Joju George


Joseph "Joju" George is an Indian actor, playback singer, director, writer and producer who primarily works in Malayalam cinema along with Tamil, and Telugu cinemas.
In 2015, he won the Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention for his supporting roles in Oru Second Class Yathra and Lukka Chuppi. His film Joseph got special mention at 66th National Film Awards.
In 2015, he stepped into film production and produced films such as [Charlie (2015 Malayalam cinema|Malayalam film)|Charlie] and Udaharanam Sujatha before successfully launching his own production house Appu Pathu Pappu Production, which has produced several of his films. He is a recipient of more than 20 awards, awarded for either his acting or production.

Early life

Joju was born as Joseph George at Mala in the Thrissur district of Kerala to George Parecattil and Rosy. He studied at the Government High School in Kuzhur and at Christ College, Irinjalakuda, before entering the film industry as a junior artist in 1995 and subsequently working as an assistant director from 1997.

Film career

Joju debuted as an actor in the 1995 film Mazhavilkoodaram as a junior artist. This was followed by several minor roles in the late 1990s and 2000s. In the 2010s, he gradually shifted to playing supporting roles. In 2013 Joju got a major comic role as a Police commissioner in Hotel California directed by Aji John, gathered attention of both industry insiders and audience alike which was his first ever full-length character role in a feature film. In 2015, he won his first Kerala State Film Award (Special Mention) for his supporting roles in the films Oru Second Class Yathra, Yathra Chodikkathe and Lukka Chuppi. His breakthrough came when he played the leading role in the 2018 film Joseph, directed by M. Padmakumar, in which he played a retired police officer investigating a personal case while fighting demons of his own. The film received a special mention in the National Film Awards that year and Joju received his second Kerala State Film Award, this time for Best Character Actor for Joseph and the film Chola. In 2021, he was awarded at the 3rd Diorama International Film Festival under the category of Best Actor for his performance in Nayattu. He was the first Malayali to win the award. Since then, he has played several leading roles in films such Porinju Mariam Jose, Halal Love Story, Jagame Thanthiram, Pada, and Aviyal. He received praise for his performances in the films Nayattu, Madhuram and Freedom Fight for which he won the award for Best Actor that year at the Kerala State Film Awards. In the same year, he debuted in Tamil cinema alongside Dhanush in the film Jagame Thandhiram, directed by Karthik Subbaraj, which was released on Netflix. His second Tamil release was the Anthology series Putham Pudhu Kaalai Vidiyaadhaa, an Amazon Original. In 2025, he starred in Subbaraj's Retro alongside Suriya and Pooja Hegde.
In addition to acting, he has produced 6 films under his production house including Charlie, Joseph, Chola, Porinju Mariam Jose and Madhuram. He has been credited as a playback singer, having sung in his own film Joseph.

Personal life

Joju married Abba in 2008, and they have three children: Ian, Sarah, and Ivan.

Awards and nominations

AwardYearCategoryFilmResult
National Film Awards2019Special Mention (feature film)JosephWon
Kerala State Film Awards2023Second Best Feature FilmIrattaWon
Kerala State Film Awards2021Best ActorFreedom Fight, Naayattu, Madhuram,''ThuramukhamWon
Kerala State Film Awards2015Special MentionOru Second Class Yathra
Lukka Chuppi
Won
Kerala State Film Awards2018Best Character ActorChola
Joseph
Won
Kerala Film Critics Award2015Most Popular FilmCharlieWon
Kerala Film Critics Award2018Second Best ActorJosephWon
Kerala Film Critics Award2018Second Best FilmJosephWon
Filmfare Awards South2018Best Actor (Malayalam)JosephWon
Filmfare Awards South2024Best Film – MalayalamIrattaNomitated
Filmfare Awards South2024Best Actor – MalayalamIrattaNomitated
Filmfare Awards South2024Critics Award for Best Actor – MalayalamIrattaWon
Filmfare Awards South2021Best Actor in a Supporting RoleNayattuWon
South Indian International Movie Awards2016Best Actor in a Comedy Role Action Hero BijuWon
South Indian International Movie Awards2017Best Actor in a Supporting Role Ramante EdanthottamNomitated
South Indian International Movie Awards2018Best Actor JosephNomitated
South Indian International Movie Awards2018Best Actor in a Negative Role Njan MarykuttyNomitated
South Indian International Movie Awards2019Best Actor in a Supporting Role JuneNomitated
South Indian International Movie Awards2020Best Actor in a Supporting Role Halal Love StoryWon
Asianet Film Awards2017Special Jury Award Udaharanam SujathaWon
Asianet Film Awards2018Special Jury Award JosephWon
Vanitha Film Awards2017Most popular movieUdaharanam SujathaWon
Vanitha Film Awards2018Performer of the YearJosephWon
CPC Cine Awards2018Best ActorJosephWon
Asiavision Awards2018Best Character ActorJosephWon
Flowers Indian Film Awards2018Best Character ActorUdaharanam Sujatha
Ramante Edanthottam
Won
Flowers Indian Film Awards2018Best Film on Social CommitmentUdaharanam SujathaWon
North American Film Awards 2017Best Character ActorAction Hero BijuWon
North American Film Awards 2018Best Actor in a Negative RoleRamante EdanthottamWon
Movie Street Film Awards2019Best ActorJosephWon
Red FM Malayalam Music Awards2019Best Folk songPandu Paadavarambathiloode Won
10th South Indian International Movie Awards2021Best Actor in a Supporting RoleHalal Love StoryWon
Golden Sparrow Award at 3rd Diorama International Film Festival2021Best ActorNayattu''Won