“The Journey of Director Lal Jose: From Gulf to Hitmaker”

# Kripesh Krishnakumar

Director Kamal’s words, blocking the journey of his favorite assistant director, were like a prophecy.

‘He should not go to the Gulf, his future is in cinema’ – Director Kamal’s words were like a prophecy. Kamal said that while blocking the journey of his beloved assistant director. Malayalam got a hitmaker due to the cancellation of that Gulf trip. Laljos, a lonely man who entered the film industry without any ambitions.

It has been 25 years since Lal Jose, son of the late Jose and Lily, became an independent director in Ottapalam Mecheriveetil. Lal Jose started telling his film story of a quarter of a century while sitting on the threshold of his house on Bharatapuzha in Mayannur. A story that reached the top of Malayalam cinema through twists and turns.

If you make a film, we can make it

Ottapalam L.S.N. School, NSS KPT School, Ottapalam N.S.S. After completing his studies from college, he decided to go to Gulf on the insistence of his father. Lal Jose, who came to Madras with the understanding that he would study and do small jobs until his visa came, got an opportunity as an assistant director in the film through his friends.

The young man, who had only seen films till then, took his first step into this field in 1989 with Kamal’s ‘Pradeshika Sangya’. The energetic young man on the movie sets became everyone’s favourite. Producers Alexander Mathew Pooyapally and Dr. Bright also told Lal. “If you make a movie, we can make it”. “If Sreenivasan or Lohitadas writes the screenplay, I will direct”. Lal Jose, who never dreamed of being a director, said this to get rid of them.

If he is I will write the story

But that strategy didn’t work. Turns were waiting for him. Both the producers came up with a new film idea and got a positive response from Srinivasan. “I’ll write if it’s Lal Jose.” Lal Jose got a boost of energy from that unexpected reply. If Srinivasan wants to say so, he can. Thus, in 1997, the stage was set for the first film ‘Oru Maravathur Kanav’.

Does his character resemble me?

Mammootty asked when he heard that Srinivasan and Lal Jose were making a film together. Lal Jose’s reply that he has not decided who will be the hero of his film. Mammootty’s counter question is whether his character has my shade. Worried that the first film will be okay with such a big actor, Lal Jose rejected this offer and replied that another film is enough. Later Mammootty jokingly told Srinivasan. He is the first to deny. “His director is an arrogant man.” Finally, Maravathurkanav happened; Mammootty became the lead. It hit the theaters on April 8, 1998. The first film was a huge success.

Rush hour

Lal Jose did not have to sit idle after Maravathurkanav’s victory. Success films came one after the other. He became the star of movies like ‘Chandranudikunna Dikil’, ‘Meeshamadhavan’, ‘Chant Pot’, ‘Achhanurangatha Veedu’, ‘Classmates’, ‘Arabicatha’, ‘Ayaalum Numum Kempa’ and ‘Vikramadityan’. If he had gone to Gulf then, if Kamal, Srinivasan and Mammootty had not trusted him, there would not be a director like this today.

A big picture is coming

A big film is the current goal. Apart from Malayalam, the plan is to release it dubbed in Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. It will also feature actors from multiple languages. Lal Jose said that it is currently under construction.