Vijay Babu

Vijay Babu is an Indian film producer, actor, and businessman, who works in the Malayalam film industry. He is the founder of the film production company Friday Film House.

Vijay Babu is best known for producing and starring in the films Philips and the Monkey Pen (2013), Peruchazhi (2014), Aadu (2015), Adi Kapyare Kootamani (2015), Mudhugauv (2016), Angamaly Diaries (2017), Aadu 2 (2017), June (2019), Sufiyum Sujatayum (2021), and Home (2021). In 2014, he won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Children's Film (as producer) for Philips and the Monkey Pen. In 2023, He received the National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Malayalam for Home (2021).

Sufiyum Sujatayum, produced by him under his banner Friday Film House, is the first Malayalam film to have a direct release on an OTT platform, Amazon Prime Video. Babu is known for bankrolling many experimental films and supporting upcoming filmmakers in the industry.

Early life and family Vijay Babu was born in Kollam, Kerala, to Nair parents Subashchandra Babu and Maya Babu. He has two siblings, Vinay Babu and Vijayalakshmi. He studied at St. Jude School, Kollam, and received a graduation from American College, Madurai.

Career In 2013, Babu quit his media career and joined the Malayalam film industry as an actor and producer.

Babu is one of the founders and CEO of Friday Film House founded a Kerala-based film production company along with the actress Sandra Thomas. Friday Film House won seven of the Kerala state film awards in various fields in 2014. Though the company was established after the success of the film Friday, the movie is considered the first production venture of Friday Film House.

Babu is best known for his roles in Philips and the Monkey Pen and Nee-Na, and as the producer of Philips and the Monkey Pen, Peruchazhi and Aadu. His role as Vinay Paniker in Nee-Na received appreciation from critics.

Controversy On 22 April 2022, a newcomer actress from the Malayalam film industry accused Vijay Babu of sexual and physical abuse over the past two months in the guise of friendship and guidance, and subsequently registered a criminal case which is currently being investigated. In response, he left India and is suspected to be in Dubai, with Indian police having issued a look out circular for him at the airports and planning to search his properties for evidence. In a Facebook Live stream four days later, Babu denied the accusations, claiming to be "the one who is suffering" and stating he would countersue for defamation. While his action received criticism, various men's rights groups came in support of him quoting the one-sided nature of law when it comes to such allegations. Activists like Rahul Easwar and Mithun Vijay Kumar announced MenToo movement on various platforms to protect the actor from media trials and demanded a gender-neutral form of justice. Notably, he named his accuser in the video despite knowing it is illegal under Indian law, leading to him additionally being charged under IPC Section 228A for violating the victim's anonymity and criticism from supporters of sexual assault survivors. While the internal complaint commission of the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists (AMMA) recommended that Babu be expelled, the organisation ultimately did not do so, instead accepting a letter from him distancing himself from the executive board. In response to this inaction, four members (Maala Parvathy, Cuckoo Parameswaran, Shweta Menon and Hareesh Peradi) criticized AMMA's stance and left the association.

Filmography Year Film Credited as NotesActor Producer Role1982 Sooryan Child artist2011 Three Kings Himself Cameo appearance 2012 22 Female Kottayam Benny Ayalum Njanum Thammil DCP Ameer Muhammed No. 66 Madhura Bus DFO Ravichandran Chapters Kiran Das Karmayodha Dubbed for Rony David2013 Honey Bee SI George Kili Poyi Pandey Zachariayude Garbhinikal Philips and the Monkey Pen Padmachandran Escape from Uganda Jayakrishnan Bicycle Thieves Kashinathan 2014 Mr. Fraud Abbas Peruchazhi Sunny Kurishingal Tamaar Padaar Purushan 2015 Aadu Oru Bheegara Jeevi Aanu SI Sarbath Shameer Nee-Na Vinay Panickar Double Barrel Billy Gang Adi Kapyare Kootamani 2016 Mudhugauv Ramakrishna Bonachaud alias Rambo Aakashvani Akaashdas Pretham Commissioner Sam Alexander 2016–2017 Home Minister TV series on Amrita TV 2017 Angamaly Diaries CarefulCommissioner Ajith Chandran Oru Cinemakkaran Sudheer Velipadinte Pusthakam Himself Cameo appearance Overtake Nandan Lava Kusha Cyril Abraham / BanglanAyal Jeevichirippundu John Mathew MathanCrossroad Joe Segment: Pakshiyude ManamSadrishyavakyam Commissioner Binoy Idikula Aadu 2 SI Sarbath Shameer 2019 June Mr. & Ms. Rowdy Jeevan George Janamaithri RaphaelShubharathri CI BalachandranSullu KishorePuzhikkadakan Minister Avaran PottakuzhiStand Up Swarnamalsyangal Thrissur Pooram Commissioner MoorthyParchayee Police Officer 2020 Anveshanam Dr. Gautham Oru Vadakkan Pennu Sivan Sufiyum Sujathayum 2021Eighteen Hours Home Psychologist Sunny Advocate Paul2022Anthakshari Vasudevan Keedam CI Charles TheerppuRam Kumar Nair 2023 Maheshum Marutiyum Pendulum Dr. Mahesh Narayan Valatty Roy 2024 Qalb Oru Sarkar Ulpannam Prosecution Advocate Big Ben Oru Anweshanathinte Thudakkam Stephen 2025 Dominic and the Ladies' Purse Tony Mother Mary James Padakkalam Dr. S Shameer Cameo appearance 2026Aadu 3 SI Sarbath Shameer and Vareed Mappila Vaazha II: Biopic of a Billion Bros Mujeeb sir Bharathanatyam 2 Mohiniyattam Mohandas

Awards Kerala State Film Awards

2014 – Best Children's Film for Philips and the Monkey Pen

National Film Award

2021 – Best Malayalam Film Award for #Home