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.
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.
Early life and family
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.
Acting career
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.