Jagathy Sreekumar
Born	Sreekumar Achary (1951-01-05)5 January 1951 (age 74) Jagathy,Thiruvananthapuram,Kerala, India[1]
Nationality	Indian
Other names	Ambili
Alma mater	Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram
Occupations	Actor director
Years active	1974–present
Spouses	Mallika Sukumaran ​ ​ (m. 1974; div. 1976)​ Shoba ​ (m. 1979)​ Kala Sreekumar[2]
Children	3[3]
Parents	Jagathy N. K. Achary Prasanna
Relatives	P. C. George

Sreekumar Achary (born 5 January 1951), better known by hisstage nameJagathy Sreekumar or simplyJagathy, is an Indian actor,director andplayback singer,^[1] who has appeared in over 1500Malayalam films in a career spanning almost four decades.^[4][5][6] Widely regarded as one of the greatest actor in the history of Malayalam cinema,^[7][8][9] he is also known for his highly nuanced character roles. He is the son of acclaimed dramaturge and writer, the lateJagathy N. K. Achary.^[10]

Jagathy Sreekumar won fiveKerala 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 ofJagathy inThiruvananthapuram from where he hails. He is an outspoken orator holding strong views, quite unlike his onscreen image and his speeches are still popular.

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.^[11] In May 2022, Jagathy returned to the big screen with theCBI 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 theCBI series.

Sreekumar is the eldest son of Malayalam dramatist and writerJagathy N. K. Achary.^[12] He attended the Higher Secondary School in Cheriyanad, Chengannur, and graduated with a bachelor's degree in botany fromMar Ivanios College,Thiruvananthapuram where eminent personalities likeK. Jayakumar andRavi Vallathol were his classmates.. After college, he briefly worked as a medical representative before later becoming an actor.^[13]

Jagathy was afifth gradestudent at Model School inThiruvananthapuram 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 joinedMar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram.

Jagathy made his debut in Malayalam cinema in 1974 by playing a small role inKanyakumari. He got a breakthrough in his career with his second filmChattambi Kalyani (1975) where he played the role ofPappu.^[14] 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 inPriyadarshan films withMohanlal coming in the lead role in many of them. Jagathy-Mohanlal combo also resulted in some of the hit movies during the 1980s such asPoochakkoru Mookkuthi,Boeing Boeing,Aram + Aram = Kinnaram,Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu,Hello My Dear Wrong Number,Thalavattam,Mukunthetta Sumitra Vilikkunnu andNinnistham Ennishtam. Jagathy was praised for his performance asKavala in the sentimental drama filmMoonnam Pakkam (1988). The same year he playedVikram inMammootty starrerOru C.B.I Diary Kurippu and reprised the character in the next four sequels of theCBI Series released in 1989, 2004, 2005 and 2022 respectively.

Jagathy won theKerala State Film Award For Second Best Actor in 1991 for his performance in thecult classic comedy movieKilukkam andApoorvam Chilar. He playedNischal, a comic 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 inMookilla Rajyathu (1991).^[15] This movie later developed a cult following. One of the best characters played by Jagathy isArasumootil Appukuttan inYoddha (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 asJayakrishnan inMelepparambil Aanveedu (1993). His lead role inKabooliwala (1994) alongsideInnocent was acclaimed.^[16] The duo played the characters calledKannas andKadalas in the movie respectively. The same year he played another memorable role inMinnaram.Vattoli Porinju is a popular character from the movieOlympian Anthony Adam (1999).

Other notable movies in the 1990s includeNagarangalil 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 andFriends (1999).^[17]

Jagathy reunited with Priyadarshan withKakkakkuyil (2001), which was commercially successful. Jagathy's role asKrishnavilasom Bhageeratan Pilla akaPillechan in the comedy dramaMeesa Madhavan (2002) is often considered one of his career best. This character as well as the movie itself eventually developed acult following.^[18] Jagathy won his second Kerala State Film Award for his performance in Meesa Madhavan and for doing a character role inNizhalkuthu. The same year he played another memorable comedy characterKumbidi inNandanam.^[19] Some of his memorable roles in 2003 were in movies such asMr. Brahmachari,Thilakkam,Kilichundan Mampazham,Sadanandante Samayam,Vellithira,Swapnam Kondu Thulabharam,C.I.D. Moosa,Meerayude Dukhavum Muthuvinte Swapnavum,Balettan,Hariharan Pillai Happy Aanu,Pulival Kalyanam andPattanathil Sundaran. Jagathy's next film directed by Priyadarshan after Kilichundan Mambazham, wasVettam (2004), where he played a comic serial killer calledBasha. Another popular comic character of Jagathy isPachalam Bhasi inUdayananu Tharam (2005).^[20] In 2006, Jagathy reprised his role as Nischal inKilukkam Kilu Kilukkam, the sequel of Kilukkam. However the movie was a commercial failure and received negative reviews. Jagathy's role as a fake human god known asHimavalswami inMakante Achan (2009) was acclaimed.

