Journey ends, legacy remains: Sreenivasan passes away(1956–2025)

KOCHI: Veteran actor and filmmaker Sreenivasan, who gave Malayalam cinema a new identity by making audiences laugh and think, passed away on Saturday morning, leaving the industry and his admirers in deep grief. Known for blending humour and social thought through everyday language, Sreenivasan redefined dialogue writing and the concept of the common man as a hero in Malayalam films. His funeral with full state honours will be held at 10 am today at his residence, Palazhi, on Kandanad–Vattukunnu Road, Udayamperoor.

A versatile and irreplaceable figure in Malayalam cinema for nearly five decades, Sreenivasan passed away at the age of 69. On Saturday morning, around 8 am, his wife Vimala was taking him to Amrita Hospital, Edappally, for his regular dialysis. As he developed severe breathing difficulty and physical discomfort on the way, he was rushed to the nearby Tripunithura Taluk Hospital, but his life could not be saved. He passed away at 8.30 am.

Sreenivasan excelled as an actor, screenwriter, director, and producer, taking Malayalam cinema beyond star-driven narratives. He had been battling health issues for the past five years. His elder son, actor-director Vineeth Sreenivasan, who was at Nedumbassery airport preparing to travel to Chennai, rushed to the hospital and later accompanied his mother as the mortal remains were taken to their home at Kandanad. Younger son Dhyan Sreenivasan, who was shooting in Kozhikode, reached home later.

Sreenivasan had undergone bypass surgery in 2022 and had been on dialysis for five years. Two weeks ago, he suffered a hip fracture after a fall and had recently returned home following surgery.

He was born on April 6, 1956, at Patiyam in Kannur, as the son of Unni and Lakshmi. His elder son Vineeth is an actor, director, screenwriter, and singer, while Dhyan is an actor and director. Divya Narayanan and Arpita Sebastian are his daughters-in-law.

The mortal remains were kept for public homage at Ernakulam Town Hall, where Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Ministers P. Rajeev and Saji Cherian, actors Mammootty and Mohanlal, director Sathyan Anthikad, and many others paid their last respects.

224 films, nearly 50 screenplays

• Acted in over 225 films and wrote around 50 screenplays
• Directed films including Vadakkunokkiyantram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
• Wrote screenplays for films by Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad, and Kamal
• Iconic films include Vellanakalude Nadu, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Gandhi Nagar 2nd Street, T.P. Balagopalan M.A., Nadodikkattu, Sandesham, Varavelpu, and Udayananu Tharam
• Won the National Award for Best Director for Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala
• Received six Kerala State Film Awards, along with honours such as Panorama Selection and the Ramu Kariat Award
• His last theatrical release was Kurukkan in 2023. He also acted in Nancy, which was released online in June 2025.