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