Veteran Malayalam actor and director Sreenivasan passes away at 69
Born on April 6, 1956, in Patyam near Thalassery in Kerala’s Kannur district, Sreenivasan has emerged as one of the most influential voices in Malayalam cinema, known for blending sharp social satire with accessible storytelling.
Veteran Malayalam actor, screenwriter, director and producer Sreenivasan passed away on Saturday at the age of 69, leaving behind a prolific body of work that shaped the social and comic sensibility of Malayalam cinema for over four decades. As soon as the news broke, fans mourned the great loss and condolences poured in for the veteran star.
Born on April 6, 1956, in Patyam near Thalassery in Kerala’s Kannur district, Sreenivasan has emerged as one of the most influential voices in Malayalam cinema, known for blending sharp social satire with accessible storytelling. During a career that spanned nearly five decades, he appeared in more than 225 films and wrote numerous landmark screenplays.
His writings include classics such as Odaruthammava Aalariyam, Sanmanassullavarkku Samadhanam, Gandhinagar 2nd Street, Nadodikkattu, Pattanapravesham, Varavelpu, Thalayana Manthram, Sandesam, Midhunam, Mazhayethum Munpe, Azhakiya Ravanan, Oru Maravathoor Kanavu, Udayananu Tharam, Katha Parayumpol and Njan. Prakashan ranks second among the highest-grossing Malayalam films of all time.
As a filmmaker, he has scripted and directed Vadakkunokkiyanthram and Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala. Vadakkunokkiyanthram won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Film. At the same time, Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala received the National Film Award for Best Film on Other Social Issues and the Kerala State Film Award for Best Popular Film.
Sreenivasan has also received many awards throughout his career, including the National Film Award, two Filmfare Awards South and six Kerala State Film Awards. He won the Kerala State Film Award for Best Screenplay for Sandesam and Mazhayethum Munpe. A frequent collaborator with directors like Priyadarshan, Sathyan Anthikad and Kamal, the actor played a key role in shaping the golden age of Malayalam comedy and social drama.
He made his acting debut in PA Backer’s Manimuzhakkam in 1976 and had his first leading role in Sanghaganam (1979). He received formal training at the Tamil Nadu Film and Television Institute in Chennai. Beyond cinema, Sreenivasan was also a producer and co-produced Katha Parayumpol and Thattathin Marayathu with actor Mukesh under Lumiere Film Company.
He is survived by his wife Vimala Sreenivasan and sons Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan.
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