Dileesh Pothan

Dileesh Philip (born 19 February 1980), also known as Dileesh Pothan, is an Indian film director, actor and producer, who works in Malayalam cinema. He made his directorial debut with the 2016 comedy drama film Maheshinte Prathikaaram, starring Fahadh Faasil. The film received the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award at the 64th National Film Awards. Pothan also won the Best Director Award at the 64th Filmfare Awards South.

Pothan began his career as an assistant director for the 2010 film 9 KK Road. He also assisted director Aashiq Abu in five of Aashiq's films. He made his acting debut as a film director in one scene in Aashiq's 2011 film Salt N' Pepper. His second directional was Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum (2017), which was also a critical and commercial hit. Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum won the Best Feature Film in Malayalam Award as well at the 65th National Film Awards. His third and latest film Joji, also starring Fahadh Faasil, released to highly positive reviews on the OTT platform of Amazon Prime Video in April 2021. Joji won the best International Film Award at the Swedish International Film Festival (SIFF 2021).

Personal life Dileesh Pothan was born in Manjoor, Kottayam, Kerala. He did his schooling at Emmanuel's High School, Kothanalloor. After pre-degree from Kuriakose Elias College, Mannanam, he pursued a BSc degree at St. Philomena's College, Mysore. Due to his keen interest in drama and cinema, he followed up with an M.A. in Theatre Arts at Sree Sankaracharya University of Sanskrit, Kalady and an M.Phil. in Theatre Arts from Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam. Pothan married Jimsy in December 2012 at St. Thomas Church, Kuruppanthara. They have a daughter and a son.

Film career Pothan started his film career as an assistant director in the film 9 KK Road (2010). Later on he became an associate director to Aashiq Abu. He assisted Aashiq Abu in films like 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Da Thadiya (2012), and Gangster (2014). He was the chief associate director in Dileesh Nair's 2014 film Tamaar Padaar.

His first appearance in front of a movie camera was as a junior artist in the movie Chandranudikunna Dikkil (1999) directed by Lal Jose. Later his first proper role as an actor was in Salt N' Pepper. He has also acted in small roles mostly in Aashiq Abu's films, Salt N' Pepper (2011), 22 Female Kottayam (2012), Idukki Gold (2013), Gangster (2014), Iyobinte Pusthakam (2014), and Rani Padmini (2015). He has acted in several films since then.

Pothan ventured into film production by forming the film production company Working Class Hero in 2018, partnered by Syam Pushkaran. Their first movie was Kumbalangi Nights.

Filmography

All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.

As director Year Title Notes 2016 Maheshinte Prathikaaram 2017 Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum 2021 Joji 2027

As producer

As actor Year Title Role Notes 2011 Salt N' Pepper Movie director 2012 22 Female Kottayam Advocate 2013 5 Sundarikal Security (Segment: Kullante Bharya) Also as Abhilash's father in Sethulakshmi Idukki Gold Employee at 'Mathrubhumi'2014 Gangster DySP Vithura Chengalath Hangover Krishna Kumar Tamaar PadaarSibi Karimannur Iyobinte Pusthakam Tea shop owner 2015 Chandrettan Evideya Naadi Jyothishi Ennum Eppozhum Deepa's client's Son Rani Padmini Ullas Menon 2016 Guppy Krishnan Maheshinte Prathikaaram Eldho Also director2017 Aby CI George Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu George Cameo appearance Comrade in America Hari Role Models Gautam's bossNjandukalude Nattil Oridavela VarkichanPullikkaran Staraa Kuriachan / "Stephen"Tharangam God Pokkiri Simon CI AlexHoney Bee 2.5 Director Thomas George2018 Carbon ThambanEe.Ma.YauVikariyachanRosapoo KuttanKadha Paranja Kadha Neerali RajanEnte Mezhuthiri AthazhangalSony GeorgePadayottamSenan Varathan BennyDrama Dixon Lopez Oru Kuprasidha Payyan Dr. P. Suresh BabuLadoo SureshJoseph PeterEnte Ummante PeruShivankuttyEnnalum SarathDoctorSamaksham2019Neeyum Njnanum Lonappante Mamodeesa Kunjuoottan Kumbalangi NightsCircle Inspector Raju UnniCameo appearanceVaarikkuzhiyile Kolapathakam Joy Oru Yamandan PremakadhaAbhilash KarikkanThottappanJonappanVirusPrakashanUndaC.I. K. MathukuttyPranaya Meenukalude Kadal AnsariMoothonMoosaBilingual film (Hindi, Malayalam)Sidharthan Enna NjanThakkol Kolaambi Sudharshan 2020 Trance Avarachan 2021 Joji Dr. Roy Malik P. A. Aboobacker Djibouti Thomachan 2022 Bheeshmaparvam TV James Pada Narayanankutty Prakashan Parakkatte Prakashan Shalamon Kallan D’Souza Manoj Palthu Janwar Priest Kaapa Latheef 2023 Christopher ADGP Abhilash Balakrishnan IPS O.Baby Othayathu Baby Garudan IG Cyriac Joseph IPS 2024 Abraham Ozler Sudhakaran Payyarath / Dr. Alexander Joseph Manasa Vacha Dharavi Dinesh Turbo Andrew Thalavan DySP Udhayabanu Golam Issac John Vishesham Sajitha's Ex. husband Gumasthan Adv. Thomas Kuruvila I Am Kathalan Chacko Periyadan Rifle Club Kaduvachalil Avaran Skaria 2025 Am Ah Machante Maalakha Ouseppinte Osyath Michael Ronth Grade SI Yohannan Cherukkanum Pennum 2026 Oru Durooha Saahacharyathil Madhu

As associate director 3 char sau bees (2010) 22 Female Kottayam (2012) Da Thadiya (2012) 5 Sundarikal (2013) Idukki Gold (2013) Gangster (2013) Tamaar Padaar (2014)

Awards

Filmmaking style Pothan's filmmaking style shows influences from the KG George school, with attention to detail and blend of traditional and contemporary Kerala elements. In Maheshinte Prathikaram, Pothan emphasizes detail and uses various cinematic elements—song, weather, setting, and drama—to support the narrative.