Jagathy Sreekumar

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
Born	Sreekumar Achary (1951-01-05) 5 January 1951 (age 73) Jagathy, Trivandrum, Kerala, India
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
Children	3
Parents	Jagathy N. K. Achary Prasanna
Relatives	P. C. George

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.

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.

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.

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. 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). 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 reunited with Priyadarshan in 2001 with Kakkakkuyil, which was commercially successful. Jagathy's role as Krishnavilasom Bhageeratan Pilla aka Pillechan in the comedy drama Meesa Madhavan (2002) is often considered one of his career best. This character as well as the movie itself eventually developed a cult following. Jagathy won his second Kerala State Film Award for his performance in Meesa Madhavan and for doing a character role in Nizhalkuthu. The same year he played another memorable comedy character Kumbidi in Nandanam. Some of his memorable roles in 2003 came out with the movies such as Mr. 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 and Pattanathil Sundaran. Jagathy's next film directed by Priyadarshan after Kilichundan Mambazhan was through Vettam in 2004, where he played as a comic serial killer called Basha. Another popular comedy character of Jagathy is Pachalam Bhasi which came out with Udayananu Tharam (2005). In 2006, Jagathy reprised his role as Nischal in Kilukkam 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 as Himavalswami in Makante Achan (2009) was acclaimed. Jagathy's other best comedy movies in the 2000s includes Vellinakshatram (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 and Evidam Swargamanu (2009).

Jagathy's role as Member Ramanan in Elsamma Enna Aankutty (2010) was appreciated and the movie was a box office success. His other notable movies in 2010 and 2011 are Marykkundoru Kunjaadu and Pranchiyettan and the Saint. The last film he completed before his 2012 road accident was Parudeesa.

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 called Unnithan Aashan in Vaasthavam (2006). He won the Kerala State Film Award – Special Mention in 2007 for his performance in Paradesi and Veeralipattu. Jagathy played the lead role in Raamanam (2009) which earned him that years Kerala State Film Special Jury Award. Jagathy's other notable character roles are seen in movies such as Vesham (2004), Thanmathra (2005), Chess, Palunku (2006), Manchadikkuru (2008), Pazhassi Raja (2009), Indian Rupee (2011) Kerala Cafe (2009) Manikiakkallu (2011) Christian Brothers (2011) Janapriyan (2011) and 1993 Bombay, March 12 (2011).

Apart from playing comedy roles and comic character and negative roles, Jagathy has played some characters with complete negative shades, including his roles as Chenicheri Kurup in Urumi (2011) and Home Minister in Passenger (2009). Arabikkatha (2007) and Cycle (2008) are also such movies.

He made his comeback after 2012 road accident through CBI 5: The Brain released in 2022 which was the fifth part of the Mammootty starrer CBI Series.

Jagathy married Mallika in 1974 and divorced in 1976. He married Shoba in 1980. They have a son, Rajkumar, and a daughter, Parvathy. Just days before the March 2012 road accident that took away years of his life, Jagathy had publicly revealed that he had a daughter, Sreelakshmi Sreekumar, with actress Kala, also said to be his third wife.

On 10 March 2012, he was seriously injured in a road accident at Panambra near the Calicut University at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district. He was immediately rushed to MIMS Hospital in Calicut, where he remained for one month. Later, he was taken to Vellore Christian Medical College 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. In 2014, he was again taken to Vellore for further check-ups and returned to his home later. Recently he appeared in a private channel during onam with Nedumudi Venu in which he sang old songs.

Other awards

• 2003 – Bahadoor Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema
• 2005 – Prem Nazir Award for his contributions to Malayalam cinema spanning three decades
• 2005 – Sathyan Memorial Award
• 2009 – Utsav Film Awards Lifetime Achievement Award for overall contribution to Malayalam cinema
• 2011 – The Kochi Times Film Award - Best Actor in a Negative Role in Urumi
• 2012 – Thikkurussy Award for Most Popular Actor

Malayalam

Tamil

• Aadum Koothu (2005)

As a playback singer

• 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"

As director

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

As writer

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

Dialogue, screenplay

• Champion Thomas (1990)

As actor

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

As producer

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