Thaindian News

Thiruvananthapuram, March 23 (IANS) Ace Malayalam comedian and character artiste Jagadish will campaign for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) candidates in the April 13 assembly polls in Kerala.

Jagadish told IANS that since his student days he has always been a supporter of the Congress.

“It is going to be practically impossible for me to physically reach all the 140 constituencies in the state. With other types of campaign like lending my voice and pictures, I can reach all the 140 constituencies,” Jagadish said.

Close to completing his third decade in the Malayalam film industry, Jagadish by now has acted in more than 300 Malayalam films and is still a much sought after actor.

“Since I have a few films that I am now working on, I will split my time between acting and campaigning,” added the versatile actor who has entertained movie buffs through his comic and witty dialogues over the years.

Starting his career as a commerce lecturer in the early 1980s and after doubling up as a teacher-cum-actor, he took leave from his college and turned to full-time acting.

Jagadish is not a greenhorn in politics because all through his student days he was an active member of the Kerala Students Union (KSU), the student organisation of the Congress in the state. He contested as a KSU candidate and won all the time.

However, the ace actor said he would not seek any posts in the Congress.

“My theory has always been that the first rule is to work as an ordinary worker and after engaging in that role, other things can be considered,” said Jagadish, who was getting ready to leave for shooting.

“If you ask me would I be seen as a Congress candidate in the 2016 assembly polls, the answer would be, Yes, but only if the party wants me to contest,” he added.

Starting in 1984 with “My Dear Kuttichathan”, he has played the lead role in 40 films. He has scripted a dozen films too, including “Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu” and “Minda Poochakku Kalyanam”.

Among the prominent films he has acted in are “Mutharamkunnu P.O.” (1985), “Nandi Veendum Varika” (1986), and “Vandanam” (1989). But what got him acclaim were his stellar performances in “Mukhachitram”, “In Harihar Nagar”, “Godfather” and “Hitler”.