Kochi: Legendary Malayalam actor, screenwriter and director Sreenivasan, one of the most influential creative forces in the history of Kerala cinema, passed away on Thursday following health complications. He was undergoing treatment at the Tripunithura Taluk Hospital. Sreenivasan was 69 years old.
Spanning an extraordinary 48-year career, Sreenivasan acted in more than 200 films and left an unmatched legacy as a writer and filmmaker. Revered for redefining cinematic humour, he used satire as a powerful tool to reflect the realities, struggles and contradictions of the common man.
Sreenivasan made his acting debut in 1976 with Manimuzhakkam, directed by P. A. Backer, and entered the field of screenwriting in 1984 with Odaruthammava Aalariyam. His films stood out for their razor-sharp dialogues, strong social relevance and timeless humour.
Sreenivasan penned the screenplays of several iconic Malayalam films, including Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, TP Balagopalan MA, Gandhinagar Second Street, Nadodikkattu, Thalayana Manthram, Golanthara Vartha, Chambakulam Thachan, Varavelpu, Sandesham, Udayananu Tharam, Mazhayethum Munpe, Azhakiya Ravanan, Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, Ayal Kathayezhuthukayanu, Kadha Parayumbol and Njan Prakashan.
The 1991 political satire Sandesham remains one of Malayalam cinema’s most incisive commentaries on Kerala’s political and social landscape. Films written and directed by Sreenivasan, such as Vadakkunokkiyantram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala, earned state and national awards, cementing his place among the finest storytellers in Indian cinema.
His first screenplay was Poochakkoru Mookkuthi, and his collaborations with filmmaker Priyadarshan helped popularise humour-driven, socially conscious cinema. Through laughter and irony, his films portrayed life’s deepest anxieties and human vulnerabilities.
Sreenivasan also shared a creative partnership with noted directors Sathyan Anthikad, Priyadarshan and Kamal, delivering several landmark films. Even in family dramas, he seamlessly blended sharp social observation with emotional depth.
His last screenplay was ‘Njan Prakashan’ (2018), directed by Sathyan Anthikad.
Sreenivasan is survived by his wife Vimala, elder son Vineeth Sreenivasan—a filmmaker, actor and singer—and younger son Dhyan Sreenivasan, an actor.
With his passing, Malayalam cinema loses not just a filmmaker, but a conscience that spoke truth through humour and humanity.
