Thiruvananthapuram, Mar 1 (IANS): Ace comedian Jagathy Sreekumar returned to his home here in the wee hours of Friday, almost a year after a near fatal accident. He is in a better condition and his family members hope he recovers completely soon.

He was undergoing treatment at the Christian Medical College hospital in Vellore.

"He now recognises people, but he finds it difficult to walk freely. Besides his speech is not normal. He has been advised physiotherapy and we will take him back after two-month treatment here," said his son-in-law Shaun George.

The comedian was seriously injured in a road accident March 10, 2012, near Kozhikode in Kerala while he was dashing off in the wee hours to reach a shooting location that morning on the Kerala-Karnataka border.

On April 12, 2012, after the actor underwent four major surgeries, he was transfered in an air ambulance from Kozhikode to the Christian Medical College.

For the past several months, the veteran actor was in the rehabilitation centre of the hospital, and was subjected to various therapies.

Since TV channels flashed the news that the actor was returning, many of his fans waited for his arrival, and around 4:30 a.m. Friday, a special caravan brought him home.

Incidentally, at the recent Attukal Pongala, where a record four million women took part in the temple festivities held Tuesday, special prayers were offered for the speedy recovery of the great actor.

On account of the injury suffered, his right hand and right leg were immobilised. Over the last nine months, he made remarkable progress, and his family members are hopeful that he will be able to walk soon.

In a career starting in the early 1970s, Jagathy has donned the greasepaint for more than 1,100 films. By now, he has become an integral part in the film industry here.

In 2011 alone, of the 70 Malayalam films that found their way into the theatres, Jagathy acted in 24.