{{short description|Indian writer of Malayalam literature}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2023}} {{Use Indian English|date=June 2023}} {{Infobox writer | name = Lajo Jose | image = | imagesize = | caption = | pseudonym = | birth_date = | birth_place = Kottayam, Kerala, India | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Writer, Screenwriter | nationality = Indian | period = | genre = Fiction | subject = | spouse = | children = | parents = | movement = Crime fiction | notableworks = {{ubl|''Coffee House''|''Hydrangea''|''Ruthinte Lokam''|}} | influences = | influenced = | awards = | signature = | website = }}
'''Lajo Jose''' is an Indian writer and screenwriter, predominantly works in Malayalam literature and cinema. He is known for his crime thriller and mystery novels which include ''Coffee House'', ''Hydrangea'', ''Ruthinte Lokam'', ''Rest in Peace'' and ''Kanya Maria''. His latest work is ''Orange Thottathile Athidhi'', published by Mathrubhumi Books in 2023. He has also co-written the screenplay of a movie, ''Bougainvillea'', where the director Amal Neerad is the co-writer.
== Biography == Lajo Jose was born in Kottayam district of the south Indian state of Kerala. His works contribute to academic research and literary studies related to Crime Fiction in Malayalam. After his education, he joined the insurance sector where he held the position of a regional manager at Max Life Insurance before quitting the job in 2015.<ref name="Lajo Jose- Speaker in Kerala literature Festival KLF –2020">{{Cite web |title=Lajo Jose- Speaker in Kerala literature Festival KLF –2020 |url=http://keralaliteraturefestival.com/speakers_more.aspx?id=MTY1Nw== |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=keralaliteraturefestival.com}}</ref><ref name="വെബ് സീരീസുകളോടാണ് നോവലുകള് മത്സരിക്കുന്നത്; പരാജയപ്പെട്ടാല് പുറന്തള്ളപ്പെട്ടുപോകും">{{Cite web |last=നാസര് |first=അജ്നാസ് |title=വെബ് സീരീസുകളോടാണ് നോവലുകള് മത്സരിക്കുന്നത്; പരാജയപ്പെട്ടാല് പുറന്തള്ളപ്പെട്ടുപോകും |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/interview/malayalam-writer-lajo-jose-interview-rest-in-peace-novel-1.4875783 |access-date=2020-07-02 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Subsequently, he focused on writing, initially screenplays but he did not succeed in getting any foothold in film industry<ref name="ഇരുൾവഴികളിലെ അപഥസഞ്ചാരം, ഉദ്വേഗത്തിന്റെ കൊടുമുടികയറ്റം">{{Cite web |title=ഇരുൾവഴികളിലെ അപഥസഞ്ചാരം, ഉദ്വേഗത്തിന്റെ കൊടുമുടികയറ്റം |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/literaryworld/2021/01/23/talk-with-writer-lajo-jose.html |access-date=2021-01-24 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> which made him turn to fiction and his first novel, ''Coffee House'', was published in May 2018.<ref name="വരുമാനം ഒരു പ്രശ്നമാണ്; ബ്രഡ്, ബൺ എന്നിവ കണ്ടു പിടിച്ചവർക്ക് നന്ദി: ലാജോ ജോസ് മനസ്സുതുറക്കുന്നു">{{Cite news |title=വരുമാനം ഒരു പ്രശ്നമാണ്; ബ്രഡ്, ബൺ എന്നിവ കണ്ടു പിടിച്ചവർക്ക് നന്ദി: ലാജോ ജോസ് മനസ്സുതുറക്കുന്നു |language=ml |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/interviews/2019/06/28/talk-with-writer-lajo-jose.html |access-date=2020-06-24}}</ref> His next work, ''Hydrangea'', was a success with three editions coming out in a single month. Both ''Coffee House'' and ''Hydrangea'' are part of the Esther Emmanuel series.