Joshiy - Career

Career

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, which was also declared as a super hit. 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,which was also a superhit. 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 and Janmam (2007) ended up as flops. 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 Robinhood in 2009, for first time with Prithviraj Sukumaran in main role. Christian Brothers released in 2011, a multi-star film with Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Sarath Kumar and Dileep in leading roles successfully ended as a super hit.