Renowned Malayalam Actor-Screenwriter-Director Sreenivasan Passes Away at 69

Kochi: Malayalam cinema is mourning the loss of one of its most iconic figures, Sreenivasan, who passed away on Friday in Kochi, Kerala. The 69-year-old trailblazer left an indelible mark on the industry with a 48-year career that redefined humour’s role in social commentary.

A master of multiple crafts, Sreenivasan acted in over 200 films, wrote timeless screenplays like Sandesham and Nadodikkattu, and directed award-winning films Vadakkunokkiyantram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. His work chronicled the Malayali middle class, its anxieties, hypocrisies and resilience, using satire as both a mirror and a scalpel. The dialogues he penned remain cultural touchstones, reflecting Kerala’s politically charged past.

Born in 1956 in Kannur, Sreenivasan studied acting at FTII Chennai and debuted in P.A. Backer’s Manimuzhakkam (1976). His collaborations with Mohanlal and Sathyan Anthikad (Thalayanamanthram, Gandhinagar 2nd Street) addressed unemployment, dowry and political opportunism. A self-described Communist, he critiqued political violence while practising organic farming. His sons, Vineeth and Dhyan, followed him into cinema, though he insisted on their independence.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan called his death an ‘irreparable loss’, while actor Mohanlal praised Sreenivasan’s ability to ‘portray the dreams and shattered dreams of the middle class.’ Actor Kamal Haasan noted, “He entertained, enlightened, and provoked—with a smile that carried truth”.

His funeral will be held on Sunday.