KOCHI: Sreenivasan, the legendary polymath of Malayalam cinema who redefined social satire and portrayed the lives of the common man with extraordinary brilliance, passed away on Saturday morning. He was 69.
The veteran actor-director-screenwriter breathed his last at 8:30 AM at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital. Reports indicate that he experienced physical discomfort while being transported for his scheduled dialysis and was rushed to the hospital, where he later passed away. His body is currently kept at the Taluk Hospital, and funeral details are expected to be announced later.
A Career Spanning 48 Years
Born on April 4, 1956, in Patyam near Thalassery, Sreenivasan was a graduate of Pazhassi Raja NSS College, Mattannur. He later honed his craft at the Madras Film Institute, where the superstar Rajinikanth was his classmate. He made his acting debut in 1977 with P.A. Backer’s Manimuzhakkam.
While he started with serious roles under masters like Aravindan and K.G. George, Sreenivasan found his true calling in screenwriting. His first script was for Priyadarshan’s Poochakkoru Mookkuthi, marking the beginning of a prolific era of Malayalam comedy.
The Master of Satire
Sreenivasan’s greatest contribution to Indian cinema remains his sharp, incisive political and social satires. His 1991 film Sandesham remains a cult classic, with its political commentary still widely discussed in Kerala’s socio-political circles today.
As a director, his works Vadakkunokkiyantram (1989) and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala (1998) won both State and National Film Awards. His scripts for hits like Nadodikkattu, T.P. Balagopalan M.A., Udayananu Tharam, and Katha Parayumpol are considered some of the best in the history of Mollywood.
The People’s Actor
Sreenivasan wasn’t just a writer; he was a beloved actor. From the insecure Thalathil Dineshan in Vadakkunokkiyantram to the iconic detective Vijayan in Nadodikkattu and the egoistic superstar Saroj Kumar in Udayananu Tharam, he created characters that were both relatable and hilariously flawed. His last screenplay was for the 2018 hit Njan Prakashan, directed by Sathyan Anthikad.
He is survived by his wife, Vimala, and his two sons—Vineeth Sreenivasan (director, singer, and actor) and Dhyan Sreenivasan (actor), both of whom have followed in their father’s footsteps in the film industry.
