Malekudy Joseph Antony, better known as Antony Perumbavoor is an Indian

film producer A film producer is a person who oversees film production. Either employed by a production company or working independently, producers plan and coordinate various aspects of film production, such as selecting the script, coordinating writing, di ...

distributor A distributor is an enclosed rotating switch used in spark-ignition internal combustion engines that have mechanically timed ignition. The distributor's main function is to route high voltage current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs ...

, cinema exhibitor and actor, who works in

Malayalam film industry Malayalam cinema is an Indian film industry of Malayalam-language motion pictures. It is based in Kochi, Kerala, India. The films produced in Malayalam cinema are known for their cinematography and story-driven plots. In 1982, ''Elippathayam' ...

. He began his career as a chauffeur to

Mohanlal Mohanlal Viswanathan (born 21 May 1960), known mononymously as Mohanlal, is an Indian actor, film producer, playback singer, film distributor, and director who predominantly works in Malayalam cinema besides also having sporadically appeare ...

in 1987 and started appearing in brief roles in

Malayalam Malayalam (; , ) is a Dravidian language spoken in the Indian state of Kerala and the union territories of Lakshadweep and Puducherry (Mahé district) by the Malayali people. It is one of 22 scheduled languages of India. Malayalam was des ...

films in 1990s. In 2000, he established the film production house

Aashirvad Cinemas Aashirvad Cinemas is an Indian film production company based in Kochi, Kerala. It was established in 2000 by Antony Perumbavoor, since then, it has produced over 30 Malayalam films, starring Mohanlal. Since 2009, the company co-operates with the ...

, which exclusively produces Mohanlal films. Antony owns the multiplex theatre chain Aashirvad Cineplexx and co-owns the film distribution company

Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments is an Indian film distribution and production company established in 2009 by actor-producer Mohanlal, producer Antony Perumbavoor and industrialist K. C. Babu. Since then, it has distributed several films in Ma ...

. He is the president of Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK). As a producer, he has received several awards, including two

National Film Awards The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremony in India. Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorat ...

, four

Kerala State Film Awards The Kerala State Film Awards are the film awards for a motion picture made in Kerala. The awards started in 1969 by the Department of Cultural Affairs, Government of Kerala and since 1998 the awards have been bestowed by Kerala State Cha ...

and a

Filmfare Awards South Filmfare Awards South is the South Indian segment of the annual Filmfare Awards, presented by the Filmfare magazine of The Times Group to honour both artistic and technical excellence of professionals in the Indian film industry encompassing ...

among others.

Early life and family

Malekudy Joseph Antony was born as the son of Joseph and Elamma. He hails from

Perumbavoor Perumbavoor (, Malayalam: പെരുമ്പാവൂർ) is a historic place located at Bank of Periyar (Poorna River) in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It is a part of the Kochi metropolitan area It lies in the n ...

Ernakulam district Ernakulam, ; ISO: ''Eṟaṇākuḷaṁ'', in Malayalam: എറണാകുളം), is one of the 14 districts in the Indian state of Kerala, that takes its name from the eponymous city division in Kochi. It is situated in the central part o ...

Kerala Kerala ( ; ) is a state on the Malabar Coast of India. It was formed on 1 November 1956, following the passage of the States Reorganisation Act, by combining Malayalam-speaking regions of the erstwhile regions of Cochin, Malabar, South ...

and studied in a government upper primary school in Iringole, Perumbavoor and MGM Higher Secondary School in

Kuruppampady Kuruppampady is situated about five kilometers from Perumbavoor on the Aluva-Munnar road, in Kunnathunad Taluk, Ernakulam district, Kerala, India. Location It is surrounded by important places viz. Perumbavoor, Kalady, Malayattoor, Angamaly ...

. Antony is married to Shanti and the couple have two childrenAnisha and Ashish Joe Antony. He resides in Aimury, Perumbavoor.

Career

During the filming of

-starrer ''

Pattanapravesham ''Pattanapravesham'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language Detective fiction, detective Comedy film, comedy film directed by Sathyan Anthikad and written by Sreenivasan. It stars Mohanlal, Sreenivasan, Karamana Janardhanan Nair, Ambika (actres ...

'' in 1988, Antony joined the film crew as a temporary driver in the filming location, during which he worked as a chauffeur to Mohanlal in its 22 days long shooting schedule before departing back to his hometown. Later, when Antony was a spectator during the filming of

's ''

Moonnam Mura ''Moonnam Mura'' () is a 1988 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by K. Madhu and written by S. N. Swamy. Starring Mohanlal, Suresh Gopi, Lalu Alex, Revathi, and Mukesh. The plot deals with a terrorist group kidnapping a grou ...

