Sijoy Varghese

Sijoy Varghese
Born Sijoy Varghese
6 March 1971
Edappally, Kerala
Alma mater Sacred Heart College, Thevara
Occupation Film actor, Ad Film Director, Producer, Event Director, Screenwriter
Years active 1994–present
Spouse(s) Tessy Raphel
(1999–present)
Children Adithya, Amy, Annie, Anthony

Sijoy Varghese (born 6 March 1971) is a popular Indian Ad Film Director/Producer, Event Director, Screenwriter and Actor,.[1] He is the Managing Director at TVC Factory - an Ad Film production house which operates in Mumbai, Kochi and Dubai.

Sijoy Varghese, [2]who brings in an experience of 20 years in various roles, related to advertising and feature films, has accomplished himself as one of the leading ad film makers in the industry today. A creative person with a marketing sense, Sijoy Varghese is one of those cool-headed professionals who has an exemplary natural prowess to look at things differently. He rose to fame and attention with his hugely successful TVC campaigns (Unnikkinnoru Kuda Venam & Kunjanja) for Johns Umbrella. The campaign won several awards including the ones for Best Ad Film and Best Debut Director. With his latest campaigns for Lazza Ice creams, Bhima Gold and Diamonds, V-Star, Joyalukkas, Lens & Frames, Johns Umbrella ,VKC Footwear, Geepas , Dhathri Ayurveda, Double Horse Masala, V-Guard & MCR Dhothies, he has done more than 200 noted television commercials in Malayalam, Tamil, Kannada, Telgu, Hindi and Arabic.

Sijoy Varghese is also an actor who has performed notable characters in Malayalam films like ABCD,[3] Thira, Bangalore Days,[4] Avatharam,[5] RajadhiRaja and the upcoming Hindi film “Waiting”.

Early life

He was born in Edappally, Kochi to (Late) C. Varghese Kelamparambil (Rtd Headmaster) and (Late) Leelamma Varghese (Teacher). He did his schooling from St. George’s School, Edappally; Holy Family School, Cherthala & Cardinal HS, Thrikkakara. He studied at the Sacred Heart College, Thevara before commencing his career in the film industry as an assistant director to Joshy Mathew in Nakshatrakoodaram (1991). He married Tessy Raphel in 1999. The couple has four children — Adhitya, Amy, Annie & Anthony.

Career

A career that started off as a young Asst Director, Sijoy has been fortunate to have worked as a Script Assistant to Screenwriters like Dennis Joseph, T. Damodaran, CK Jeevan & Kaloor Dennis. He has assisted directors like Joshy Mathew (Nakshatrakoodaram), T. S. Suresh Babu (Uppukandam Brothers, Palayam, Military Intelligence) & Jomon (Jackpot).

He met Rajiv Menon in the year 1994, who inspired him to become an Ad Film Maker. He assisted top-notch ad film makers in over 60 TV Commercials and handled over 12 national brand campaigns in India. Later he joined ad film maker Mathew Paul and has worked for his award winning Documentaries, TV commercials & Corporate films. During this period Sijoy had the great opportunity to work with the music legend A. R. Rahman for several projects. In addition to these, Sijoy Varghese was also the Executive Producer & Associate Director to Director Shaji N. Karun for the dubbing initiative of Sir Richard Attenborough’s Oscar winning film Gandhi into 14 regional Indian languages. He has also been highly recognized for his event directorial ventures and has directed more than 60 high profile TV shows & Events in both UAE and India including Beauty Pageants like Miss Kerala, Axe Man Hunt and prestigious events like the Coca-Cola Full volume National tour, Nancy Ajram Live @ Dubai, Shah Rukh Khan Live @ GKSF.

In the year 2005, he found his own production house “TVC Factory”,[6] which has now grown to secure the privilege of being one of the most trusted production houses in India.

Film

He started his acting career with as a villainous cop in Martin Prakkat’s ABCD along with Dulquer Salmaan. He played the role of a Police Commissioner in ABCD, for which he won several appreciations as an actor. He indulged in further experimentation with Amal Neerad Production’s 5 Sundarikal[7](2013). He wrote ‘Isha’ with the co-writer Sidharth Bharathan for Sameer Thahir in the much appreciated anthology. After his villainous Cabinet Minister for Thira by Vineeth Sreenivasan,[8] he did a well notable role in Anjali Menon's movie Bangalore Days as Coach Zach for which his character got huge appreciation. Later, he appeared on screen as ACP Gautam Viswanath in director Joshiy's Avatharam starring Dileep in the lead role. His character in Rajadhiraja as Gangster Chandru was also remarkable in the movie since it marks a turning point in Mammooty's character. Sijoy Varghese's latest film is titled Waiting in which he plays his role as Dr. Rao.

Filmography

Year Film Role Director
2013 ABCD Commissioner Benny Thomas Martin Prakkat
2013 Thira[9] Home Minister Alex Vineeth Sreenivasan
2013 5 Sundarikal Scriptwriter Sameer Thahir
2014 Bangalore Days Coach Zach Anjali Menon
2014 Avatharam [10] ACP Gautam Viswanath Joshiy
2014 Rajadhiraja Gangster Chandru Ajay Vasudev
2015 Waiting Dr.Rao Anu Menon

Ads

As an independent Ad film maker, which he turned into in 1997 with “Unnikkinnoru Kuda Venam, Umma Kodukkan Kuda Venam “ for Johns Umbrella and received critical acclaim for portraying a new trend in advertising industry. The Ad film also won several awards including Best Ad Film, Best Debut Director. He directed the mega hit advertising campaign “Kunjanja” for Johns Umbrella in the year 1999.

Brands worked for

Recognitions

Best TV Campaign Award for Mathrubhumi Classifieds from Indian Advertising & Corporate Film Festival – 2012 @ New Delhi and numerous advertising awards from Pepper creative awards and Kerala Advertising Agencies Association. Sijoy Varghese also received ‘Promising Professional’ award accorded by BPL Mobile in the year 1997.

References

  1. ↑ "Joshiy sir found a commanding power in my body language: Sijoy Varghese". The Times of India. 3 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "Sijoy Varghese". m3db.com. 28 October 2014.
  3. ↑ "‘Ad’orning the khaki". Deccan Chronicle. 4 July 2014.
  4. ↑ "'Bangalore Days' Releasing in UAE on 3 July". International Business Times. 26 June 2014.
  5. ↑ http://www.ibtimes.co.in/avatharam-review-mass-entertainer-dileep-joshiy-team-605897
  6. ↑ "Success: It takes two to tango!". Deccan Chronicle. 8 June 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/Stories-from-the-heart/2013/06/20/article1643498.ece
  8. ↑ http://archives.deccanchronicle.com/130704/entertainment-mollywood/article/%E2%80%98ad%E2%80%99orning-khaki
  9. ↑ "Shobana to Play Lead in 'Thira' Sequel". International Business Times. 9 September 2014.
  10. ↑ http://www.ibtimes.co.in/avatharam-box-office-collection-dileep-starrer-grosses-4-crore-3-days-606003