Antony Perumbavoor

Male Joseph Antony, better known as Antony Perumbavoor is an Indian film producer, distributor, cinema exhibitor and actor, who works in Malayalam film industry. He began his career as a chauffeur to Mohanlal in 1987 and started appearing in brief roles in Malayalam films in 1990s. In 2000, he established the film production house Aashirvad Cinemas, which exclusively produces Mohanlal films. Antony owns the multiplex theatre chain Aashirvad Cineplexx and co-owns the film distribution company Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments. 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, four Kerala State Film Awards and a Filmfare Awards South among others.

Early life and family

Malekudy Joseph Antony^[1] was born as the son of Joseph and Elamma. He hails from Perumbavoor in Ernakulam district, Kerala and studied in a government upper primary school in Iringole, Perumbavoor and MGM Higher Secondary School in Kuruppampady. Antony is married to Shanti and the couple have two childrenTemplate:MdashAnisha and Ashish Antony.^[2] He resides in Aimury, Perumbavoor.^[1]

Career

During the filming of Mohanlal-starrer Pattanapravesham 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 Mohanlal's Moonnam Mura (1988) in Ambalamugal, Kerala, 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.^[3]^[4]^[5]

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 Maxlab Cinemas and Entertainments, debuting with Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded.^[6]^[7]

In 2016, Antony established his first multiplex theater, Aashirvad Cineplexx in Perumbavoor and later opened its chain in other regions in the state.^[8] 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.^[9] Since July 2017, he is the president of FEUOK.^[10] in 2019, Aashirvad Cinemas opened office in Hong Kong under the name Feitian Aashirvad Cinemas.^[11]

Filmography

Acting credits

Year	Title	Role	Notes	Template:Abbr
1991	Kilukkam	Antony
1991	Uncle Bun	School bus driver
1992	Adhwaytham	Messenger
1992	Kamaladalam	messenger
1993	Gandharvam	Thief in motorcycle
1994	Thenmavin Kombath	Festival committee member
1994	Minnaram	Man at Squash Club
1994	Pingami	Devasootty
1996	Kaalapani	Mukundan's friend
1997	Varnapakittu	Man in the store
1997	Chandralekha	Company staff
1997	Iruvar	Man sitting near the body of Anandan during the funeral parade
1998	Harikrishnans	Antony
2007	Ali Bhai	Bus driver
2009	Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded	Thawb clad man	In the song "Sagar Alias Jackie"
2013	Drishyam	Constable Antony		^[12]
2016	Oppam	Boat passenger		^[12]
2016	Pulimurugan	Jeep driver		^[12]
2017	Velipadinte Pusthakam	Man at wedding	In the song "Mele Arimulla"
2017	Villain	Police officer		^[13]
2018	Aadhi	Himself
2018	Odiyan	Electricity officer
2019	Irupathiyonnaam Noottaandu	Antony Bavoor
2019	Lucifer	Man at the dance bar	In the song "Raftaara"
2019	Ittymaani: Made in China	De-addiction centre attender
2021	Drishyam 2	Antony	In an investigation scene