'' (1988) in Ambalamugal,

, he was recognised by Mohanlal from the crowd and invited to join again as chauffeur. At some point later during this time, Mohanlal invited him to join as his permanent chauffeur, which he accepted. In 2000, he established the film production company Aashirvad Cinemas, debuting with Mohanlal-starring action drama '' Narasimham'', which became the highest-grossing Malayalam film to that date. Until 2009, the films of Aarshirvad Cinemas were distributed by Swargachitra and later by Central Pictures. In 2009, Antony along with Mohanlal and industrialist K. C. Babu established the film distribution company

, debuting with ''

Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded ''Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded'' is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller film directed by Amal Neerad. It is the sequel of 1987 film ''Irupatham Noottandu'' and Mohanlal reprise his role as Sagar Alias Jacky. The film was written by S ...

''. In 2016, Antony established his first

multiplex theater A multiplex is a movie theater complex with multiple screens within a single complex. They are usually housed in a specially designed building. Sometimes, an existing venue undergoes a renovation where the existing auditoriums are split into s ...

, Aashirvad Cineplexx in

and later opened its chain in other regions in the state. In 2017, Antony was elected the vice-president of the newly formed Film Exhibitors United Organisation of Kerala (FEUOK), an organisation comprising producers, distributors, and exhibitors in Malayalam film industry. Since July 2017, he is the president of FEUOK. in 2019, Aashirvad Cinemas opened office in

Hong Kong Hong Kong ( (US) or (UK); , ), officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China ( abbr. Hong Kong SAR or HKSAR), is a city and special administrative region of China on the eastern Pearl River Delt ...

under the name Feitian Aashirvad Cinemas.

Filmography

Acting credits

Production

Distribution

Accolades

;

* 2012: Best Film on Other Social Issues – ''

Spirit Spirit or spirits may refer to: Liquor and other volatile liquids * Spirits, a.k.a. liquor, distilled alcoholic drinks * Spirit or tincture, an extract of plant or animal material dissolved in ethanol * Volatile (especially flammable) liquids, ...

'' * 2019:

Best Feature Film Best or The Best may refer to: People * Best (surname), people with the surname Best * Best (footballer, born 1968), retired Portuguese footballer Companies and organizations * Best & Co., an 1879–1971 clothing chain * Best Lock Corporatio ...

– '' Marakkar: Arabikadalinte Simham'' ;

* 2001: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – ''

Raavanaprabhu ''Raavanaprabhu'' () is a 2001 Indian Malayalam-language action thriller drama film written and directed by Ranjith in his directorial debut. It is a sequel to the 1993 film ''Devaasuram'' written by Ranjith, directed by I.V. Sasi. The film s ...

'' * 2008: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – ''

Innathe Chintha Vishayam ''Innathe Chinthavishayam'' () is a 2008 Indian Malayalam-language family drama film written and directed by Satyan Anthikad. The film, produced by Antony Perumbavoor through Aashirvad Cinemas, stars Mohanlal and Meera Jasmine. The film's score ...

'' * 2009: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – ''

Evidam Swargamanu ''Ividam Swargamanu'' () is a 2009 Indian Malayalam-language family drama Thriller film, thriller film directed by Rosshan Andrrews and written by James Albert (screenwriter), James Albert. It was produced by Antony Perumbavoor under the company ...

'' * 2013: Best Film with Popular Appeal and Aesthetic Value – ''

Drishyam ''Drishyam'' () is a 2013 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Jeethu Joseph. It stars Mohanlal and Meena, with Ansiba Hassan, Esther Anil, Kalabhavan Shajohn, Asha Sharath, Siddique, Roshan Basheer and Neera ...

'' ;

* 2013: Best Film – Malayalam - ''

'' ;

South Indian International Movie Awards South Indian International Movie Awards, also known as the SIIMA Awards, rewards the artistic and technical achievements of the South Indian film industry. It was launched in 2012 by Vishnu Vardhan Induri and Brinda Prasad Adusimilli to appreci ...

*2013: Best Film in Malayalam – ''

'' ;

Asianet Film Awards The Asianet Film Awards is an award ceremony for films presented annually by Asianet, a Malayalam-language television network from the south-Indian state of Kerala. Asianet says that awards ceremony has been instituted to honour both artis ...

* 2000:

Best Film This is a list of categories of awards commonly awarded through organizations that bestow film awards, including those presented by various film, festivals, and people's awards. Best Actor/Best Actress *See Best Actor#Film awards, Best Actress#F ...

– '' Narasimham'' * 2012: Most Popular Film – ''

'' * 2013:

– ''

'' * 2013: Most Popular Film – ''

'' * 2016:

– ''

Oppam ''Oppam'' () is a 2016 Indian Malayalam-language crime thriller film written and directed by Priyadarshan from a story by Govind Vijayan. It was produced by Antony Perumbavoor for Aashirvad Cinemas and starred Mohanlal, Anusree, Meenakshi, Sam ...

'' ; Jaihind TV Awards *2007: Best Film – '' Paradesi'' *2013: Best Film - ‘’

’’ ;Kairali TV – World Malayali Council Film Award *2009: Best Film – ''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Perumbavoor, Antony Malayali people Malayalam film producers Film producers from Kerala Businesspeople from Kochi Businesspeople from Kerala Film producers from Kochi 21st-century Indian businesspeople Kerala State Film Award winners Male actors in Malayalam cinema Filmfare Awards South winners 1968 births Living people Telugu film producers