Lal Jose

(Redirected from LJ Films)

Lal Jose is an Indian director, actor, producer and distributor who works in the Malayalam film industry. He started his career as an Assistant director in the Malayalam cinema. His directorial debut was with the 1998 film Oru Maravathoor Kanavu.[1]

Lal Jose
Born
Valapad, Kerala, India
Occupations
  • Film director
  • Actor
  • Producer
  • Distributor
Years active1989–present
SpouseLeena
Children2

Lal Jose started his film career as an assistant director to Kamal. Lal Jose 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).[2]

Early life

Born in Valapad in Thrissur, Kerala to Jose and Lilly, Lal Jose did his schooling at NSS KPT School and NSS College, Ottapalam. He is married to Leena. The couple have two daughters, Irene and Catherine.[3] 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 associate director to prominent filmmakers like Thampy Kannamthanam, Lohithadas, Harikumar, Vinayan, K. K. Haridas, and Nizar.[4]

Film career

In 1998, he made his debut as an independent director with Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, which starred Mammootty and was scripted by Sreenivasan.[5] Producer Siyad Koker asked Lal Jose to direct a film for him. The film Oru Maravathoor Kanavu was a success for him.[6][7]

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.[8] But Lal Jose 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.[9] In 2006, Lal Jose directed Achanurangatha Veedu, a low-budget film, which failed to bring audiences to the movie halls, though it won critical appreciation.[10]

In 2006, 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.[11] In 2007, he did Arabikkatha, with Sreenivasan in a leading role. Arabikkatha was critically and commercially a big hit.[12][13] His next movie was Mulla, starring Dileep. In 2009, Lal Jose directed Neelathamara, written by M. T. Vasudevan Nair, which was a remake of the 30-year-old movie with the same name.[14] 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. [citation needed]

Awards

Kerala state film awards
South Indian International Movie Awards
Asianet Film Awards
Ramu Karyat Awards
Asiavision Awards

Filmography

Key
Denotes films that have not yet been released
  • All films are in Malayalam language unless otherwise noted.

As director

YearFilmNotes
1998Oru Maravathoor Kanavu
1999Chandranudikkunna Dikkil
2001Randaam Bhavam
2002Meesa Madhavan
2003Pattalam
2004Rasikan
2005Chanthupottu
2006Achanurangatha Veedu
Classmates
2007Arabikkatha
2008Mulla
2009Neelathaamara
Kerala CafeSegment: Puramkazchakal
2010Elsamma Enna Aankutty
2012Spanish Masala
Diamond Necklace
Ayalum Njanum Thammil
2013Immanuel
Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum
Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal
2014Vikramadithyan
2015Nee-Na
2017Velipadinte Pusthakam
2018Thattumpurath Achuthan
2019Nalpathiyonnu (41)25th film
2021Meow
2022Solamante Theneechakal[16][17]

As second unit or assistant director

Story

As producer

As distributor

As actor

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993Bhoomi GeethamJournalist
1995Sargavasantham
1996Azhakiya RavananAssistant Director
2007Rock & RollHimself
2010Best ActorHimself
NadanHimself
2014Ohm Shanthi OshaanaJacob Tharakan
2016Oru Muthassi GadhaHimself
2017Sunday HolidayDavid Paul
2018Kammara SambhavamHimself
Ente Mezhuthiri AthazhangalAugustine Theodorus
Ennaalum Sarath..?Peter
2019Oru Nakshathramulla AakashamJohn Paul
Mohabbathin Kunjabdulla
2020Varane AvashyamundSivaprasad
GypsyMuthaleef
2021Kuttiyappanum DaivadootharumHimself
KshanamHimselfCameo
2022Nipah
HayaDr. Sai Nath
2023ImbamDevan
2024Oru Sarkar Ulpannam[18]
Mandakini[19]

As Narrattor

Television

  • 2012 :Vivel Big Break (Surya TV) as Judge
  • 2018 : Nayika Nayakan (Mazhavil Manorama) 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.

FilmsDileepBiju MenonIndrajithSamvrutha SunilJagathy SreekumarNedumudi VenuSukumariSreenivasanSalim KumarKunchako BobanVidyasagarSuraj VenjaramooduJoju GeorgeSreeja Ravi
Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998) Y Y Y Y Y Y
Chandranudikkunna Dikhil (1999) Y Y Y Y Y
Randaam Bhavam (2001) Y Y Y Y
Meesa Madhavan (2002) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Pattalam (2003) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Rasikan (2004) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Chanthupottu (2005) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Achanurangatha Veedu (2006) Y Y Y Y
Classmates (2006) Y Y Y Y Y
Arabikkatha (2007) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Mulla (2008) Y Y Y Y Y Y Y Y
Kerala Cafe (Puram Kazchakal) (2009) Y
Neelathaamara (2009) Y Y
Elsamma Enna Aankutty (2010) Y Y Y Y Y
Spanish Masala (2012) Y Y Y Y
Diamond Necklace (2012) Y Y Y Y
Ayalum Njanum Thammil (2012) Y Y Y
Immanuel (2013) Y Y Y
Pullipulikalum Aattinkuttiyum(2013) Y Y Y Y
Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal(2013) Y Y Y
Vikramadithyan(2014)
Nee-Na(2015)
Velipadinte Pustakam(2017) Y
Thattumpurath Achuthan (2018) Y Y
Nalpathiyonnu (41) (2019) Y
Meow (2021) Y
Solamante Theneechakal (2022) Y Y

See also

References