Joy Mathew is an Indian film director, film and theatre actor, playwright, and political activist. He 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 the film 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. He has written more than 20 plays in Malayalam including Athirthikkal (1989), Sankadal (1996), Pretoria – 18 Oct (1996) and Chille 73 (1997). He was honoured by Kerala Sahitya Academy and kerala Sangeeta Nataka Academy for two of his plays in 1995 and 1996. He won the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for the play Madhya Dharanazhi (1996).

Filmography

• 2026Aasha — Varkey
• 2026Aroopi — Alex George
• 2026L&O - Law and Order — IG Dhananjayan
• 2025Besty — Ustad
• 2025Haal — Bishop
• 2025JSK - Janaki V vs State of Kerala — Bishop
• 2025Midnight in Mullankolli
• 2025Randaam Yaamam — Unnikrishnan Namboothiri
• 1000 Babies — Samuel K Sam
• 2024Buried in 1994 — Alex
• 2024Chithini — Kathanar
• Manorathangal — Raghavan Mama
• 2024Oru Bhaaratha Sarkar Ulpannam — Judge
• 2024Swargathile Katturumbu — Baby Samuel
• 20232018 — Chandy
• 2023Chaaver — Mukundan, Writer
• 2023Christy — Joseph
• 2023Dhoomam
• 2023Janvi
• 2023La - Tomatina — Journalist
• 2023Njanum Pinnoru Njanum
• 2023Viral Sebi — Ummerkoya
• 20221921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare — Damodaran Namboothiri
• 2022Heaven — Surgeon
• 2022Kaduva — Bishop
• 2022Karnan Napoleon Bhagat Singh
• 2022Louis
• 2022Naradan — Kurup sir
• 2022Varayan
• 2021Cabin — Shankaran Mesthiri
• 2021Drishyam 2 — Public Prosecutor
• 2021Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham — Balachandran
• 2021Mohan Kumar Fans — R.K
• 2021Vaanku — Special Appearance
• 2019Children's Park
• 2019Edakkad Battalion 06 — Basheer
• 2019Jimmy Ee Veedinte Aiswaryam — John Adakkakaran
• 2019Kenjira
• 2019Marconi Mathai
• 2019Mr. & Ms. Rowdy
• 2019Naan Petta Makan — Nelson Christo
• 2019Oru Kaatil Oru Paykappal — Varghese
• 2019The Sound Story
• 2019Thelivu — D.G.P
• 2019Vakathirivu — Vivekanandan
• 2018Body Deep
• 2018Chalakkudikkaran Changathi — Thambran
• 2018Chandragiri — MLA
• 2018Koodasha — Dr Jayan
• 2018Mottitta Mullakal
• 2018Sthaanam
• 2018Street Lights — Simon Mundakal
• 2018Uncle — Vijayan, Producer, Writer
• 2017Basheerinte Premalekhanam
• 2017C/O Saira Banu — Peter's friend
• 2017Chakkara Maavin Kombathu
• 2017Chippy
• 2017Clint — Doctor
• 2017Crossroad — Drama director
• 2017God Say
• 2017Gold Coins — Bride's father
• 2017Goodalochana — Painting buyer
• 2017Honey Bee 2: Celebrations — Cleetus
• 2017Melle
• 2017Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol — Ulahannan's Friend
• 2017Onpatham Valavinappuram — Actor
• 2017Oru Cinemakkaran — Bank Manager
• 2017Paathi: The Half — Othenan
• 2017Pareeth Pandari — Jamal
• 2017Puthan Panam — Hajiyar, Mahin Haji
• 2016Campus Diary
• 2016Idolle Ramayana — Story
• 2016King Liar — Pothuval Sir
• 2016Manamantha — Gayathri's Professor (Malayalam Version)
• 2016Mohavalayam — Jose Sebastian
• 2015Alif — Hajyar
• 2015Charlie — Umer
• 2015Chirakodinja Kinavukal — Father of Sumathi
• 2015Jamnapyari — Prakashettan
• 2015Just Married
• 2015Lailaa O Lailaa — Dr. Aravind Menon
• 2015Loham — Arif Bhai
• 2015Mariyam Mukku — Sayip
• 2015Monsoon
• 2015My God
• 2015Namukkore Aakasham — John Samuel
• 2015Oru Naal Iravil — Story
• 2015Pathemari — Chandran
• 2015Rasputin — Vayalil Satheesan
• 2015Swargathekkal Sundaram — Lopez
• 2015Utopiayile Rajavu — Chembakasseri Parameshwaran Pillai
• 20141983 — Gopi Aashaan
• 20147th Day — P.T.R. Bhattathiri
• 2014Angels — Father Varghese Punyaalan
• 2014Avatharam — Karimban John
• 2014Ithihasa — The Librarian
• 2014King of Kings — Ahmed Shah
• 2014Konthayum Poonoolum — Aloshi
• 2014Law Point — Maya's father
• 2014Munnariyippu — Chandraji
• 2014Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Njan — Sebastian
• 2014Onnum Mindathe
• 2014Oru Korean Padam
• 2014Praise the Lord — Kunjutty
• 2014Sapthamashree Thaskaraha — Pious Mathew
• 2014Shutter — Story
• 2014Ulsaha Committee — Thathamangalam Narayana Ayyengar
• 2014Vikramadithyan — Dr.Ramanath Pai
• 2013Amen — Father Abraham Ottaplakal
• 2013Annayum Rasoolum — Joseph
• 2013Honey Bee — Cleetus
• 2013Idukki Gold — John
• 2013Kaanchi — Thomas
• 2013Nadan — G. Krishnakumar
• 2013Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi — Abdul Haji
• 2013Olipporu
• 2013Philips and the Monkey Pen — Richard Philip
• 2013Rose Guitarinaal — Joe's Father
• 2013Silence — Markos
• 2013Sringaravelan — D. Gopi Prasad (DGP)
• 2013Zachariayude Garbhinikal — Anuradha's husband
• 2012Shutter — Writer, Director
• 1998Colours of Love — Assistant Director
• 1996Saamoohyapadom — Writer
• 1986Report to Mother — Purushan
• Aayirathonnam Raavu
• Bombay Positive
• DANSAF

Appearances as themselves (2)

• 2017Honey Bee 2.5 — Self
• 2014Njaan — Self