Shajoon Kariyal is an Indian film director and producer working in Malayalam cinema. Shajoon was born in 1966 in Kozhikode, Kerala and had his primary education from Govt. Ganapath High School, Chalappuram. He started his film career in 1984, at the age of 18, as an assistant director to I. V. Sasi. He worked as the assistant or associate director to many films including Uyarangalil (1984), Anubandham (1985), Karimpinpoovinakkare (1985), Aavanazhi (1986), 1921 (1988), Douthyam (1989), Varthamana Kalam (1990), Arhatha (1990), Midhya (1991), Neelagiri (1991) and Varnapakittu (1997). He was the story writer for the mammooty starrer megahit Jackpot.He debuted as a director with Rajaputhran (1996), starring Suresh Gopi and Shobhana. He has directed many films, including the commercially successful Thachiledathu Chundan (1999) and the critically acclaimed Vadakkumnadhan (2006). After Vadakkumnadhan, he planned two films, Raman Police and Talkies, but both the projects did not work out. His latest film is Chettayees which is directed and co-produced by him. He is one of the five partners of the newly launched production house Thakkaali Films.