Lal Jose is an Indian film director. His debut film as a director is Oru Maravathoor Kanavu (1998). 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) and Immanuel (2013).

Biography

Born in Valapad in Thrissur, Kerala, Lal Jose did his schooling at NSS KPT School and NSS College Ottapalam. 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.

In 1998, he made his debut as an independent director with Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, which starred Mammootty and was scripted by Sreenivasan. Producer Siyad Koker asked Lal Jose to direct a film for him. The huge success Oru Maravathoor Kanavu earned him a positive reputation. The photography and narration style was appreciated by many critics. His next venture was Chandranudikkunna Dikhil in 2000, with Dileep as hero, which did well at the box office. In 2001, Lal Jose directed Randaam Bhavam starring Suresh Gopi. Even though was critically appreciated, this film flawed at the box office. In later years, it was widely acclaimed later as one of the best action films of 2000s.

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 huge hit and established Dileep as a new superstar. But his next film Pattalam, starring Mammootty, bombed in 2003. Rasikan, released in 2005 wasan average grosser. But Lal Jose proved his critics wrong in the same year with Chanthupottu, starring Dileep. The huge box-office success of Chanthupottu took Lal Jose's career to new heights. Dileep's performance in this film was highly appreciated. In 2006, Lal Jose brought out Achanurangatha Veedu, a low-budget film, which failed to bring audiences to the movie halls, though it won critical appreciation.

Lal Jose created a mania in Kerala in 2006 with Classmates, which broke all the collection records in the Malayalam cinema industry. Released without much publicity, with no big stars, it became the highest grossing film in Malayalam, until its record was broken by Twenty:20 two years later. In 2007, he did Arabikkatha, with Sreenivasan in a leading role. Arabikkatha was critically and commercially a big hit. His next movie Mulla, starring Dileep, got a cold response and did no good for Lal Jose or 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. 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.

Spanish Masala starring Dileep released in early 2012 was not a commercial success. But he came back strongly with Diamond Necklace starring Fahadh Faasil, Samvrutha Sunil, Gauthami Nair, Anusree (who won the Vivel Active Fair Big Break), Sreenivasan and Rohini. This was the debut film of his production house LJ Films and was well received by the critics and film-goers alike. His next film, Ayalum Njanum Thammil starred Prithviraj Sukumaran, Samvrutha, Pratap Pothen, Narain, Samvrutha Sunil, Rima Kallingal and Remya Nambeesan. It was very well received by critics and won the Kerala State Film Award for the Best Director for that year; it did well at the box office, too. He teamed up with Mammooty again for Immanuel. Fahadh Faasil, Salim Kumar, Reenu Mathews and Sukumari co-starred in the film which released in April 2013.

Most of his films have music composed by Vidyasagar, except for a couple of low-budget ventures.

Lal Jose has now been the project director of "Celebrate Keralam", a platform for creative and skilled professionals including documentary makers, photographers, writers, journalists, film makers, musicians, actors and art lovers to put their hands and minds together to fulfill their passion and give something back to their cherished homeland Keralam.