Jagathy was a
fifth grade student at Model School in
Thiruvananthapuram when he got the opportunity to act in a school play for the first time. 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. During this time he joined
Mar Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram. 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 praised 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. In 1991,Jagathy won the
Kerala State Film Award For Second Best Actor for his performance in the
cult classic comedy movie
Kilukkam and
Apoorvam Chilar. He played
Nischal, 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 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 acclaimed. 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). Other notable movies 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 with
Kakkakkuyil (2001), which was a commercial success. 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 were in 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 Mambazham, was
Vettam (2004), where he played a comic serial killer called
Basha. Another popular comic character of Jagathy is
Pachalam Bhasi in
Udayananu Tharam (2005). In 2006, Jagathy reprised his role as Nischal in
Kilukkam Kilukilukkam, 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 successful comedy movies in the 2000s include
Vellinakshatram (2004),
Naran,
Kochi Rajavu (2005),
Classmates (2006),
The Speed Track,
Chota Mumbai,
Hallo,
Rock n' 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 he met with a road accident in 2012 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). Besides portraying comedic characters and comic roles, Jagathy has played characters with negative shades, including his roles as
Chenicheri Kurup in
Urumi (2011) and the Home Minister in
Passenger (2009).
Arabikkatha (2007) and
Cycle (2008) are also movies with Jagathy in negative roles. He made his comeback after his road accident, in the movie
CBI 5: The Brain released in 2022, which was the fifth part of the
Mammootty starrer
CBI Series. ==Personal life==