<ref name="Lajo Jose turned writer quitting corporate job">{{Cite web |last=Sivanand |first=Akhil |title=Lajo Jose turned writer quitting corporate job |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/authors/lajo-jose-turned-writer-quitting-corporate-job--1.3743034 |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref> This was followed by ''Ruthinte Lokam'' in 2019,<ref name="Suspense that killsനു">{{Cite news |title=Suspense that killsനു |language=ml |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/kochi/2019/nov/22/suspense-that-kills-2065152.html |access-date=2020-06-24}}</ref><ref name="മറവിയുടെ ലോകത്തുണ്ടായ ആ കൊലപാതകത്തിന്റെ രഹസ്യം തേടിയ റൂത്ത്">{{Cite web |title=മറവിയുടെ ലോകത്തുണ്ടായ ആ കൊലപാതകത്തിന്റെ രഹസ്യം തേടിയ റൂത്ത് |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/bookreview/2019/11/09/ruthinte-lokam-by-lajo-jose.html |access-date=2020-06-24 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}}</ref> ''Rest in Peace'', a cozy mystery, in 2020<ref name="Lajo Jose’s ‘cozy’ thriller">{{Cite news |title=Lajo Jose's 'cozy' thriller |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/entertainment/malayalam/2020/jul/11/lajo-joses-cozy-thriller-2168046.html |access-date=2020-07-11}}</ref><ref name="വൃദ്ധസദനത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്ന കൊലപാതകങ്ങളുടെ പൊരുൾ തേടി റെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻ പീസ്">{{Cite news |title=വൃദ്ധസദനത്തിൽ നടക്കുന്ന കൊലപാതകങ്ങളുടെ പൊരുൾ തേടി റെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻ പീസ് |language=ml |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/bookreview/2020/07/11/rest-in-peace-book-by-lajo-jose.html |access-date=2020-07-11}}</ref><ref name="Trailer of Lajo Jose's new crime thriller 'Rest in Peace' released">{{Cite web |title=Trailer of Lajo Jose's new crime thriller 'Rest in Peace' released |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/trailer-of-lajo-jose-s-new-crime-thriller-rest-in-peace-released-1.4840380 |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref> published by Mathrubhumi Books.<ref name="LAJO JOSE - Mathrubhumi Books">{{Cite web |title=LAJO JOSE - Mathrubhumi Books |url=https://buybooks.mathrubhumi.com/writer/lajo-jose/ |access-date=2020-06-24 |website=buybooks.mathrubhumi.com}}</ref><ref name="Pre-booking for 'Rest in Peace' by Lajo Jose begins">{{Cite web |title=Pre-booking for 'Rest in Peace' by Lajo Jose begins |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/pre-booking-for-rest-in-peace-by-lajo-jose-begins-1.4850592 |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Lajo Jose's new crime thriller 'Rest in Peace' soon to be released">{{Cite web |title=Lajo Jose's new crime thriller 'Rest in Peace' soon to be released |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/lajo-jose-s-new-crime-thriller-rest-in-peace-soon-to-be-released-1.4827353 |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=Mathrubhumi |language=en}}</ref> and 'Kanya Maria', a DC Books publication, in 2022.<ref name="Lajo Jose releases collection of Gothic stories by Maria Rose">{{Cite news |title=Lajo Jose releases collection of Gothic stories by Maria Rose |language=en |url=https://english.mathrubhumi.com/books/books-news/lajo-jose-releases-collection-of-gothic-stories-by-maria-rose-1.4906682 |access-date=2022-02-09}}</ref> The latest of his works is 'Orange Thottathile Athidhi', published by Mathrubhumi Books, in 2023.<ref name="Orange Thottathile Athidhi">{{Cite web |title=Orange Thottathile Athidhi |url=https://www.mbibooks.com/product/orange-thottathile-athidhi/ |access-date=2023-02-03 |website=www.mbibooks.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
