Director

Lijo Jose Pellissery

Lijo Jose Pellissery has quietly become one of Malayalam cinema's most daring and innovative voices since his 2010 debut with Nayakan. The Kochi-based filmmaker has built an impressive resume that blends critical acclaim with cult appeal, racking up major awards from Kerala State Film Awards, the International Film Festival of India, and the International Film Festival of Kerala. His breakout commercial success came with the dark comedy Amen (2013), but it's his later works—particularly Angamaly Diaries (2017), Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018), and Jallikattu (2019)—that cemented his reputation as a fearless auteur. Jallikattu's journey to the Toronto International Film Festival and its selection as India's official Oscar entry in 2021 marked a watershed moment for his career and Malayalam cinema on the global stage. What sets Pellissery apart is his refusal to play it safe. He's known for blending genre conventions—crime, satire, dark comedy—into something distinctly his own, often populated with sprawling ensemble casts (Angamaly Diaries featured nearly 90 new actors). His visual style is raw and unflinching, tackling the underbelly of society with dark humor and social commentary that doesn't preach. Recent work like Churuli (2021) and Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023) continue this trajectory, proving he's not interested in repeating formulas. Whether you're into experimental cinema or just looking for Malayalam films that push boundaries, Pellissery is the director proving that regional cinema can be both artistically ambitious and genuinely gripping.