Lal Jose

Lal Jose is an Indian film director, actor, producer, and distributor who works in Malayalam cinema. He began his career as an assistant director, and made his directorial debut with the 1998 film Oru Maravathoor Kanavu.

Lal Jose started his film career as an assistant director to Kamal. Lal worked on a slew of Kamal's films during the 1990s. His popular films include Chandranudikkunna Dikhil (1999), Meesa Madhavan (2002), Chanthupottu (2005), Classmates (2006), Arabikkatha (2007), Neelathaamara (2009), Diamond Necklace (2012), Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012), Immanuel (2013), and Vikramadithyan (2014).

Early life Born in Valapad in Thrissur district, Kerala to Lilly and Jose of the Mechery house. Lal did his schooling at NSS KPT School and NSS College, Ottapalam. He is married to Leena. The couple have two daughters, Irene and Catherine. After completing his degree, he left for Chennai, with an aim of getting into movies. He got into the world of cinema by assisting noted director Kamal. He worked with Kamal in 16 films, from Pradheshika Varthakkal to Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu. He worked as the associate director to prominent filmmakers like Thampy Kannamthanam, Lohithadas, Harikumar, Vinayan, K. K. Haridas, and Nizar.

Film career In 1998, he made his debut as an independent director with Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, which starred Mammootty and was scripted by Sreenivasan. Producer Siyad Koker asked Lal Jose to direct a film for him. The film Oru Maravathoor Kanavu was a success for him.

In 2002 Lal Jose, teaming up with screenwriter Ranjan Pramod, who had earlier scripted Randaam Bhavam, came up with Meesa Madhavan, which was a milestone in his career along with that of Dileep. Meesa Madhavan was a hit and established Dileep in the industry. But Lal proved his critics wrong in the year 2005 with Chanthupottu, starring Dileep. The box-office success of Chanthupottu took Lal Jose's career to new heights. In 2006, Lal directed Achanurangatha Veedu, a low-budget film, which failed to bring audiences to the movie halls, though it won critical appreciation.

In 2006, Lal Jose's film Classmates was released without much publicity, with no big stars, but became the highest-grossing film in Malayalam, until its record was broken by Twenty:20 two years later. In 2007, he did Arabikkatha, with Sreenivasan in a leading role. Arabikkatha was critically and commercially a big hit. His next movie was Mulla, starring Dileep. In 2009, Lal directed Neelathamara, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, which was a remake of the 30-year-old movie with the same name. It was accepted well by the critics and the masses. He directed a story with Mammootty as lead in Kerala Cafe in 2010. He then directed the hit film Elsamma Enna Aankutty without multistars. In 2011, he became a judge on a reality show on Surya TV called Vivel Active Fair Big Break, where the winner would be the heroine in his next movie.

Awards Kerala state film awards 2006: Best Popular Film – Classmates 2005: Kerala state film awards for Second Best Film – Achanurangatha Veedu 2012: Best Director- Ayalum Njanum Thammil 2012: Best Popular Film- Ayalum Njanum Thammil

South Indian International Movie Awards 2013: Best Director for Ayalum Njanum Thammil 2013: Nominated—Best Film for Diamond Necklace

Asianet Film Awards 2007: Best Director Award for Arabikkatha

Ramu Karyat Awards 2010: Best Director Award for Elsamma Enna Aankutty

Asiavision Awards 2013 – Asiavision Awards – Artistic Movie – Ayalum Njanum Thammil

Filmography

All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted. As director

As second unit or assistant director Meenathil Thalikettu (1998) (story and associate director) Krishnagudiyil Oru Pranayakalathu (1997) (assistant director) Bhoothakannadi (1997) (associate director) Manasam (1997) (assistant director) Azhakiya Ravanan (1996) (assistant director) Udyana Palakan (1996) (associate director) Mazhayethum Munpe (1995) (assistant director) Maanthrikam (1995) (associate director) Sudinam (1994) (associate director) Vadhu Doctoranu (1994) (associate director) Bhoomi Geetham (1993) (assistant director) Champakulam Thachan (1992) (assistant director) Ennodishtam Koodamo (1992) (assistant director) Pookkalam Varavayi (1991) (assistant director) Ulladakkam (1991) (assistant director) Pradeshika Varthakal (1989) (assistant director)

Story Meenathil Thalikettu (1998) Chandranudikkunna Dikkil (1999)

As producer Diamond Necklace (2012) Vikramadhithyan (2014) Nee-Na (2015) Solomonte Theneechakal (2022)

As distributor Thattathin Marayathu (2012) Theevram (2012) Diamond Necklace (2012) Neram (2013) Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum (2013) Thira (2013) Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal (2013) 1983 (2014) Homely meals (2014) Vikramadithyan (2014) KL.10 Pathu (2015) Action Hero Biju (2016) Jacobinte Swargarajyam (2016) Style (2016) Lens (2016) Aanandam (2016) Veeram (2017)

As actor Year Title Role Notes 1993 Bhoomi Geetham Journalist 1995 Sargavasantham 1996 Azhakiya Ravanan Assistant Director 2007 Rock & Roll Himself 2010 Best Actor Himself Nadan Himself 2014 Ohm Shanthi Oshaana Jacob Tharakan 2016 Oru Muthassi Gadha Himself 2017 Sunday Holiday David Paul 2018 Kammara Sambhavam Himself Ente Mezhuthiri Athazhangal Augustine Theodorus Ennaalum Sarath..? Peter 2019 Oru Nakshathramulla Aakasham John Paul Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla 2020 Varane Avashyamund Sivaprasad Gypsy Muthaleef 2021 Kuttiyappanum Daivadootharum Himself Kshanam Himself Cameo 2022 Nipah Haya Dr. Sai Nath 2023 Imbam Devan 2024 Oru Sarkar Ulpannam Dasettan Mandakini Sudevan

As Narrattor Vellimoonga (2014)

Television 2012 :Vivel Big Break (Surya TV) as Judge 2018 : Makkal (TV series) (Mazhavil Manorama) as himself 2019: Comedy Stars season 2 (asianet) as Judge 2022: Wife is Beautiful ( Zee Keralam) as promo voice over 2023:Charithram Enniloode ( Safari TV) as host

Recurring collaborators Music composer VidyaSagar has worked on 12 films out of Lal Jose's total 22 feature-length films. Sukumari had acted on 12 films, whereas Salim Kumar in 11 and Biju Menon in 9 and Dileep, Indrajith, Jagathy Sreekumar and Suraj Venjaramoodu appeared on 7 films. Dubbing artiste Sreeja Ravi works as heroine voice for many films.

Films Dileep Biju Menon Indrajith Samvrutha Sunil Jagathy Sreekumar Nedumudi Venu Sukumari Sreenivasan Salim Kumar Kunchako Boban Vidyasagar Suraj Venjaramoodu Joju George Sreeja Ravi Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998) Chandranudikkunna Dikhil (1999) Randaam Bhavam (2001) Meesa Madhavan (2002) Pattalam (2003) Rasikan (2004) Chanthupottu (2005) Achanurangatha Veedu (2006) Classmates (2006) Arabikkatha (2007) Mulla (2008) Kerala Cafe (Puram Kazchakal) (2009) Neelathaamara (2009) Elsamma Enna Aankutty (2010) Spanish Masala (2012) Diamond Necklace (2012) Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012) Immanuel (2013) Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum(2013) Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal(2013) Vikramadithyan(2014) Nee-Na(2015) Velipadinte Pustakam(2017) Thattumpurath Achuthan (2018) Nalpathiyonnu (41) (2019) Meow (2021) Solamante Theneechakal (2022)