Lajo Jose has written the script of ''Bougainvillea'', a 2024 Amal Neerad movie,<ref name="Bougainvillea’: Amal Neerad’s next with Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, and Jyothirmayi gets an intriguing title">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-09 |title=‘Bougainvillea’: Amal Neerad’s next with Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil, and Jyothirmayi gets an intriguing title |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/malayalam/movies/news/bougainvillea-amal-neerads-next-with-kunchacko-boban-fahadh-faasil-and-jyothirmayi-gets-an-intriguing-title/articleshow/110833659.cms |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=The Times of India}}</ref> with Kunchacko Boban, Fahadh Faasil and Jyothirmayi in the lead.<ref name="Blood-red hues and high drama: Amal Neerad's 'Bougainvillea' first look revealed">{{Cite web |title=Blood-red hues and high drama: Amal Neerad's 'Bougainvillea' first look revealed |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2024/06/09/bougainvillea-first-look-amal-neerad-fahadh-faasil-kunchacko-boban-mollywood.html |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Onmanorama}}</ref>
== Bibliography == {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year !! style=width:15em | Title !! style=width:15em | Title in English !! style=width:15em | Category !! style=width:14em | Publisher |- | 2018 | ''Coffee House'' | ''Coffee House'' | Crime thriller |Thrissur: Green Books |- | 2019 | ''Ruthinte Lokam'' | ''The World Of Ruth'' | Psychological thriller |Kottayam: DC Books |- | 2019 | ''Hydrangea'' | ''Hydrangea'' | Investigative thriller | Calicut: Mathrubhumi Books |- |2020 | ''Rest In Peace'' | ''Rest In Peace'' | Crime fiction | Calicut: Mathrubhumi Books |- | 2022 | ''Kanya Maria'' | ''Virgin Mary'' | Crime thriller | Kottayam: DC Books |- | 2023 | ''Orange Thottathile Athidhi '' | ''Guest In The Orange Orchard'' | Crime thriller | Kottayam: DC Books |}
== Filmography == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" style="width:75%" ! scope="col" style="width:5%" | Year ! scope="col" style="width:40%" | Film ! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Director ! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Contribution ! scope="col" style="width:10%" | Notes |- |2024 |''Bougainvillea'' ||Amal Neerad|| Screenplay |Debut as a scriptwriter<ref name="Amal Neerad’s next titled Bougainvillea; first-look poster featuring Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban exudes a sense of dread">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-09 |title=Amal Neerad’s next titled Bougainvillea; first-look poster featuring Fahadh Faasil, Kunchacko Boban exudes a sense of dread |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/malayalam/amal-neerads-next-titled-bougainvillea-fahadh-faasil-kunchacko-boban-9381072/ |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Bougainvillea: 'ബോഗയ്ൻവില്ല'; അമൽ നീരദ് ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ ടൈറ്റിൽ പോസ്റ്ററെത്തി">{{Cite web |date=2024-06-09 |title=Bougainvillea: 'ബോഗയ്ൻവില്ല'; അമൽ നീരദ് ചിത്രത്തിന്റെ ടൈറ്റിൽ പോസ്റ്ററെത്തി |url=https://zeenews.india.com/malayalam/movies/amal-neerad-movie-title-poster-revealed-named-as-bougainvillea-198711 |access-date=2024-06-09 |website=Zee News Malayalam |language=ml}}</ref> |}
== Awards and Honours == '''2024: 55th Kerala State Film Awards:'''
* Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay (Adapted) - ''Bougainvillea''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kerala State Film Awards 2025: 'Premalu' is Best Popular Film, 'Manjummel Boys' adjudged Best Film |url=https://www.onmanorama.com/entertainment/entertainment-news/2025/11/03/kerala-state-film-awards-2025-list-of-winners-live.html |access-date=2025-11-04 |website=Kerala State Film Awards 2025: 'Premalu' is Best Popular Film, 'Manjummel Boys' adjudged Best Film |language=en}}</ref>
== See also ==
* James Patterson * Kottayam Pushpanath