Jagathy's other successful comedy movies in the 2000s includeVellinakshatram (2004),Naran,Kochi Rajavu (2005),Classmates (2006),The Speed Track,Chota Mumbai,Hallo,Rock & Roll (2007),Crazy Gopalan,Twenty:20 (2008),Sagar Alias Jacky Reloaded andEvidam Swargamanu (2009).

Jagathy's role asMember Ramanan inElsamma Enna Aankutty (2010) was appreciated and the movie was a box office success. His other notable movies in 2010 and 2011 areMarykkundoru Kunjaadu andPranchiyettan and the Saint. The last film he completed before his 2012 road accident wasParudeesa.^[21]

Jagathy has also played memorable character roles in numerous movies. Most of them have a comic shade while others are purely character roles. He played a complex character calledUnnithan Aashan inVaasthavam (2006). He won theKerala State Film Award – Special Mention in 2007 for his performance inParadesi andVeeralipattu. Jagathy played the lead role inRaamanam (2009) which earned him that yearsKerala State Film Special Jury Award. Jagathy's other notable character roles are seen in movies such asVesham (2004),Thanmathra (2005),Chess,Palunku (2006),Manchadikkuru (2008),Pazhassi Raja (2009),Indian Rupee (2011)Kerala Cafe (2009)Manikiakkallu (2011)Christian Brothers (2011)Janapriyan (2011) and1993 Bombay, March 12 (2011).^[22]

Besides portraying comedic characters and comic roles, Jagathy has played characters with negative shades, including his roles asChenicheri Kurup inUrumi (2011) and the Home Minister inPassenger (2009).^[23]Arabikkatha (2007) andCycle (2008) are also movies with Jagathy in negative roles.

He made his comeback after his road accident in 2012, in the movieCBI 5: The Brain released in 2022, which was the fifth part of theMammootty starrerCBI Series.^[24]

Jagathy marriedMallika in 1974 and divorced in 1976. He married Shoba in 1980. They have a son, Rajkumar, and a daughter, Parvathy.^[3] Just days before the March 2012 road accident, Jagathy had publicly revealed that he had a daughter, Sreelakshmi Sreekumar, with actress Kala, also said to be his third wife.^[25]

On 10 March 2012, he was seriously injured in a road accident at Panambra near theCalicut University atTenhipalam inMalappuram district.^[26] He was immediately rushed toMIMS inKozhikode, where he remained for one month. Later, he was taken toChristian Medical College, Vellore for advanced treatment. He underwent multiple surgical procedures. He remained in hospital for twelve months, appearing in public for the first time in March 2013, unable to speak.^[27] In 2014, he was again taken toVellore for further check-ups and returned to his home later. Recently he appeared in a private channel duringOnam withNedumudi Venu in which he sang old songs.

Other awards

• 2003 –Bahadoor Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema^[31]
• 2005 –Prem Nazir Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema spanning three decades^[32]
• 2005 –Sathyan Memorial Award^[33]
• 2009 – Utsav Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for overall contribution toMalayalam cinema^[34]
• 2011 – The Kochi Times Film Award - Best Actor in a Negative Role inUrumi^[35]
• 2012 – Thikkurussy Award for Most Popular Actor^[36]

This list isincomplete; you can help byadding missing items.(July 2021)

• Aadum Koothu (2005)

• Chakkarayumma (1984) .... "Naalukaashum kayyil vechu"
• Ulsavamelam (1992) .... "Raamaa Sreeraama" (solo)
• Bandhukkal Shathrukkal (1993) .... "Veshangal" (solo)
• Kottaaram Veettile Apputtan (1998) .... "Ambottee"
• Hai (2005) .... "Vallee Vallee"
• Moz & Cat (2009) .... "Innu Kondu Theerum"

• Kalyana Unnikal (1998)
• Annakutty Kodambakkam Vilikkunnu (1989)

• Champion Thomas (1990) (story)
• Witness (1988) (story)

• Champion Thomas (1990)

• Crime Branch (Kairali TV)
• Hukka Huwwa Meckado (Asianet)
• Ellam Mayajalam (Asianet)
• Sree Mahabhagavatham (Asianet)
• Kodachakram (Telefilm) (Asianet)
• Swami Ayyappan (Asianet)
• Devimahatymyam (Asianet)
• Smarakasilakal (Doordarshan)

• Hukka Huwwa Meckado (Asianet)
• Ellam Mayajalam (Asianet)

• http://facebook.com/JagathySreekumarEntertainmentsOfficial/
• Jagathi Sreekumar atIMDb
• Jagathy Sreekumar at MSI

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