Jagathy N. K. Achary

Jagathy N. K. Achary (1924–1997) was a Malayalam dramatist and writer who also worked in Malayalam films. He was known for his plays and screenplays. He is the father of Malayalam film actor Jagathy Sreekumar.

Jagathy N. Kochukrishnan Achary was born in 1924 at Krishnavilasam in Jagathy, Trivandrum, then capital of Travancore, to "Ananthapadmanabhan" NanuAchary and Ponnammal. He had his education in Thiruvananthapuram and Scott Christian College, Nagercoil. After obtaining a BA in Literature, he followed up with a degree in Law.

Achary'spaternal ancestors were involved in the construction works of many palaces and stately mansions in Travancore built during the latter half of the nineteenth century. His grandfather Krishnan Achari and his brother were given land to settle down in Jagathy. N. K. Achary’s father was Kottaram Moothchari under Moolam Thirunal and Chithira Thirunal Balarama Varma of erstwhile Travancore.

He was married to Prasanna (Ponnamma) from Edavanacaud had three children: Jagathy Sreekumar, P. K. Krishnakumar and P. K. Jameela.

He died of old age diseases in 1997 at his Thiruvananthapuram residence. A road in Cotton Hill, Vazhuthacaud, Thiruvananthapuram is named after him.

He started his career as an employee at the palace. Later, he joined the All India Radio as a staff artist where he worked as a programme executive at various stations and subsequently rose to the position of Station Director.

Achary wrote many plays for the radio, crossing over to writing more than twenty plays for professional theatre, and subsequently films. Many of his screenplays were published and enacted by amateur theatre groups all over Kerala.

He was a partner of the Kalanilayam Theatre group, for which he wrote many plays. During the 1960s-70s, Kalanilayam revolutionised Malayalam theatre, with its dramas like Raktharakshass, Kayamkulam Kochunni, Kadamattathu Kathanar, Iravikkodu Pillai, Naradan Keralathil, Taj Mahal, Sree Guruvayoorappan and Alavudinum Athbhuthavilakkum, all simultaneously with his illustrious career in films. He was closely associated with directors such as K. G. George and Padmarajan; starting a drama school with the former in the 1980s and appearing in cameo roles in the later's films such as Moonnam Pakkam and Desatanakkili Karayarilla.

Achary penned story, screenplay and dialogues for more than 24 Malayalam movies andalso experimental films such as Sexilla Stundilla, Paathirapattu etc. He also wrote films with strong female characters in the 60s and 70s.

Filmography as screenwriter