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Lijo Jose Pellissery

リジョ・ジョセ・ペリッセリー

Lijo Jose Pellissery

Aliases: LJP
Pen Names: LJP（Used as an initialism/nickname in media and by collaborators）

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1978-09-18 （Chalakudy, Thrissur district, Kerala, India）
Nationality
India
Languages
Malayalam, English
Religion
Christianity
Residence History
Chalakudy, Kerala → Aluva (studied at Union Christian College) → Bangalore (studied at Indian Institute of Plantation Management)

Career

Occupations
Film director, Actor, Producer (co-producer)
Active Years
2010-
Influenced By
Jose Pellissery (father, actor)
Influenced
Contemporary young filmmakers in Malayalam cinema

Education

Union Christian College, Aluva
Country: India
Completed undergraduate studies (specific major and year not specified in sources)
Indian Institute of Plantation Management, Bangalore
Degree: MBA
Country: India
Reported to have earned an MBA; graduation year not specified

Awards

Asianet Film Awards (Best Director)
2013
Work: Amen
Category: Best Director
Organization: Asianet
Result: Won
Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
2017
Work: Ee.Ma.Yau.
Category: Best Director
Organization: Kerala State Film Awards
Result: Won
Silver Peacock Award for Best Director
2018
Work: Ee.Ma.Yau.
Category: Best Director
Organization: 49th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
Result: Won
Silver Crow Pheasant Award for Best Director
2018
Work: Ee.Ma.Yau.
Category: Best Director
Organization: International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)
Result: Won
Filmfare Award for Best Director – Malayalam
2018
Work: Ee.Ma.Yau.
Category: Best Director
Organization: Filmfare Awards South
Result: Won
Silver Peacock Award for Best Director
2019
Work: Jallikattu
Category: Best Director
Organization: 50th International Film Festival of India (IFFI)
Result: Won
Kerala State Film Award for Best Director
2019
Work: Jallikattu
Category: Best Director
Organization: 50th Kerala State Film Awards
Result: Won
Audience Poll Award (Silver Peacock)
2020
Work: Churuli
Category: Audience Poll / Special Mention
Organization: International Film Festival of Kerala (IFFK)
Result: Won
Kerala State Film Award for Best Film
2023
Work: Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam
Category: Best Film
Organization: 53rd Kerala State Film Awards
Result: Won

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Nayakan

2010 Crime drama

Tells the story of a Kathakali artist who joins the underworld to avenge his family's murder. Pellissery's directorial debut.

RevengeTradition and violence

City of God

2011 Ensemble / New Generation Malayalam cinema

An ensemble piece employing hyperlink narrative structure. Critically appreciated but a box-office failure.

Urban lifeInterconnected lives

Amen

2013 Black comedy / musical elements

A commercial success noted for its unique humor and musicality.

FaithCommunity

Angamaly Diaries

2017 Crime black comedy

Notable for a cast of mostly newcomers and an 11-minute uninterrupted long take in the climax. Low-budget film that achieved critical and commercial success.

Local cultureViolence and camaraderie

Ee.Ma.Yau.

2018 Satirical drama

A satirical story revolving around death and funeral rituals. Widely acclaimed and recipient of several directing awards.

DeathRitualSocial customs

Jallikattu

2019 Action-psychological / crowd drama

A film depicting crowd behavior and violence, using multiple long takes. Premiered at TIFF and was selected as India's official submission for the Academy Awards (Best International Feature Film) for the 93rd Oscars.

ViolenceMob psychology

Churuli

2021 Psychological thriller / surreal elements

Reportedly shot in a short schedule; an experimental film with challenging visual and narrative elements.

Reality vs. surrealismIdentity

Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam

2023 Drama

A critically received drama that won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film.

MemoryDream and reality

Bibliography

  • Nayakan (2010)
  • City of God (2011)
  • Amen (2013)
  • Double Barrel (2015)
  • Angamaly Diaries (2017)
  • Ee.Ma.Yau. (2018)
  • Jallikattu (2019)
  • Churuli (2021)
  • Nanpakal Nerathu Mayakkam (2023)
  • Malaikottai Vaaliban (2024)
  • Painkili (2025)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Non-linear narrativesExtensive use of long takesRealism with strong sense of locality
Recurring Motifs
Violence and crowdsDeath and funeral ritesLocal-community dynamics

Legacy

Lijo Jose Pellissery is regarded as one of the leading contemporary filmmakers in Malayalam cinema, acclaimed internationally for his challenging style—notably long takes and non-linear narratives—and a recipient of several national and international festival awards.

In Popular Culture

  • Jallikattu gained widespread attention at international festivals and was selected as India's official entry for the Academy Awards.

Trivia

  • Often referred to by the initials 'LJP' in media and among collaborators.
  • Angamaly Diaries featured 86 debutant actors and an 11-minute uninterrupted long take in the climax.
  • Jallikattu premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was selected as India's official submission for the Academy Awards (Best International Feature Film) for 2020.