The trademark comic acts and mannerisms that have triggered laughter in cinemas, homes and stages for decades were absent. So were the side-splitting ripostes. Instead, it was an intent gaze, and then a blink later, the face slowly panned the group in front of him, from left to right and back.
Jagathy Sreekumar was facing cameras almost a year after meeting with an accident in Malappuram. The actor, on coming out in a wheelchair before the media at his son’s residence in Peyad here, remained silent. He was discharged from hospital only a few days ago.
Did the flashing cameras and jostling by media persons to get closer visuals bother him? His face, pleasant and set in an all-absorbing gaze, did not reveal what was in his mind.
Barely 10 minutes later, during which the electronic media made an attempt to elicit a sound bite from him by thrusting their microphones at him, the actor’s son-in-law, Shone George, requested leave and wheeled him back. Though his wife, Sobha, asked him softly if he would like to say anything, he did not reply, but returned that same intent gaze to the cameras.
His son, Rajkumar, told presspersons later that the thespian could now recognise everyone and was speaking at times, depending on his mood, and watching movies and laughing at jokes in them. He was starting to walk slowly using a stick for support.
Treatment
A trained person from Christian Medical College, Vellore, where he had been undergoing neuro-rehabilitation following the accident at Panambra in Malappuram, is continuing the therapy at home. Though the doctors have agreed to suggestions of Ayurvedic treatment, the family is yet to decide on that. Hopes are that he will fully recover in about two years, Mr. Rajkumar said.
Mr. Sreekumar’s daughter, Parvathy, Mr. Rajkumar’s wife, Pinky, and the actor’s grandchildren were present.
