Veteran Malayalam actor and writer Sreenivasan passed away in Ernakulam on Saturday due to age related ailments. He was 69. With his death Malayalam cinema loses one of its most influential creative voices. For over four decades, Sreenivasan shaped the language of popular cinema by blending humour with sharp social insight and moral urgency. He was not just a storyteller but a commentator who understood society from the inside out.
Sreenivasan entered the film industry in the late 1970s at a time when Malayalam cinema was undergoing a quiet transformation. Starting out as an actor he went on to appear in more than 200 films often portraying men caught in the contradictions of everyday life. His screen presence was defined by restraint and authenticity. He played flawed individuals navigating pressure ambition fear and compromise. Audiences recognised themselves in his characters and that familiarity became his greatest strength.
A writer who turned comedy into critique
It was as a screenwriter that Sreenivasan left his deepest imprint. His writing redefined comedy by using laughter as a tool for resistance and reflection. He crafted stories that entertained while fearlessly interrogating politics social hypocrisy and moral decay. Films like Boeing Boeing Sandesam Mazha Peyyunnu Maddalam Kottunnu Varavelppu Nadodikkattu and Udayananu Tharam remain enduring classics because they spoke uncomfortable truths without losing warmth or accessibility.
Sandesam stands tall as one of Indian cinema’s most incisive political satires. By setting ideological conflict within a family space, Sreenivasan exposed how power and ego can hollow out ideals. Decades later the film continues to feel relevant, which speaks to the precision of his observations. His humour never relied on cruelty. It was empathetic but unflinching.
Sreenivasan’s collaborations helped define a golden period in Malayalam cinema. His long-standing partnerships with directors Priyadarshan and Sathyan Anthikad and actors Mohanlal and Mammootty produced films that balanced entertainment with substance. Together they created stories rooted in middle class anxieties moral dilemmas and shifting social values.
Awards a quieter later phase and an enduring legacy
Sreenivasan’s work earned him wide recognition. He received a Kerala State Special Jury Mention for his performance in Thakarachenda and went on to win five Kerala State Film Awards across acting writing and direction. His directorial debut Chinthavishtayaya Shyamala won the National Film Award and reaffirmed his sensitivity as a filmmaker capable of deep emotional resonance.
In recent years, health issues kept him largely away from active filmmaking. His final on screen appearance was in Nancy Rani, which released earlier this year after a prolonged delay. His last credited work as a writer was Paviyettante Madhoorachooral released in 2018. Even during his absence his influence remained visible as newer writers and filmmakers continued to draw from his legacy of socially grounded storytelling.
Sreenivasan is survived by his sons Vineeth Sreenivasan and Dhyan Sreenivasan, both of whom are active in the industry and known for their versatility. While they carry forward aspects of his creative spirit, Sreenivasan’s voice remains singular. He belonged to a generation that believed cinema must engage with society and not escape it.
More than a prolific artist, Sreenivasan was a moral compass for Malayalam cinema. He proved that mainstream films could be intelligent, funny and politically aware without alienating audiences. His words his characters and his courage to question will continue to echo long after the screen fades to black.
Also Read:Â Mohanlal Remembers Late Sreenivasan As a Friend and Mirror of Malayali Life
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