A Joy forever

Joy Mathew’s is a fascinating story. He made his début in cinema as the lead in John Abraham’s iconic film, Amma Ariyan, way back in 1986. Then he disappeared from the silver screen. In the meantime, he wrote award-winning plays, worked as a journalist, acted in television serials and lived in Dubai for a considerable period of time.

Then in 2012, almost out of the blue, he directed Shutter, a stunning success, both critically and at the box-office. The film’s strong point was its script, which he wrote himself. The movie’s rights were eventually sold to eight languages.

With his very first film, Joy established himself as a writer-director to watch out for. But, much like one of the unpredictable twists in Shutter, it was another talent in him that blossomed over the following years and he soon became one of the busiest character actors in Malayalam cinema. Joy went on to do 92 films in five years.

Joy found writing a time-consuming affair and he found little time for it as he travelled from one film’s set to another. He had, however, promised to write a script for M. Padmakumar. “I hold him in high regard as a director. I had discussed several plots with him and was ready to write a screenplay,” says Joy.

But, one day, Padmakumar told him that he would not direct it and requested Joy to give the story to an associate director of his, Gireesh Damodar. “He told me that Gireesh had been struggling for several years to become an independent director. I was only happy to comply with Padmakumar’s request. I have known Gireesh for 25 years, from the time I acted in a television serial for Doordarshan,” says Joy.

Conception of idea

And Gireesh was willing to wait since he knew how busy Joy was. “It was during a drive together that I first conceived the story of a teenage girl and a friend of her father’s. That was how we decided to make Uncle,” says Joy.

The film, which has Mammootty in the lead, reaches cinemas today.

“Mammootty came on board unexpectedly. Uncle, which I am co-producing with Sajai Sebastian, was meant to be a low-budget film and we had almost cast another actor in the titular role. But, during the shoot of Puthan Panam, I narrated the film’s plot to Mammootty, who liked it and wanted to do the movie. But I told him that we could not afford him. He shot back, asking ‘Have I asked for money?’ I still owe him his remuneration,” smiles Joy.

He adds that though the role has negative shades, Mammootty was keen to do it. “I had given him the option of playing the role of the girl’s father, but he declined. Karthika Muraleedharan plays the girl, a college student, and I essay the role of her father,” he says.

Much of the action in Uncle takes place on one night. “I would not exactly call it a pure thriller, but it is fast-paced and suspense-filled. The film also examines certain issues in families and society. It is the story of this generation,” Joy says, adding that he is glad that Mammootty, who plays a Mumbai-based businessman and womaniser, has become a part of the film. “He has come up with a splendid performance. I am also happy with Karthika. The film’s cast includes KPAC Lalitha, Muthumani and Babu Annur. Camerawork by Alagappan will be one of the highlights of Uncle,” Joy says.

Upcoming releases

On the acting front, Joy is excited about a Tamil film he has signed up with Raju Murugan, whose Joker had won the National Award for the best Tamil film last year.

“I am playing the central character in it. Among my upcoming releases in Malayalam are Balachandran Menon’s Ennalum Sharath and Vinayan’s Chalakkudikkaran Changathi,” he says.

So, when will he be helming his second film? “I am working on the script now. It is going to be a horror film, but with no ghost,” Joy reveals.

Joy says he is happy that the mainstream Malayalam cinema is regaining some of its lost glory.

“Our films appear to have become realistic once again. Thondimuthalum Driskakshiyum is a fine example. I am glad that I could also contribute to this phase of Malayalam cinema with Shutter. But, I didn’t ever imagine that it would be remade into Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, Tulu and Punjabi,” he says.