Menu

Jagadish

Jagadish - Thriller Express - Asianet Tour - Atlanata
Jagadish - Thriller Express - Asianet Tour - Atlanata Image: Wikimedia Commons. BijuGC / CC BY-SA 3.0

Overview

P. V. Jagadish Kumar, known mononymously as Jagadish, is an Indian actor, screenwriter and television presenter who works predominantly in Malayalam cinema. A former bank officer and college lecturer, he has appeared in over 400 Malayalam films and two Hindi films, and is best known for his comic and character roles. During the 1990s, he was among the bankable lead stars of Malayalam cinema, headlining over 50 films in that decade.

Key facts

Full name P. V. Jagadish Kumar
Known as Jagadish
Profession Actor, screenwriter, television presenter
Former occupations Bank officer; lecturer at a government-aided college
Education M.Com. (rank-holder)
Primary industry Malayalam cinema
Film debut My Dear Kuttichathan (1984)
Breakthrough In Harihar Nagar (1990)
Political affiliation Indian National Congress (2016 contest)

Background

Jagadish completed a postgraduate degree in commerce, securing a rank in his M.Com. examinations. He began his working life as a bank officer before moving on to teach as a lecturer at a government-aided college, and subsequently transitioned to a full-time career in cinema.

Film career

Debut and early years

Jagadish made his acting debut in My Dear Kuttichathan (1984), which is recognised as India's first 3D film. He gained wider recognition through his role as Appukuttan in Siddique-Lal's In Harihar Nagar (1990), which served as a major career breakthrough.

1990s: lead roles

Through the 1990s, Jagadish established himself as a leading man in Malayalam cinema, anchoring more than fifty films in lead roles. Notable titles from this period include:

  • Godfather (1991)
  • Mimics Parade (1991)
  • Welcome to Kodaikanal (1992)
  • Thiruthalvaadi (1992)
  • Priyapetta Kukku (1992)
  • Mr & Mrs (1992)
  • Pandu Pandoru Rajakumari (1992)
  • Kunukkitta Kozhi (1992)
  • Kasarkode Khaderbai (1992)
  • Kallan Kappalil Thanne (1992)
  • Grihaprevesam (1992)
  • Sthreedhanam (1993)
  • Sthalathe Pradhana Payyans (1993)
  • Injakkadan Mathai & Sons (1993)
  • Simhavalan Menon (1995)
  • Mimics Super 1000 (1996)
  • Hitler (1996)
  • Junior Mandrake (1997)
  • Gramapanchayath (1998)

Screenwriting

Apart from acting, Jagadish has written screenplays for a few films, the most notable being Adhipan (1989).

Politics

In 2016, Jagadish entered electoral politics, contesting the Kerala Legislative Assembly election from the Pathanapuram constituency on an Indian National Congress ticket. He lost the contest to his film industry colleague and former state minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar.

Significance

Jagadish is regarded as one of the prominent figures of Malayalam cinema's commercially successful 1990s phase. His pairing with contemporaries in ensemble comedies, his association with Siddique-Lal's body of work, and his prolific output as both lead and character actor have made him a recognisable presence in the industry across four decades.

References