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Joy Mathew

Joy Mathew

Actor · Born September 20, 1961 (65) · Chalissery, Kerala, India

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).

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 20, 1961 (65)
From
Chalissery, Kerala, India
Works as
Actor
Titles
12 on MovieCove · 128 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 11% in 30 days

What are Joy Mathew's films like?

Across their 7 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Society.

Genres

Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Action2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 65th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
35%
Society
23%
Bonds
13%
Power
9%
Self
8%
Survival
8%
Ideas
3%
Community2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 7 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 2 · Serious 1 · Dark 4

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 2 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 1 · Charged 4 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 5 · Shifting 2 · Whiplash 0

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 6 · Some laughs 0 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 4 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 1 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

A split, not a type: Easy watch 2 · Affecting 2 · Heavy 3

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 3 · Open-ended 3 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
6
Contemplative
4
Hopeful
3
Dread
1
Absurd
1
Other
3

How their films linger

Hopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet4
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Joy Mathew's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 12 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Prime Video (6).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Joy Mathew's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

128 credits, 12 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • L&O Law and Order(2026)

    as IG Dhananjayan

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Aasha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2026)

    as Varkey

  • Aroopi(2026)

    as Alex George

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Haal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Bishop

  • Midnight in Mullankolli (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Actor

  • JSK - Janaki V vs State of Kerala (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Bishop

  • Randaam Yaamam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Unnikrishnan Namboothiri

  • Besty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    as Ustad

  • 1000 Babies (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 7 episodes · as Samuel K Sam

  • Chithini (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Kathanar

  • Manorathangal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    Show 1 episode · as Raghavan Mama

  • Swargathile Katturumbu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Baby Samuel

  • Buried in 1994 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Alex

  • Oru Bhaaratha Sarkar Ulpannam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2024)

    as Judge

  • Viral Sebi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Ummerkoya

  • Janvi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Chaaver (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Writer · as Mukundan

  • La - Tomatina (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Journalist

  • Njanum Pinnoru Njanum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    Actor

  • Dhoomam(2023)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • 2018(2023)

    as Chandy

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Christy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2023)

    as Joseph

  • Louis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • 1921: Puzha Muthal Puzha Vare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Damodaran Namboothiri

  • Kaduva(2022)

    as Bishop

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    as Surgeon

  • Varayan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Naradan(2022)

    as Kurup sir

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Karnan Napoleon Bhagat Singh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2022)

    Actor

  • Kanakam Kaamini Kalaham(2021)

    as Balachandran

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Cabin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Shankaran Mesthiri

  • Mohan Kumar Fans (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as R.K

  • Drishyam 2(2021)

    as Public Prosecutor

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all films

  • Vaanku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2021)

    as Special Appearance

  • Jimmy Ee Veedinte Aiswaryam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as John Adakkakaran

  • Kenjira (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Edakkad Battalion 06 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Basheer

  • Thelivu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as D.G.P

  • Marconi Mathai (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Naan Petta Makan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Nelson Christo

  • Vakathirivu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Vivekanandan

  • Children's Park (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • The Sound Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Mr. & Ms. Rowdy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    Actor

  • Oru Kaatil Oru Paykappal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2019)

    as Varghese

  • Mottitta Mullakal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Body Deep (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Koodasha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Dr Jayan

  • Chalakkudikkaran Changathi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Thambran

  • Chandragiri(2018)

    as MLA

    Midcredits score: 14th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Sthaanam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Actor

  • Uncle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    Producer · Writer · as Vijayan

  • Street Lights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Simon Mundakal

  • Chakkara Maavin Kombathu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Paathi: The Half (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Othenan

  • Chippy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Goodalochana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Painting buyer

  • Onpatham Valavinappuram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Actor

  • Melle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Crossroad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Drama director

  • Clint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Doctor

  • Basheerinte Premalekhanam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Oru Cinemakkaran (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Bank Manager

  • Gold Coins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Bride's father

  • Puthan Panam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Hajiyar · as Mahin Haji

  • Honey Bee 2: Celebrations (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Cleetus

  • C/O Saira Banu(2017)

    as Peter's friend

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Pareeth Pandari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Jamal

  • Munthirivallikal Thalirkkumbol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    as Ulahannan's Friend

  • God Say (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2017)

