Joy Mathew

Joy Mathew (born 20 September 1961) is an Indian film and theatre actor. He is also a film director, playwright and screenwriter. He predominantly works in Malayalam cinema.

Career
Joy Mathew is best known for playing the lead role in John Abraham's 1986 film Amma Ariyan which was voted one of the Top 10 Indian films by British Film Institute. In 2012, he made his directorial debut with Shutter which portrays unexpected incidents happening in two days and a night in the city of Kozhikode. The film had its Indian premiere at the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala and international premiere at the 9th Dubai International Film Festival. It won the Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film (Audience Prize) at the 17th International Film Festival of Kerala. Shutter was also screened at Chennai Film Festival (2012–13), Mumbai Film Festival (2012–13), Bangalore Film Festival (2012–13), Busan Film Festival (2012–13), Hamburg Film Festival (2012–13), and Indian Panorama (2012–13).

Joy Mathew has written more than 22 plays in Malayalam, such as Madhyadharanyazhi (1994), Veeedukal Kathunnu (1999), Athirthikkal (1989), Sankadal (1996), Pretoria – 18 Oct (1996) and Chille 73 (1997). He received the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi award for his play Sankadal in 1996. He was honoured by Kerala Sahitya Academy for the Best Anthology of one act plays "Sisu" in 1994 and Madhyadhanyazhi for the Best Drama in 1995, Daivathinte Thoppi (2015), Poonaranga (2015), Raktha Thabala (2017).

Personal life
Joy Mathew was born to P. V. Mathew and Esther on 19 September 1959. He married Saritha Ann Thomas who had been working as the head of sales at Electronics Company Dubai. The couple have three children: Mathew, Ann and Tania.

Awards

 * 2012: International Film Festival of Kerala – Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Feature Film (Audience Prize) – Shutter
 * 2013: Vanitha Film Awards – Best Scriptwriter – Shutter
 * 2013: Asiavision Awards – Best Debut Director – Shutter
 * 2013: Asiavision Awards – Best Anti Hero – Amen
 * 2015: Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for acting – Mohavalayam
 * 2018: Kerala State Film Award for Best Story – Uncle