# Joshiy

Joshiy (born 18 July 1952) is an Indian film director and screenwriter who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema and also directed Tamil, Hindi, Telugu and Kannada-language 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. At the age of 20, Joshiy left college and began seeking opportunities to work as an assistant director.

## Career

Born at Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district as the son of Vasu and Gouri, Joshiy's relation with cinema began from the cinema theatre that his family owned. While doing his final year in degree, in 1969, Joshiy left to Chennai to try his luck in cinema. Joshiy began his career by working as an assistant director under eminent film directors M. Krishnan Nair and J. Sasikumar. He also assisted Crossbelt Mani and he was the assistant director of Aanayum Ambariyum in 1978 film directed by Crossbelt Mani. He made his debut as director through Tiger Salim, released in 1978. His next movie was Moorkhan which was followed by Raktham. He directed Prem Nazir, Srividya in Ithihasam.
Following this, Joshiy directed many films including Kaahalam, Sharam, Karthavyam, Dheera and Aarambham. In 1983, he collaborated with Mammootty for the first time, for Aa Rathri. This was followed by Kodumkattu, came out and a series of films including Bhookambam, Kodathi, Alakadalinakkare, Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu and Minimol Vathicanil and Sandharbham.
In 1985, Joshiy directed Nirakkoottu, based on the script by debutant Dennis Joseph. Joshiy, Mammootty, and Dennis Joseph continued working together with Nyayavidhi, Shyama and Veendum. He made his debut in Hindi films in 1984 and achieved national fame when he directed Dharm Aur Qanoon starring Rajesh Khanna in a double role along with Dharmendra. It had box office collection of ₹6.5 crores in 1984 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 |
| 2025 | Rambaan | Chemban Vinod Jose |
| 2023 | Antony | Rajesh Varma |
| 2022 | Paappan | RJ Shaan |
| 2019 | Porinju Mariam Jose | Abhilash N. Chandran |
| 2015 | Lailaa O Lailaa | Suresh Nair |
| 2014 | Avatharam | Vyasan Edavanakad |
| 2014 | Salaam Kashmier | Sethu |
| 2013 | Lokpal | S. N. Swamy |
| 2012 | Run Baby Run | Sachy |
| 2011 | Sevenes | Iqbal Kuttippuram |
| 2011 | Christian Brothers | Udayakrishna-Siby K. Thomas |
| 2009 | Robin Hood | Sachi-Sethu |
| 2008 | Twenty:20 | Udayakrishna Siby K. Thomas |
| 2007 | Nasrani | Ranjith |
| 2007 | July 4 | Udayakrishna Siby K. Thomas |
| 2007 | Janmam | S. N. Swami |
| 2006 | Pothan Vava | Benny P Nayarambalam |
| 2006 | Lion | Udayakrishna Siby K. Thomas |
| 2005 | Naran | Ranjan Pramod |
| 2004 | Mampazhakkalam | T.A. Shahid |
| 2004 | Runway | Udayakrishna Siby K. Thomas |
| 2001 | Praja | Renji Panicker |
| 2001 | Dubai | Renji Panicker |
| 1999 | Pathram | Renji Panicker |
| 1999 | Vazhunnor | Benny P. Nayarambalam |
| 1997 | Lelam | Renji Panicker |
| 1997 | Bhoopathi | Dennis Joseph |
| 1994 | Angarakshakudu | S. N. Swamy |
| 1994 | Sainyam | S. N. Swamy |
| 1993 | Dhruvam | S. N. Swamy |
| 1993 | Airport (Tamil film) | S. N. Swamy |
| 1992 | Kauravar | A. K. Lohithadas |
| 1990 | Kuttettan | A. K. Lohithadas |
| 1990 | Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu | P. Padmarajan |
| 1990 | No.20 Madras Mail | Dennis Joseph |
| 1989 | Mahayanam | A. K. Lohithadas |
| 1989 | Nair Saab | Dennis Joseph |
| 1989 | Naduvazhikal | S. N. Swamy |
| 1988 | Sangham | Dennis Joseph |
| 1988 | Thanthram | Dennis Joseph |
| 1988 | New Delhi (Kannada film) | Dennis Joseph |
| 1988 | New Delhi (Hindi film) | Dennis Joseph |
| 1988 | Dinarathrangal | Dennis Joseph |
| 1988 | Antima Teerpu (Telugu film) | Dennis Joseph |
| 1987 | New Delhi | Dennis Joseph |
| 1987 | Itihaas (Hindi film) | Gyandev Agnihotri |
| 1987 | January Oru Orma | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1986 | Veendum | Dennis Joseph |
| 1986 | Nyayavidhi | Dennis Joseph |
| 1986 | Sayam Sandhya | Dennis Joseph |
| 1986 | Aayiram Kannukal | Dennis Joseph |
| 1986 | Kshamichu Ennoru Vakku | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1986 | Shyama | Dennis Joseph |
| 1985 | Nirakkoottu | Dennis Joseph |
| 1985 | Iniyum Kadha Thudarum | John Paul |
| 1985 | Oru Kudakeezhil | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1985 | Onningu Vannengil | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1985 | Katha Ithuvare | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1985 | Vannu Kandu Keezhadakki | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1985 | Muhurtham Pathnonnu Muppathinu | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1984 | Kodathi | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1984 | Minimol Vathicanil | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1984 | Sandarbham | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1984 | Ivide Ingane | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1984 | Alakadalinakkare | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1984 | Idavelakku Sesham | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1984 | Inakili | John Paul |
| 1984 | Piriyilla Naam | Sheriff |
| 1984 | Umanilayam | Cochin Haneefa |
| 1984 | Dharm Aur Qanoon | B. R. Ishara, Bhushan Banmali |
| 1983 | Ankam | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1983 | Bhookambam | Priyadarshan |
| 1983 | Aa Raathri | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1983 | Himam | T. Damodaran |
| 1983 | Kodumkattu | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1982 | Aadarsham | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1982 | Aarambham | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1982 | Dheera | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1982 | Kartavyam | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1982 | Sharam | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1981 | Ithihasam | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1981 | Raktham | Kaloor Dennis |
| 1981 | Kaahalam | Joshy |
| 1980 | Moorkhan | Pappanamkodu Lakshmanan |
| 1978 | Tiger Salim | S. L. Puram Sadanandan |