{{portal|India|Literature}}
== References == {{reflist}}
== Further reading == * {{Cite news |last=ശിവാനന്ദ് |first=അഖില് |title='ജോലി ഉപേക്ഷിച്ച് എഴുത്തുകാരനായി, തിരക്കഥയില് പലതും കത്തിച്ചു; ഒടുവില് നോവലിസ്റ്റായി ' |language=en |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/interview/coffee-house-malayalam-crime-thriller-books-by-lajo-jose-hydrangea-novel-1.3738743 |access-date=2020-06-25 |archive-date=25 June 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200625104434/https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/interview/coffee-house-malayalam-crime-thriller-books-by-lajo-jose-hydrangea-novel-1.3738743 |url-status=dead }} * {{Cite web |title='ഈ സിനിമ കാണാന് 4 തവണ ഞാന് ശ്രമിച്ചു. 3 തവണയും ഞാന് മാത്രമേ ഉണ്ടായിരുന്നുള്ളൂ, ഇങ്ങനെ ഉപേക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടേണ്ട ഒരു മോശം സിനിമയൊന്നുമല്ലത്- കുറിപ്പ് |url=https://www.eastcoastdaily.com/2019/12/07/lajo-jose-facebook-post-about-movie-kamala.html |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=East Coast Daily Malayalam |language=en-US}} * {{Cite web |title=റെസ്റ്റ് ഇൻ പീസ് - Rest In Peace |url=https://buybooks.mathrubhumi.com/product/rest-in-peace/ |access-date=2020-06-24 |website=buybooks.mathrubhumi.com |language=en-US}} * {{Cite web |title='എഴുത്തു നിർത്താൻ വരെ ഞാൻ ചിന്തിച്ചു'; ബെസ്റ്റ് സെല്ലർ നോവലിസ്റ്റിന്റെ വിജയരഹസ്യം; ലാജോ ജോസ് അഭിമുഖം |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/interviews/2022/02/07/interview-with-writer-lajo-jose-on-his-new-book-kanya-mariya.html |access-date=2022-02-09 |website=ManoramaOnline |language=ml}} * {{Cite news |title=കുറ്റവാളികളുടെ മനസ്സിലേക്കുള്ള എത്തിനോട്ടം |language=ml |url=https://www.manoramaonline.com/literature/bookreview/2023/02/14/orange-thottathile-athidhi-by-lajo-jose.html |access-date=2023-02-18}} * {{Cite news |title=ലാജോ ജോസിന്റെ ഓറഞ്ച് തോട്ടത്തിലെ അതിഥി; ക്ഷാരസ്വഭാവമുള്ള കഥാപാത്രങ്ങളുടെ ദുരൂഹമായ ഹരം! |language=en |url=https://www.mathrubhumi.com/books/reviews/lajo-jose-new-novel-orange-thottathile-athidhi-review-by-maria-rose-1.8318988 |access-date=2023-02-18}}
== External links == * {{Cite web |title=WorldCat ID |url=https://www.worldcat.org/search?q=au%253AJo%25CC%2584s%252C+La%25CC%2584jo%25CC%2584%252C&qt=hot_author |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=www.worldcat.org}} * {{Cite web |title=Lajo Jose - Novelist |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DrUORuxA0TI |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=www.youtube.com}} * {{Cite web |title=Lajo Jose |url=https://www.indulekha.com/index.php?route=product/author/info&author_id=5740 |access-date=2020-06-24 |website=www.indulekha.com}} * {{Cite web |title=കുറ്റാന്വേഷണ സാഹിത്യത്തിലെ പുതുവഴികൾ - KLF 2020 |website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CqXxQicl8po |access-date=2020-06-25 |language=en-GB}} * {{Cite web |title=Hydrangea Novel - Author's Copy Winners |website = YouTube|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pd4lHfL8T5Y |access-date=2020-06-25 |language=en-GB}} * {{Cite web |title=Exclusive Interview |url=https://tv.mathrubhumi.com/en/news/exclusive/novelist-lajo-jose-talks-about-upcoming-thriller-rest-in-peace-%7Cmorning-show--1.51715 |access-date=2020-06-25 |website=Mathrubhumi}}
{{Malayalam Literature |state=collapsed}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jose, Lajo}} Category:Living people Category:Malayalam-language novelists Category:Indian crime fiction writers Category:Indian male novelists Category:Writers from Kottayam Category:20th-century Indian novelists Category:21st-century Indian novelists Category:Novelists from Kerala Category:Year of birth missing (living people)