the comeback film of Mammootty.

Dennis was to have made his directorial debut with Venmegha Hamsangal. The film was shelved after 7 days of filming due to the Gulf War. In 1988, Dennis made his directorial debut with critically acclaimed Manu Uncle starring Mammootty, and the film featured a comedic police officer played by Suresh Gopi. It won the National Film Award for Best Children's Film in 1988 and the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Children's Film in 1989.

Dennis continued writing scripts throughout the 1990s and 2000s; his last released film to date being 2013's Geethanjali, directed by Priyadarshan. He then took a hiatus from writing until 2020 when he announced a collaboration with director Omar Lulu on a film called Power Star.

Filmography

As writer YearTitleDirectorNotes 1985Eeran Sandhya Jeassy 1986Sayam Sandhya Shyama NyayavidhiDialogues Only Vazhiyorakazchakal Thambi Kannanthanam Thanthram 1990Indrajaalam Thambi Kannanthanam Kottayam Kunjachan T. S. Suresh Babu Oliyampukal Hariharan 1991Thudar Katha Himself Story Only Mahanagaram T. K. Rajeev Kumar Maanyanmar T. S. Suresh Babu 1993Sarovaram Jeassy 1995Agrajan Himself Indian Military Intelligence T. S. Suresh Babu 1997Bhoopathi Joshiy Shibiram T. S. Suresh Babu 1999F. I. R. Shaji Kailas 2002Phantom Biju Varkey 2004Vajram Pramod Pappan 2009Kadha, Samvidhanam Kunchakko Haridas Keshavan Patham Nilayile Theevandi Joshy Mathew 2010Kanyakumari Express T. S. Suresh Babu 2013Geethanjali PriyadarshanDialogues Only

As director Year Title Notes 1988 Manu Uncle Written by himself but credited as Shibu Chakravarthy 1989Adharvam 1990 AppuWritten by Sreekumaran Thampi 1991 Thudar Katha 1995 Agrajan