# 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 associate director to the 2010 film 9 KK Road. He served as an assistant director under Aashiq Abu, assisting in five of Aashiq's films. He made his acting debut as a film director in one scene in Aashiq Abu'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

Key :
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
* All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.

### As director

| Year | Title | Production company |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | OPM Dream Mill Cinemas |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Urvasi Theatres Release |
| 2021 | Joji | Working Class Hero, Fahadh Faasil and Friends, Bhavana Studios |

### As producer

| Year | Film | Director | Cast | Notes |
| 2019 | Kumbalangi Nights | Madhu C. Narayanan | Fahadh Faasil, Soubin Shahir, Sreenath Bhasi, Shane Nigam, Anna Ben, Mathew Thomas | Co-produced with Fahadh Faasil and Friends |
| 2021 | Joji | Himself | Fahadh Faasil, Baburaj, Unnimaya Prasad, Shammi Thilakan, Basil Joseph | Produced by Bhavana Studios in association with Fahadh Faasil and Friends & Working Class Hero |
| 2022 | Palthu Janwar | Sangeeth P. Rajan | Basil Joseph, Johny Antony, Indrans | Produced by Bhavana Studios in association with Fahadh Faasil and Friends & Working Class Hero |
| 2023 | Thankam | Saheed Arafath | Vineeth Sreenivasan, Biju Menon, Aparna Balamurali, Girish Kulkarni | Produced by Bhavana Studios in association with Fahadh Faasil and Friends & Working Class Hero |
| 2024 | Premalu | Girish A.D. | Naslen K. Gafoor, Mamitha Baiju | Produced by Bhavana Studios in association with Fahadh Faasil and Friends & Working Class Hero |

### As actor

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2011 | Salt N' Pepper | Movie director | |
| 2012 | 22 Female Kottayam | Advocate | |
| 2013 | 5 Sundarikal | Security | Segment: Kullante Bharya |
| 2013 | Idukki Gold | Employee at 'Mathrubhumi' | |
| 2014 | Gangster | DySP Vithura Chengalath | |
| 2014 | Hangover | Krishna Kumar | |
| 2014 | Tamaar Padaar | Sibi Karimannur | |
| 2014 | Iyobinte Pusthakam | Tea shop owner | |
| 2015 | Chandrettan Evideya | Naadi Jyothishi | |
| 2015 | Ennum Eppozhum | Deepa's client's Son | |
| 2015 | Rani Padmini | Ullas Menon | |
| 2016 | Guppy | Krishnan | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Eldho | Also director |
| 2017 | Aby | CI George | |
| 2017 | Rakshadhikari Baiju Oppu | George | Cameo appearance |
| 2017 | Comrade in America | Hari | |
| 2017 | Role Models | Gautam's boss | |
| 2017 | Njandukalude Nattil Oridavela | Varkichan | |
| 2017 | Pullikkaran Staraa | Kuriachan / "Stephen" | |
| 2017 | Tharangam | God | |
| 2017 | Pokkiri Simon | CI Alex | |
| 2017 | Honey Bee 2.5 | Director Thomas George | |
| 2018 | Carbon | Thamban | |
| 2018 | Ee.Ma.Yau | Vikariyachan | |
| 2018 | Rosapoo | Kuttan | |
| 2018 | Kadha Paranja Kadha | | |
| 2018 | Neerali | Rajan | |
| 2018 | Ente Mezhuthiri Athazhangal | Sony George | |
| 2018 | Padayottam | Senan | |
| 2018 | Varathan | Benny | |
| 2018 | Drama | Dixon Lopez | |
| 2018 | Oru Kuprasidha Payyan | Dr. P. Suresh Babu | |
| 2018 | Ladoo | Suresh | |
| 2018 | Joseph | Peter | |
| 2018 | Ente Ummante Peru | Shivankutty | |
| 2018 | Ennalum Sarath | Doctor | |
| 2018 | Samaksham | | |
| 2019 | Neeyum Njnanum | | |
| 2019 | Lonappante Mamodeesa | Kunjuoottan | |
| 2019 | Kumbalangi Nights | Circle Inspector Raju Unni | Cameo appearance |
| 2019 | Vaarikkuzhiyile Kolapathakam | Joy | |
| 2019 | Oru Yamandan Premakadha | Abhilash Karikkan | |
| 2019 | Thottappan | Jonappan | |
| 2019 | Virus | Prakashan | |
| 2019 | Unda | C.I. K. Mathukutty | |
| 2019 | Pranaya Meenukalude Kadal | Ansari | |
| 2019 | Moothon | Moosa | Bilingual film (Hindi, Malayalam) |
| 2019 | Sidharthan Enna Njan | | |
| 2019 | Thakkol | | |
| 2019 | Kolaambi | Sudharshan | |
| 2020 | Trance | Avarachan | |
| 2021 | Joji | Dr. Roy | |
| 2021 | Malik | P. A. Aboobacker | |
| 2021 | Djibouti | Thomachan | |
| 2022 | Bheeshmaparvam | TV James | |
| 2022 | Pada | Narayanankutty | |
| 2022 | Prakashan Parakkatte | Prakashan | |
| 2022 | Shalamon | | |
| 2022 | Kallan D’Souza | Manoj | |
| 2022 | Palthu Janwar | Priest | |
| 2022 | Kaapa | Latheef | |
| 2023 | Christopher | ADGP Abhilash Balakrishnan IPS | |
| 2023 | O.Baby | Othayathu Baby | |
| 2023 | Garudan | IG Cyriac Joseph IPS | |
| 2024 | Abraham Ozler | Sudhakaran Payyarath / Dr. Alexander Joseph | |
| 2024 | Manasa Vacha | Dharavi Dinesh | |
| 2024 | Turbo | Andrew | |
| 2024 | Thalavan | DySP Udhayabanu | |
| 2024 | Golam | Issac John | |
| 2024 | Vishesham | Sajitha's Ex. husband | |
| 2024 | Gumasthan | Adv. Thomas Kuruvila | |
| 2024 | I Am Kathalan | Chacko Periyadan | |
| 2024 | Rifle Club | Kaduvachalil Avaran Skaria | |
| 2025 | Am Ah | | |
| 2025 | Machante Maalakha | | |
| 2025 | Ouseppinte Osyath | Michael | |
| TBA | Oru Durooha Saahacharyathil † | TBA | |

