Dennis Joseph

Career

Dennis Joseph made his debut into cinema in 1985, through Nirakkoottu in 1985. Directed by Joshi, this film had a strong cast line including Mammootty, Urvashi, Lizzy and Sumalatha. The big success of Nirakkoottu made him an overnight success, which was followed by a series of films in the next couple of years. Dennis Joseph holds the rare credit of scripting two huge block busters that established the reign of both Mammootty and Mohanlal as superstars in Malayalam cinema. Rajavinte Makan, loosely adapted over Rage of Angels, a novel by Sidney Sheldon got released in 1986. Directed by Thampi Kannanthanam, this film was a huge success at box office. Appearing as Vincent Gomas, an underworld don, Mohanlal successfully mesmerised the movie goers, whereby was called as super star by his fans. Similarly, after around two dozen huge flops, Mammootty was in his darkest days of his career in the period 1986–87, when Dennis Joseph scripted New Delhi. Directed by Joshi, this film was also a loose adaptation of an English novel. Completely shot in and around Delhi, this film initially had no takers to buy it. Even theatre owners were not that relent to release it. But upon release New Delhi broke several collection records establishing Mammootty as megastar in 1987.

Dennis Joseph ruled the box office in the late eighties and early nineties with several films of his becoming super hits. Joshi directed most of his scripts in these years, including Sangham, Thanthram, Dinarathrangal, Nair Saab and No.20 Madras Mail, all big hits. T.S Suresh Babu was another director with whom, Dennis Joseph joined hands most frequently in those days.