    Actor

  • Campus Diary (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Actor

  • Idolle Ramayana (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    Story

  • Manamantha(2016)

    as Gayathri's Professor (Malayalam Version)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • King Liar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Pothuval Sir

  • Mohavalayam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2016)

    as Jose Sebastian

  • Charlie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Umer

  • My God (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Oru Naal Iravil (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Story

  • Namukkore Aakasham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as John Samuel

  • Pathemari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Chandran

  • Utopiayile Rajavu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Chembakasseri Parameshwaran Pillai

  • Jamnapyari (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Prakashettan

  • Loham (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Arif Bhai

  • Just Married (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Rasputin (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Vayalil Satheesan

  • Monsoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    Actor

  • Swargathekkal Sundaram (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Lopez

  • Lailaa O Lailaa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Dr. Aravind Menon

  • Chirakodinja Kinavukal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Father of Sumathi

  • Alif (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Hajyar

  • Mariyam Mukku (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2015)

    as Sayip

  • Nagaravaridhi Naduvil Njan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Sebastian

  • Angels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Father Varghese Punyaalan

  • Oru Korean Padam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Ithihasa (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as The Librarian

  • Shutter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Story

  • Rajadhi Raja(2014)

    as Ahmed Shah

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Sapthamashree Thaskaraha (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Pious Mathew

  • Munnariyippu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Chandraji

  • Avatharam (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Karimban John

  • Vikramadithyan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Dr.Ramanath Pai

  • Law Point (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Maya's father

  • Ulsaha Committee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Thathamangalam Narayana Ayyengar

  • 7th Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as P.T.R. Bhattathiri

  • Onnum Mindathe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    Actor

  • Praise the Lord (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Kunjutty

  • Konthayum Poonoolum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Aloshi

  • 1983 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2014)

    as Gopi Aashaan

  • Silence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Markos

  • Nadan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as G. Krishnakumar

  • Philips and the Monkey Pen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Richard Philip

  • Idukki Gold (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as John

  • Olipporu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Actor

  • Kaanchi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Thomas

  • Zachariayude Garbhinikal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Anuradha's husband

  • Sringaravelan (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as D. Gopi Prasad (DGP)

  • Neelakasham Pachakadal Chuvanna Bhoomi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Abdul Haji

  • Honey Bee (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Cleetus

  • Amen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Father Abraham Ottaplakal

  • Rose Guitarinaal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Joe's Father

  • Annayum Rasoolum (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    as Joseph

  • Shutter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Director · Writer · Actor

  • Colours of Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Assistant Director

  • Saamoohyapadom (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Writer

  • Report to Mother (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Purushan

  • Aayirathonnam Raavu (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • Bombay Positive (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • DANSAF (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 90th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 128 titles, 125 of them dated from 1986 to 2026; peak year 2013.

Biggest box office

Dhoomam (2023)

$132K worldwide

Highest rated

Manamantha (2016)

Midcredits 87th

Most popular right now

Aroopi (2026)

Film career

19862026

Peak 2013 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 2013Screen debut· Annayum Rasoolum
  • 2015Career best· Pathemari

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting123 of 128: 120 only acting, 3 with another role · typical Midcredits score53rdDirecting1 of 128: 0 only directing, 1 with another roleWriting7 of 128: 4 only writing, 3 with another roleProducing1 of 128: 0 only producing, 1 with another roleOther crew1 of 128: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

128 titles, 3 with more than one role — acting and writing overlap on 3 of them.

By decade

1980s1 · acting1990s2 · crew2010s88 · 85 acting · 5 crew2020s34 · 34 acting · 1 crew

Billing

usually 7th · top billed in 0% of 11 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Joy Mathew's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 53rd percentile, the median of all 12; across their 7 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 41st percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

41stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Approval · how many liked their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Reach · how many have seen their films

56thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 7

Midcredits score across 12 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th4
  • 25th to 49th3
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

5 of their 12 titles are Universally Loved.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Cult Classic3
  • Crowd Pleaser1
  • Mixed3

Most divisive · actor

Rajadhi Raja (2014)

89th percentile spread · 37% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

2018 (2023)

Midcredits 99th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 61/100 in their films, across 5 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Joy Mathew work with?

People who share at least 2 of Joy Mathew's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Nandhu shares the most, 3.

Actors

Editors