Joshiy

Joshiy (born 18 July 1952) is an Indian film director who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and also directed Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada-language films. Some of which were remade from his own directional Malayalam films.

Joshiy made his directorial debut in the 1978 film Tiger Salim, but it was the 1980 film Moorkhan that was his breakthrough in Malayalam cinema. He is regarded as the pioneer of film noir and action thrillers in Malayalam.

Early life Joshiy, the sixth child of Vasudevan and Gowri, was raised in Varkala, Thiruvananthapuram, India, alongside his eight siblings—three brothers and five sisters. His father, Vasudevan, worked as a canteen operator at the Singapore Naval Base before returning to India to establish a cinema theatre, Varkala Sasi. Joshiy's father died when he was six years old, after which his elder brother Shashankan and brother-in-law Sreenivasan (who named him Joshy) took on family responsibilities and expanded the theater business by opening two additional theatres: Varkala Vasu and Attingal Gowri. Varkala Sasi hosted both film screenings and stage plays, providing Joshiy early exposure to art.

Joshiy attended Sree Narayana College, Cherthala, but left without completing his degree. Joshiy, who showed little interest in formal education, declined an offer from Sreenivasan to join the Pune Film Institute, preferring instead to explore opportunities directly in the film industry. During college, he and his junior, Ratheesh—who would later become an actor—were recruited with 30 other students as junior artists in the 1969 film Koottukudumbam, appearing as spectators in a dance scene featuring Sheela and Sarada.

Career In 1969, at the age of 20 and during his final year of college, Joshiy left school to pursue opportunities as an assistant director. and went on to become a hit at the Indian boxoffice.

The films Veendum, Nyayavidhi, Aayiram Kannukal, Sayam Sandhya, Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku followed. In the same year, Joshiy directed New Delhi under Jubilee Productions which was a blockbuster and the highest grossing Malayalam film at the time ( his third Industrial hit ) and was a comeback film for Mammootty. In 1987, he directed Itihaas (1987 film), starring Raaj Kumar in the lead in Hindi, which was remake of Ithihasam. In 1988, Joshiy directed three films, all scripted by Dennis Joseph and Mammootty in the lead role - Dhinarathrangal, Sangham and Thanthram. In 1989, he again teamed with Mohanlal for Naduvazhikal. In 1989, Joshiy brought out a military film. Nair Saab, completely shot in Kashmir, with Mammootty in the title role. Mahayanam, his third film of the year. No.20 Madras Mail was released in 1990 with Mohanlal in lead role, followed by the investigation thriller Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu. Kuttettan was his third film of that year. Joshiy's next film was Kauravar in 1992.

In 1993, Dhruvam got released, followed by Sainyam in 1994. His debut into Telugu cinema was in 1994 through Angarakshugudu, starring Rajashekhar and Meena in leading roles. In 1997 Joshiy brought out Bhoopathi with Suresh Gopi in the lead role. Joshiy joined with Gopi and Renji Panicker for Lelam and Pathram in 1997 and 1999. His next two films were Praja and Dubai in 2001 which performed poorly at the box office. He took a break after these films. In 2004, Joshiy made a comeback with Runway, this time Dileep in the leading role and was followed by Maambazhakkaalam. Naran released in 2005 starring Mohanlal, followed by Lion in 2006.

His next films included Pothan Vava (2006) and July 4 (2007) followed by Nasrani (2007) and Janmam (2007). In 2008 he directed Twenty:20 bringing together almost all Mollywood actors. It was followed by the thriller Robinhood in 2009. Christian Brothers released in 2011, a multi-star film with Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Dileep and Sarath Kumar. In 2012, he directed Run Baby Run, another film with Mohanlal in the lead. It was followed by Lokpal in 2013 and Salaam Kashmier 2014 with Jayaram and Suresh Gopi in lead roles. In 2015, Joshiy directed Lailaa O Lailaa. After a four-year hiatus, Joshiy made a comeback with the hit movie Porinju Mariam Jose and also directed the 2022 film Paappan.

Personal life Joshiy is married to Sindhu. The couple have a son, Abhilash, and a daughter, Aishwarya, who died in a car accident in Chennai in July 2011. Abhilash is married to Varsha. Abhilash made his directorial debut with King of Kotha (2023).

Filmography Year Title Writer 1978 Tiger Salim S. L. Puram Sadanandan 1980 Moorkhan Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan1981 Ithihasam Raktham Kaloor DennisKaahalam Joshy 1982 AadarshamPappanamkodu LakshmananAarambham Dheera Kartavyam Kaloor DennisSharam Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan1983 Ankam Bhookambam Priyadarshan Aa Raathri Kaloor Dennis HimamT. Damodaran Kodumkattu Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan 1984 Kodathi Kaloor DennisMinimol Vathicanil Sandarbham Ivide Ingane Pappanamkodu LakshmananAlakadalinakkare Kaloor DennisIdavelakku Sesham Inakili John PaulPiriyilla Naam SheriffUmanilayam Cochin HaneefaDharm Aur Qanoon B. R. Ishara, Bhushan Banmali 1985 Nirakkoottu Dennis JosephIniyum Kadha Thudarum John PaulOru Kudakeezhil Kaloor DennisOnningu Vannengil Katha Ithuvare Vannu Kandu KeezhadakkiMuhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu 1986 Veendum Dennis JosephNyayavidhi Sayam Sandhya Aayiram Kannukal Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku Kaloor DennisShyama Dennis Joseph 1987 New Delhi Itihaas (Hindi film) Gyandev AgnihotriJanuary Oru Orma Kaloor Dennis 1988 Sangham Dennis JosephThanthram New Delhi (Kannada film) New Delhi (Hindi film) Dinarathrangal Antima Teerpu (Telugu film) 1989 Mahayanam A. K. LohithadasNair Saab Dennis JosephNaduvazhikal S. N. Swamy 1990 Kuttettan A. K. LohithadasEe Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu P. PadmarajanNo.20 Madras Mail Dennis Joseph 1992 Kauravar A. K. Lohithadas 1993 DhruvamS. N. SwamyAirport (Tamil film) 1994 Angarakshakudu (Telugu film) Sainyam 1997 Lelam Renji PanickerBhoopathi Dennis Joseph 1999 PathramRenji PanickerVazhunnor Benny P. Nayarambalam 2001 Praja Renji PanickerDubai 2004 Runway UdayakrishnaSiby K. Thomas Mampazhakkalam T.A. Shahid 2005 NaranRanjan Pramod2006Pothan VavaBenny P NayarambalamLionUdayakrishnaSiby K. Thomas 2007 Nasrani RanjithJuly 4 UdayakrishnaSiby K. ThomasJanmamS. N. Swami 2008 Twenty:20 UdayakrishnaSiby K. Thomas 2009 Robin Hood Sachi-Sethu2011 Sevenes Iqbal Kuttippuram Christian Brothers Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas 2012 Run Baby Run Sachy 2013 Lokpal S. N. Swamy2014 Avatharam Vyasan Edavanakad Salaam Kashmier Sethu 2015 Lailaa O Lailaa Suresh Nair 2019 Porinju Mariam Jose Abhilash N. Chandran 2022 Paappan RJ Shaan 2023 Antony Rajesh VarmaTBAJXUMAbhilash N. Chandra