Jagathy Sreekumar

Sreekumar is the eldest son of Malayalam dramatist and writer Jagathy N. K. Achary (1924–1997) (also fondly known as Jagathy) and his wife Prasanna from the famed Edavancaud family of Mavelikkara.

N. K. Achary was Station Director at All India Radio, Trivandrum.

Sreekumar has two siblings, Krishnakumar and Jameela; and two step-siblings Murali and Sugadamma.

"My father was my strength. He used to take me to movies and bring home scripts of plays for me to read. Being in All India Radio, my father had contacts with stalwarts in this field. He created many opportunities for me to interact with them. This helped me in my career.", says Jagathy Sreekumar about his father.

He attended the Higher Secondary School in Cheriyanad, Chengannur, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in botany from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum where eminent personalities like K. Jayakumar and Ravi Vallathol were his classmates..

After college, he briefly worked as a medical representative before later becoming an actor.

Jagathy was a fifth grade student at Model School in Trivandrum when he first got the opportunity to act in a school play.

The play he acted was "Onamundum Odakkuzhalum" by Sreemandiram K.P. He continued to act in plays written by his father NK Achary for Kalanilayam, in big and small roles.

By this time he joined Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum.

Sreekumar Achary (born 5 January 1951), better known by his stage name Jagathy Sreekumar or simply Jagathy, is an Indian actor, director and playback singer, who has appeared in over 1500 Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four decades.

Widely regarded as the greatest comedian in the history of Malayalam cinema, he is also known for his highly nuanced character roles.

He is the son of acclaimed dramaturge and writer, the late Jagathy N. K. Achary.

Jagathy Sreekumar won five Kerala State Film Awards among numerous other awards for his roles in various films.

He has also directed two films and written screenplays for two more.

His stage name is derived from the neighborhood of Jagathy in Trivandrum from where he hails.

He is an outspoken orator holding strong views, quite unlike his onscreen image and his speeches are still popular.

Jagathy made his debut in Malayalam cinema in 1974 by playing a small role in Kanyakumari.

He got a breakthrough in his career with his second film Chattambi Kalyani (1975) where he played the role of Pappu.

Since then, he went on to play comedy roles in numerous movies.

Jagathy started to become an integral part of Malayalam cinema during the early 1980s.

He was a constant fixture in Priyadarshan films with Mohanlal coming in the lead role in many of them.

Jagathy-Mohanlal combo also resulted in some of the hit movies during the 1980s such as Poochakkoru Mookkuthi, Boeing Boeing, Aram + Aram = Kinnaram, Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu, Hello My Dear Wrong Number, Thalavattam, Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu and Ninnistham Ennishtam.

Jagathy was appraised for his performance as Kavala in the sentimental drama film Moonnam Pakkam (1988).

The same year he played Vikram in Mammootty starrer Oru C.B.I Diary Kurippu and reprised the character in the next four sequels of the CBI Series released in 1989, 2004, 2005 and 2022 respectively.

His other notable movies among many in the 1990s include Nagarangalil Chennu Raparkam, Cheriya Lokavum Valiya Manushyarum (1990), Kottayam Kunjachan, Koodikazhca, Kadinjool Kalyanam, Georgekutty C/O Georgekutty (1991), Ezhara Ponnana (1992), Pidakkozhi Koovunna Noottandu, Vadhu Doctoranu, Pingami, Malappuram Haji Mahanaya Joji, Kinnaripuzhayoram, CID Unnikrishnan B.A., B.Ed (1994), Oru Abhibhashakante Case Diary, Vrudhanmare Sookshikkuka, Puthukottyile Puthu Manavalan, Kusruthikaatu (1995), Kalyana Sowgandhikam, Kaathil Oru Kinnaram (1996), Arjunan Pillayum Anchu Makkalum, Kilukil Pambaram, Junior Mandrake (1997), Meenathil Thalikettu, Kottaram Veettile Apputtan, Mangalya Pallakku, Mayilpeelikkavu, Grama Panchayath, Alibabayum Arara Kallanmarum, Sreekrishnapurathe Nakshathrathilakkam (1998), Udayapuram Sulthan, Vazhunnor, Tokyo Nagarathile Viseshangal, Pattabhishekam and Friends (1999).

Jagathy won the Kerala State Film Award For Second Best Actor in 1991 for his performance in the cult classic comedy movie Kilukkam and Apoorvam Chilar.

He played Nischal, a comedy character in Kilukkam whereas in Apoorvam Chilar, he played a character role.

Jagathy played the role of a patient escaped from mental hospital with his group of friends in Mookilla Rajyathu (1991).

This movie later developed a cult following.

One of the best characters played by Jagathy is Arasumootil Appukuttan in Yoddha (1992).

Yoddha is considered one of the best comedy films in Malayalam where Jagathy played an integral part in it.

Jagathy was praised for his performance as Jayakrishnan in Melepparambil Aanveedu (1993).

His lead role in Kabooliwala (1994) alongside Innocent was accalimed.

The duo played the characters called Kannas and Kadalas in the movie respectively.

The same year he played another memorable role in Minnaram.

Vattoli Porinju is a popular character from the movie Olympian Anthony Adam (1999).

As the result of a vehicle accident in March 2012, Jagathy was hospitalized for over a year and has still not completely recovered from the injuries sustained.

His film career has been on hold since the accident.

In May 2022, Jagathy returned to the big screen with the CBI 5: The Brain directed by K. Madhu.

In the film, he did not have any dialogues and reprised the memorable character CID Vikram, which he played in the previous films of the CBI series.