Joy Mathew is an Indian film director, film and theatre actor, playwright, and political activist. Joy Mathew 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. Shutter Played on Chennai Film Festival (2012-13),Mumbai Film Festival (2012-13), Bangalore Film Festival (2012-13), Busan Film Festival (2012-13), Hamburg Film Festival (2012-13), Indian Panorama (2012-13). Joy Mathew has written more than 22 plays in Malayalam including "Madhyadharanyazhi"(1994), Veeedukal Kathunnu(1999)""Athirthikkal (1989), Sankadal (1996), Pretoria – 18 Oct (1996) and Chille 73 (1997). He was honoured by Kerala Sahitya Academy for the best Anthology of one act plays "Sisu" in 1994 and "Madhyadhanyazhi" for the best Drama in 1995, Daivathinte Thoppi (2015 Daivathinte Thoppi Current Books Thrissur) Poonaranga (2015 Mathrubhumi Books) Raktha Thabala (2017 Current Books Thrissur). " bJoy Mathew married Saritha who had been working as the head of sales at a reputed Electronics Company Dubai. Mathew acted in several Malayalam films: Bavuttiyude Namathil, Cobra and Philips and the Monkey Pen.