| Joshiy | |
|---|---|
| Born | Joshi Varkala, Kerala |
| Occupation | Film director |
| Children | Ahilash, Aishwarya[late] |
Joshiy is a film director popular for comparability big budget action movies in Malayalam language with huge local star cast. In his three decades long career, Joshi has made several big hits in Kerala state, India and is still active in film making.
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Born in Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram district, Joshi's relation with cinema began from the movie theater that his family owned. While doing his final year in degree, in 1969, Joshi left to Chennai to try his luck in cinema. Joshi began his career by assisting big names including M Krishnan Nair and Sasikumar. He made his debut as director through Tiger Salim, that got released in 1978. Though was an average grosser, Joshi had to wait for a couple of years to get his next movie Moorkhan, to get noticed. The big success of Moorkhan starring Jayan and Sumalatha, was followed by Raktham, a multi-star film which also did well at box office. Following this, Joshi directed many flicks including Sharam, Karthavyam, Dheera and Arambham. In the year 1983, Kodumkattu, got released for which Joshi joined with Mammootty for the first time, a team that created a sensation for the next two decades. Following Kodumkattu, came out a series of films including Bhookambam, Kodathi, Alakadalinakkare, Muhurtham 11.30, Minimol Vathicanil, all big hits. The mid-eighties proved to be a harvest time for Joshi-Mammootty combination, when all the films turned out to be family entertainers, bringing in big moolah. In the year 1985, Joshi directed Nirakkoottu, based on the script by debutant Dennis Joseph, who later became one of the most sought-after screenplay writers in Malayalam cinema. The huge success of Nirakkoottu established a new team Joshi-Mammootty-Dennis Joseph, which brought out Nyayavidhi, Shyama, and Veendum in the next couple of years. But in the year 1986, Joshi suffered a huge set back when his films one after another ended as huge disasters at box office. Veendum, Nyayavidhi, Aayiram Kannukal, Sayamsandhya, Ksamichu Ennoru Vaakku all ended up as dud. The continuous flops made Joshi to try out a film with Mohanlal in lead role, for the first time. January Oru Orma, released in 1987, which ended as a hit. In the same year, Joshi joined with Mammootty for New Delhi. Based on the script by Dennis Joseph, set on a huge budget, New Delhi created a sensation at box office and ended up as one of the biggest hit in the career of both Joshi and Mammootty. In the year 1988, Joshy directed three films, all scripted by Dennis Joseph and Mammootty in the lead role. Dinarathrangal,and Sangham became super hits, while Thanthram failed to repeat the magic. In the year 1989, Joshi once again teamed with Mohanlal for Naduvazhikal, which was a huge success. In the same year, Joshi brought out a Military film. Nair Saab, completely shot in Kashmir, with Mammooty in the title role was also a huge hit at the box office. Mahayanam, his third film of the year fetched 'state award for best actor' for Mammootty. No.20 Madras Mail, released in 1990 was a fun film, in which both Mammootty and Mohanlal shared screen after three years. The commercial success of this flick was followed by a serious investigation thriller 'Ee Thanutha Veluppan Kalathu. This was also Joshi's only directorial venture based on a script by legendary P. Padmarajan. But Kuttettan, his third film of the year failed to create any impact in box office. Joshi's next film was Kauravar in 1992, again with Mammootty in lead role. Joshi in 1992, tried his hand in Tamil cinema, with Airport, which was a big flop. In the year 1993, Dhruvam got released, followed by Sainyam in 1994. His debut into Telugu cinema was in the year 1994 through Angarakshugudu, starring Dr Rajashekhar and Meena in leading roles. In the year 1997 Joshi brought out Bhoopathi, which was a huge flop at box office. Though had acted in several of his films, Bhoopathi was the first Joshi film in which Suresh Gopi appeared in leading role. Joshi joined hands for the first time with Renji Panicker for Lelam, which ended up as a super hit. Again, the same team brought out Pathram in 1999, which was a huge success at box office. In middle, Joshi did Vazhunnor, a forgettable film. Joshi's next two films, Praja and Dubai in 2001 were humiliating fiascoes. In the year 2004, Joshi made a comeback with Runway, this time Dileep in the leading role. It was the second highest grosser of the year (2004).The success of Runway was followed by Maambazhakkaalam, a big flop. Naran released in 2005 was a huge success at box office, followed by Lion in 2006. But his next films Pothan Vava (2006), July 4 (2007), Nasrani (2007), and Janmam (2007) ended up as huge embarrassments in his career. The year 2008 was a milestone in his career as he directed Twenty:20 , something unheard in the history of cinema. The huge success of Twenty:20 was followed by RRobinhood in 2009, for first time with Prithviraj Sukumaranin main role. Christian Brothers released in 2011, a multi-star film with Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, and Dileep in leading roles successfully ended as a super hit.
Joshy-Mammootty combination has given several super hits to Malayalam cinema. He holds the record for directing maximum films with Mammooty. Starting from Kodumkattu in 1983, Mammootty has been part of 34 Joshi flicks, the last being Twenty:20 (2008). It was New Delhi, directed by Joshi, that helped Mammootty a to regain his position as a superstar in Malayalam cinema in 1987.
Though, is very close to Mohanlal, Joshi had done just a few films with him. For the first time they joined in 1987 for January Oru Orma, based on the script by Kaloor Dennis, which was a super hit. Later, in 1989, Naduvazhikal came out, which was also a huge hit. This was followed by No.20 Madras Mail in 1990, in which both Mammootty and Mohanlal appeared in leading roles. It again took eleven long years for Joshi to direct a Mohanlal film. Praja, released in 2001, was a huge disaster at box office. But in later years, Mohanlal appeared in a few couple of Joshi flicks including Maambhazhakkaalam, "Naran".Twenty:20, and Christian Brothers, his latest film in 2011.
Joshi-Dileep team gave a lot of contributions to malayalam film including the mega hit Twenty:20(2008) and Christian Brothers(2011). Runway(2004)and Lion(2006) were the other two superhits born in their partnership.The upcoming film in their combination is Valayar Paramasivam which starts on December 2011.
Suresh Gopi has appeared in Joshi films from the beginning of his career itself. His first appearance was in Sayam Sandhya as villain. Later, in the next year, he again donned the role of villain in January Oru Orma. Suresh Gopi in later years, though acted in important roles in several Joshi films, his first film as hero was Bhoopathi in 1997. Though, the film bombed at box office, they joined again in Lelam in the same year, which turned out to be huge success. Later they joined and did Pathram, Vazhunnor, Janmam Twenty:20, and Christian Brothers.
Joshi-Dennis Joseph team was once most desired pair in Malayalam cinema. In late eighties and early nineties, they brought out several super hits, mostly with Mammootty in the lead role. In fact Dennis Joseph made his debut into cinema by writing a script for Joshi. Nirakkoottu, with Mammooty, Lissy , Sumalatha and Urvashi in leading roles was a super hit in 1985. Later they brought out several films including Shyama, New Delhi, Dinarathrangal, Sangham, and Nair Saab. But after No.20 Madras Mail in 1990, both parted ways for several years till Bhoopathi in 1997. After the huge flop of Bhoopathi, they both had never joined together.
A soft spoken man, Joshi has never given any TV interviews and his appearance in print media is limited. A strong believer of numerology, Joshi has changed his name several times from Joshi to Joshy to Joshiy to Joshiey. He also make it a point to visit Mookambika temple in Kollur on the day of release of his one of his films. He lives in Kochi along with his family.