Mithun Chakraborty health update: Hospital says Disco Dancer actor 'fully conscious, well-oriented'

Mithun Chakraborty, 73, was hospitalised on February 10, 2024, after complaining of chest pain. Tests later revealed that he had suffered an ischemic stroke. (Photo: PTI)

When the news of Mithun Chakraborty’s illness broke, it came as a shock to everyone who grew up putting up disco balls at home and dancing to his songs. It’s hard to imagine the man who made the whole nation gyrate, unwell. This is a reminder of how one man in silver lame pants and shirt made everyone disco dancers!

Mithun Chakraborty, who will turn 74 on June 16, suffered a stroke and was taken to the emergency department of Apollo Multispeciality Hospitals in Kolkata on Saturday. According to a statement released by the hospital, the National Award-winning actor was admitted at "around 9.40 am with complaints of weakness in the right upper and lower limbs. Necessary laboratory and radiology investigations were carried out including an MRI of the brain. He has been diagnosed with an Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke) of the brain. Presently, he is fully conscious, well-oriented, and has consumed a soft diet."

Ischemic refers to reduced blood flow to a part of the body, usually because of cholesterol plaque build-up on the walls of the arteries which could in turn result in a blood clot blocking the blood vessels. Cerebrovascular means relating to the blood vessels in the brain. There are many causes of brain stroke, with advancing age being one of the risk factors.

Mithun Chakraborty received one of India's highest civilian awards, Padma Bhushan, this year.

Magic of Mithun Chakraborty

Who can forget the magic of 'Jimmi, Jimmi, Jimmi Aaja' in Disco Dancer? On the stage that has gigantic disco balls and lights that strobe and twinkle with the beat. In the audience are people (read: young women!) waiting to see him dance. Parvati Khan’s voice and Bappi Lahiri’s music are encouraging Anil aka Jimmi - the heartthrob of the disco world to come out and dance.

Jimmi has not yet recovered from the ghastly death of his mother coordinated by the awful P.N. Oberoi (Om Shivpuri) and his goons. He is suffering from ‘guitar phobia’. As Jimmi stands stunned on the stage side, Rita Oberoi (actress Kim) dances on stage, beckoning him to come out of that stupor and enthral the audiences with his dance, his songs once again.

Bappi Lahiri uses synthesisers, drums, and horns brilliantly. Even though the song is inspired from the French group Ottawan’s hit song from 1980 called, ‘T’es Okay’, Anjaan’s lyrics make the song Indian. And yes, the perfect anthem for someone who is plagued by diffidence and life’s circumstances.

This song created such a sensation the world over, the song was picked up by Tamil rapper M.I.A. and it hit world charts and became a UK disco sensation.

Russians have sung it, and danced to it and so have the Chinese during the COVID lockdown. ‘Jimmi Jimmi’ sounds like ‘No rice’ in Mandarin and the song went viral on Tik Tok.

The news that our original Jimmi - Mithun-da - the disco dancer for all times has suffered an Ischemic Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke) of the brain has hit his fans hard. Prayers for his family and his early recovery! We know Jimmy Zingchak will be back!