Noted Malayalam actor and filmmaker Sreenivasan dies at 69 after prolonged illness

Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director and producer Sreenivasan passed away on Saturday, December 20, at the government hospital in Trippunithura near Kochi. He was 69. Sreenivasan, who is known for his honest writing and sharp humour, has left a lasting impact on the Malayalam film industry in his remarkable career spanning nearly five decades.

He had been receiving treatment at his home in Udayamperoor for a long-standing illness, reported Mathrubhumi. The veteran actor was admitted to the government hospital in Thrippunithura after a sudden deterioration in his health, where he died on Saturday morning. He was on a trip to a private hospital for dialysis.

Born on April 6, 1956, in Patyam, Kerala, Sreenivasan was the son of Unni, a school teacher and Lakshmi, a homemaker. After completing his schooling in Kadirur, he earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from PRNSS College, Mattanur, in Kannur district. To study acting, he joined the Film and Television Institute of India, Chennai, in 1977.

Sreenivasan began his acting career in 1977 with PA Backer's Manimuzhakkam and rose to become one of the most acclaimed performers in the Malayalam industry. During his nearly five-decade-long career, he featured in over 225 films, earning praise for his biting social satire and outstanding performances.

Apart from acting, Sreenivasan was a renowned screenwriter and director. He was known for writing flawless screenplays and successfully delivering many award-winning films.

In 1984, Sreenivasan penned his first screenplay,

Odaruthammava Aalariyam, marking the beginning of his writing career. He wrote several iconic films such as Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham, Varavelpu, Sandesam, Midhunam, Mazhayethum Munpe, Azhakiya Ravanan, Katha Parayumpol

and Njan Prakashan.

He was also a producer, collaborating on several films that became cultural classics. He was honoured with various accolades, including National Film Awards, Kerala State Film Awards, Filmfare Awards South, and lifetime achievement awards for his work as a writer, actor and filmmaker.

Sreenivasan was last seen in Nancy Rani, released earlier this year. Meanwhile, his last release as a writer was Paviyettante Madhoorachooral (2018).

He is survived by his wife, Vimala, and two sons, Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, both of whom are well-known figures in Malayalam cinema.

In a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan mourned the passing of Sreenivasan, calling it an ‘irreparable loss’ to Malayalam cinema, reported ANI.

He praised Sreenivasan as a multifaceted talent, stating, "Spanning story, screenplay, direction and acting, Sreenivasan worked across multiple fields and, in each of them, established his individuality in an extraordinary way. Many characters from his films will remain etched in the Malayali psyche forever."