### 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

| Year | Film | Award | Category | Notes |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | 64th National Film Awards | Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Shared with Aashiq Abu |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | 47th Kerala State Film Awards | Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value | Shared with Aashiq Abu |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | 64th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | 64th Filmfare Awards South | Best Film – Malayalam | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Padmarajan Award | | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | CPC Cine Awards | Best Director | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | North American Film Awards | Best Debut Director | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | North American Film Awards | Best Movie | |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Vanitha Film Awards | Best Movie | Shared with Aashiq Abu |
| 2016 | Maheshinte Prathikaaram | Asianet Film Awards | Critic's Awards for Best Film | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | 65th National Film Awards | Best Feature Film in Malayalam | Shared with Sandip Senan and Anish M. Thomas |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | International Film Festival of Kerala | NETPAC Award | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | 65th Filmfare Awards South | Best Director | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | 65th Filmfare Awards South | Best Film | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | 7th South Indian International Movie Awards | Best Film | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Movie Street Film Awards | Best Movie | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | CPC Cine Awards | Best Movie | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Kerala Film Critics Association Awards | Best Director | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Vanitha Film Awards | Best Director | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Asianet Film Awards | Best Film | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | Asiavision Awards | Best Film | |
| 2017 | Thondimuthalum Driksakshiyum | North American Film Awards | Best Film | |
| 2021 | Joji | Kerala State Film Awards | Best Director | |

## Filmmaking style

Pothan's filmmaking style―flirting with molecule level details, imbuing vibrance; one of its kind and stamping touches of sensationalism, is from the KG George school. But Pothan is also singularly distinctive in his approach, which is a delectable medley of native roots (classy old-school) and modern kerala. In Maheshinte Prathikaram, Pothan charts a butterfly effect idiom through remarkable attention for detail and sensational film language, using every medium―song, sky, rain, space, place and drama with consummated precision.